Mining is a skill that allows players to obtain ores and gems from rocks. With ores, a player can then either smelt bars and make equipment using the Smithing skill or sell them for profit. Mining is one of the most popular skills in RuneScape as many players try to earn a profit from the skill. On the map, mining areas are identified with a regular pickaxe 
icon and the mining shop with a gold pickaxe 
icon.
How to mine[]
A player using a Rune Pickaxe to mine ores.
To mine, a player will first need a pickaxe, which are sold in a number of shops. New players are given a bronze pickaxe upon creation of their account. When a player has obtained a pickaxe, they next need to find a mine. Upon locating a mine, the player can then select a rock in the mine. Players can identify any mineable ore by right-clicking and be selecting "Prospect Rocks". Left clicking on it will cause the player to begin mining the rocks as long as they have a pickaxe that the player can use. As a player is mining a rock, they will eventually obtain an ore (or a gemstone). This ore can either be used in the Smithing skill or it can be sold. Selling ores can give players a good profit.
Mining is a skill largely based on a player's luck, which is random in RuneScape. Luck affects Mining in this way: the player will mine the rock, but when they hit the rock, it might take eight to twelve hits to obtain an ore. Another player may mine the same rock and get an ore in just one hit. Using a pickaxe of a higher metal will allow players to obtain ores faster.
Pickaxes[]
Pickaxes, or "picks", are needed to mine rocks. They can be equipped as a weapon, giving players one extra space in their inventory. However, pickaxes cannot be made using the Smithing skill. Pickaxes can be bought from either Nurmof in the Dwarven Mines or from other players. Nurmof's Pickaxe Shop in the Dwarven mines is labeled on the minimap as a gold pickaxe.
A player's Mining level determines the type of pickaxe they can mine with. The higher the level needed to use a pickaxe, the better it is than the ones below it. For example, a rune pickaxe will mine rocks faster than an adamant pickaxe.
| Pickaxe |  level
|
Shop Price |
|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 1 |
 |
1 | 140 |
 |
6 | 500 |
 |
11 | Not sold |
 |
21 | 1,300 |
 |
31 | 3,200 |
 |
41 | 32,000 |
Mineable items[]
Ores are obtained from the different types of rocks. These rocks can be found in mines. On the minimap, mines are labeled with a grey pickaxe. The color of a rock corresponds to the ore's color, so a black rock will yield coal, a blue rock will yield mithril ore, etc.
When players click on a rock, they will hit it with their pickaxes and try to get the ore out. The higher level rocks, such a mithril, and adamantite, take longer for players to mine an ore out of, making the player require patience.
After the ore has been mined, the rock will turn grey for a while. Eventually another ore will respawn and the rock will regain its color. Players can only mine a rock when ore is available. Ore respawn times differ with the difficulty of the rock. For example, runite rocks take 12 minutes to respawn while iron rocks take about 3 seconds.
| Ore | Level | Experience | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Clay | 1 | 5 | Clay is used in Crafting to make small items such as pots. |
 |
Rune essence | 1 | 5 | To mine rune essence, players will need to complete the Rune Mysteries quest (currently unreleased). It is used in the Runecrafting skill. Rune essence does not have a respawn time, allowing players to click once on the rock and wait until their inventory is full. |
 |
Copper | 1 | 17.5 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt a copper ore with a tin ore to make a bronze bar. |
 |
Tin | 1 | 17.5 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt a copper ore with a tin ore to make a bronze bar. |
 |
Limestone | 10 | 26.5 | Limestone is needed in the members' quest Regicide. It is used to smelt quicklime, or crafted into limestone bricks. |
 |
Blurite | 10 | 17.5 | Blurite ore is needed in The Knight's Sword quest. |
 |
Iron | 15 | 35 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt an iron ore to make an iron bar or smelt it with 2 coal to make a steel bar. |
 |
Elemental | 20 | 0 | Elemental ore can only be mined during and after the Elemental Workshop quest and is smelted with 4 coal into an elemental metal which is used in making Elemental shields and Elemental helmets. |
 |
Silver | 20 | 40 | Silver ore is used in the Crafting skill to make items such as holy symbols. |
 |
Coal | 30 | 50 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt coal with other ores as follows: 2 coal and an iron ore to make a steel bar, 4 coal and a mithril ore to make a mithril bar, 6 coal and an adamantite ore to make an adamantite bar, or 8 coal and a runite ore to make a runite bar. |
 |
Gems | 40 | 65 | Gem rocks are only available to members who have completed the Shilo Village quest. Gem rocks can also be found randomly during the Tai Bwo Wannai Cleanup minigame. Mining a gem rock gives the player a gem ranging from opal to diamond, which can be used in the Crafting skill. |
 |
Gold | 40 | 65 | Gold ore is used in the Crafting skill to make items such as jewelry. |
 |
Mithril | 55 | 80 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt a mithril ore with four coal to make a mithril bar. |
 |
Adamantite | 70 | 95 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt an adamantite ore with six coal to make an adamantite bar. |
 |
Runite | 85 | 125 | Players can use the Smithing skill to smelt a runite ore with eight coal to make a runite bar. |
Mines[]
Mines are areas where players can mine their ores. These may be on the surface or underground and are scattered around Gielinor. Some of these locations are accessible only after certain quests are complete.