How to scan for coal?

[fnoigy]

So each time I find a new resource, I gain the ability to research and scan for it....except sometimes not.
I recently found a big rock of coal, and another of quartz, but scanning and research for either one weren't unlocked, so I can't seem to find more, and I think I need it to start building steel stuff.

Did my save get glitched, or is there something more? How do you even find a rare resource like those without being able to scan for it?

[Suzaku]

Coal is unlocked through milestones. Quartz is unlocked by researching it in the MAM.

[Senrezu]

Complete phase 1 for the space elevator and unlock the first milestone in tier 3

[Stellar Remnant]

For quartz, build the MAM. You're missing out on a lot of stuff.

[jclovis3]

Also, don't confuse the mineral nodes with deposits. Often a normal or impure node can have a pure deposit sitting on top of it you'll have to remove before you can place a mine. Deposits also show up all over the map without any minable node and once you harvest them, they are gone. (I actually cleaned up some tainted crash sites so I wouldn't have to keep dealing with the radiation).

I usually leave deposits in place when I find them so, should I suddenly need the material while I'm out, I can craft myself a workbench and produce what I need out in the field. I once found a crash site that required compacted coal. I wasn't carrying that around with me, but found coal and sulfur deposits near by so I used my vehicle to craft up the ingredients for unlocking it.

[Resident Asswhole]

Press "V" to open the scanner. Move the cursor to the Coal and release "V" to start the scan. If you press the mouse button it will cancel the scan. You know you have the scan running if you see a blue circular pulse expand from your position.