OSRS mining training starts with quest experience, and Doric’s Quest alone awards 1,300 Mining XP, which is enough to reach level 10. You’ll need 6 clay, 4 copper ore, and 2 iron ore to finish it, so it works well on a free account. After that, the real question is how you want to spend your time, since each route asks for something different. Some methods reward fast clicking, some let you leave a session running, and some focus on steady profit or rare drops.
Once you reach level 15, iron ore becomes your main active option, worth 35 Mining XP per ore. Members mining iron can expect about 45,000 to 55,000 XP per hour below level 60, and 70,000 to 80,000 per hour after that, depending on your performance and pickaxe. For the highest rates, three-tick granite can reach 120,000 to 125,000 XP per hour at level 99, but it relies on tick manipulation and brings occasional mistakes. Keep an eye on the level gates too. Motherlode Mine requires level 30 to mine pay-dirt, and its upper level asks for level 57 plus 100 golden nuggets.
Key Takeaways
- If you’re on a free account, Doric’s Quest gets you 1,300 Mining XP, which is enough to reach level 10, and you’ll need 6 clay, 4 copper ore, and 2 iron ore to finish it.
- Iron ore opens up at level 15 in OSRS, and powermining iron gives members about 45,000 to 55,000 Mining XP per hour below level 60, so iron should be your main active route once you hit that level.
- Three-tick granite can reach 120,000 to 125,000 Mining XP per hour at level 99 in OSRS, but that route relies on tick manipulation and comes with occasional mistakes, so it’s best for players with at least 45 Mining who enjoy focused sessions.
- Motherlode Mine lets you train with less clicking, but you’ll need level 30 Mining to mine pay-dirt and level 57 Mining plus 100 golden nuggets to unlock its upper level.
Matching Your Mining Route to Your Goals
Mining is a skill where your choice of method matters more than most, because XP rates vary widely between routes. An hour of iron powermining can earn far more XP than an hour spent on a slower method, so decide on your goal before you pick a rock.
Start with the level gates. Iron ore opens up at level 15, while Motherlode Mine needs level 30 to mine pay-dirt. Blast Mine’s XP estimates start at level 75, so think of it as a long-term goal rather than an early route.
Your membership status also narrows the list. Free-to-play players can train on copper, tin, iron, and Shooting Stars, but Shooting Stars award half the Mining XP on free-to-play worlds.
Your attention level matters just as much. Powermining iron and three-tick granite need frequent clicks, so you’ll stay busy the whole time. Motherlode Mine and Shooting Stars let you step away, since Shooting Stars only need your input about once every seven minutes while you mine a layer.
Finally, decide whether you’ll drop your ore or bank it. Dropping keeps your trips short and suits a relaxed session. Banking gives you ore to smith, sell, or use for supplies, which matters a lot on Ironman accounts, since those players can’t trade for what they need.
| Your goal | Best-fit methods |
|---|---|
| Fastest XP | Three-tick granite, Gem Rocks with tick manipulation |
| AFK or low attention | Motherlode Mine, Shooting Stars |
| Profit | Banked iron ore, Blast Mine, Runite Rocks |
| Ironman | Iron powermining with banked ore |
| Free-to-play | Copper, tin, iron, Shooting Stars |
Gear, Boosts, and Rewards Worth Saving For
Your pickaxe is the first upgrade worth saving for. Buy the next one as soon as you unlock it, because a better pick speeds up every swing. A better pickaxe raises your rate on every mining route, and the iron guides recommend a rune or dragon pickaxe.
Mining gloves are another useful upgrade. Expert Mining Gloves stop rocks from depleting, which matters most for slow-regenerating rocks like runite and amethyst, where an empty rock can take a long time to refill.
Here are some boosts and gear that cost time or gold:
- Expert Mining Gloves: keep rocks from depleting while you mine
- Prospector kit: 180 golden nuggets for the full set, plus a 2.5% Mining XP bonus when worn
- Celestial ring: crafted with stardust, which you collect from Shooting Stars
The Prospector kit is a long-term goal. Earning 180 golden nuggets typically takes around 10 hours on average, so save it for when you already plan to spend time at Motherlode Mine.
Stardust comes from Shooting Stars, so the same relaxed sessions that suit low-attention training also build toward a celestial ring. Expect the stardust to take a while, since it arrives at random.
Motherlode Mine’s upper level has its own price. You’ll need Mining level 57 and a one-time payment of 100 golden nuggets to Prospector Percy, so start setting nuggets aside early.
How Long Mining to 99 Really Takes
Reaching level 99 Mining is a long trip, and the route you pick decides how long it takes. The fastest path uses tick manipulation. The free-to-play guide notes that iron mining reaches about 50,000 XP per hour at level 41, and tick manipulation raises the stated maximum to 68,000 XP per hour.
Blast Mine is the high-level option for levels 75 to 99. The pay-to-play guide estimates 87,000 to 101,000 XP per hour at level 99, so it fills the final stretch rather than the start.
Non-tick routes take longer. Powermining iron is the usual path, and the Mining Guild adds iron training with extra perks, but you’ll click the whole time. AFK methods stretch the timeline further. Shooting Stars have behaved more predictably since September 2023, when Jagex stopped them from depleting faster with more miners, yet they still give far less XP per hour than a clicking route.
No single number fits everyone. Your pickaxe, your level, and how many mistakes you make all change your hourly XP. On tick routes, a missed tick costs you XP, so a steady session can beat a rushed one.
A practical plan mixes routes. Start with fast iron powermining to climb quickly, then switch to relaxed methods like Shooting Stars when clicking starts to wear you down. Later, Motherlode Mine lets you train while you do other things, and it suits the upper levels once you’ve saved your nuggets.
Copper and Tin: Starting from Level 1
Copper and tin is where most players begin. At level 1, you mine copper or tin rocks with a pickaxe, and each ore gives you 17.5 Mining XP. The free-to-play Mining guide recommends the East Lumbridge Swamp mine or the northern Dwarven Mines if you want to train without banking. Most players drop their ores as they go, since low-level ore is worth very little and dropping keeps the session moving. If you’d rather keep your ores, combine one copper and one tin to make a bronze bar.
One guide estimates about 15,000 Mining XP per hour across this level 1 to 15 stretch. At that estimated rate, level 9, which needs 969 total XP, arrives in roughly four minutes from level 1. Your real speed will vary with how quickly you click and how often you walk to a rock that’s empty. Once you hit level 15, iron ore becomes the faster route, so copper and tin work best as a first step.
Copper and tin is a good fit for free-to-play players and Ironman accounts, since you gather the ores yourself. It isn’t an AFK method or a money maker, so pick it when you want a simple start and a clear path toward iron.
At a glance
- Best for: Free-to-play players and a first step toward level 15
- Level Requirement: Level 1
- XP Rate: About 15,000 Mining XP per hour (guide estimate, levels 1 to 15)
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, you gather the ores directly
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe, with the highest tier you can use recommended
Powermining Iron: The Non-Tick Workhorse
Powermining iron is the workhorse of the non-tick routes. You head to iron rocks, usually a three-rock triangle formation, and mine them one after another. Instead of banking each ore, you drop it on the spot, so you never walk away from the rocks. You need a pickaxe and level 15 Mining to start.
Below level 60, the pay-to-play Mining training guide estimates 45,000 to 55,000 XP per hour. From level 60, the rate rises to about 70,000 to 80,000 XP per hour in the Mining Guild, depending on your performance and pickaxe. This route skips tick manipulation, so you don’t need to time your clicks to the tick.
Iron is a quick early route, but it isn’t the fastest overall. One training route suggests questing to level 37, mining iron up to level 45, then switching to three-tick granite for faster experience. Iron also demands constant clicks, so it’s a poor choice if you want to leave your screen. Ironmen can use it, but dropping ore means giving up materials you could otherwise keep.
At a glance
- Best for: Steady, active XP without tick manipulation
- Level Requirement: Level 15 Mining
- XP Rate: 45,000 to 55,000 per hour below level 60; 70,000 to 80,000 per hour from level 60
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, but dropping ore gives up materials
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe; a better pickaxe raises your rate
Mining Guild: Iron Training With Extra Perks
The Mining Guild sits in Falador, and its members’ area is built for powermining iron. You mine three rocks that are close enough to reach without moving, then drop the ore so you can keep clicking. To enter, you need level 60 Mining. Once you’re inside, you get an invisible +7 Mining boost, and the ore rocks respawn in half the usual time, so you spend less time waiting for a rock to refill.
With active play, expect roughly 70,000 to 80,000 Mining XP per hour. A rune or dragon pickaxe and Varrock armour are recommended for iron mining. At that steady rate, going from level 60 to level 99 would take roughly 160 to 183 hours. That makes the Guild a strong route for the middle levels, but not the fastest way to 99, since tick-based methods like three-tick granite move you along more quickly. It’s not an AFK method either, because you click and drop the whole time.
Ironmen can keep their ore by banking it at the deposit chest near the iron rocks. Banking slows your training compared with dropping, so most players will get more XP by dropping. The Guild suits players at level 60 or above who want steady, active training with a small boost and don’t mind frequent clicking.
At a glance
- Best for: Level 60+ players who want steady, active iron XP with a small boost
- Level Requirement: Level 60 Mining to enter the members’ area
- XP Rate: Roughly 70,000 to 80,000 Mining XP per hour with active play
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, ore can be banked at the deposit chest, though banking slows training
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: Rune or dragon pickaxe and Varrock armour recommended
Motherlode Mine: Low-Attention Training With Nuggets
Motherlode Mine is a members-only area where you mine ore veins for pay-dirt. You carry that pay-dirt to the hopper, then collect the cleaned ores from the sack, and now and then a golden nugget turns up with them. The update passed with 76.4% voting yes in Jagex’s 2014 poll.
Don’t expect the fastest XP here. A community calculator gives indicative rates of about 13,000 Mining XP per hour at level 30 and about 64,000 at level 99, depending on your level and setup. That is slower than powermining iron, but the clicking is much lighter, so you can keep an eye on a stream or a show while you work.
To enter, you need level 30 Mining, as the Motherlode Mine wiki page explains. The upper level opens at Mining 57 after a one-time payment of 100 golden nuggets to Prospector Percy. Treat those nuggets as a long-term target, not a quick reward. Bring the best pickaxe you own, Prospector equipment, and weight-reducing clothing in your other slots.
This route suits anyone who wants to train while doing other things, especially if you prefer a calm pace over constant clicking. It also suits Ironmen, who can’t trade for ores or nuggets. Mining here gathers both as you train, so you can build toward your rewards without buying anything.
At a glance
- Best for: Low-attention training and gathering ores and golden nuggets
- Level Requirement: Mining 30 to enter; Mining 57 and 100 golden nuggets for the upper level
- XP Rate: About 13,000 Mining XP per hour at level 30, about 64,000 at level 99 (indicative)
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, it yields ores and golden nuggets you can’t trade for
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: Best pickaxe available, Prospector equipment, and weight-reducing clothing
Shooting Stars: Long, Quiet Training Sessions
Shooting Stars is a different kind of Mining. Instead of swinging at ore rocks, you find a crashed star and mine its layers, one after another, for Mining XP and stardust. Stars land in different places, so a telescope or a location tip from other players helps you find one. You can read the full rules on the official Shooting Stars page.
Each star has a tier, and the tier sets the Mining level you need. A tier 6 star requires level 60, while a tier 9 star requires level 90. Once you count the time spent finding stars and some idle time, you can expect about 23,500 XP per hour at level 60, 27,000 at level 90, and 30,800 at level 99. That is far slower than three-tick granite, so stars are a relaxed route rather than the fastest one.
The big draw is how little you have to do. A layer can hold your attention for up to about seven minutes before you need to click again, so you can keep an eye on a show while you train. Since September 2023, stars no longer deplete faster when more players mine them, so busy stars behave more predictably.
Free-to-play players can mine stars too, but they earn half the XP on free-to-play worlds and can’t use the reward shop there. Stardust can be exchanged for rewards, including the celestial ring. Bring a rune pickaxe, which requires at least level 41.
At a glance
- Best for: Low-effort AFK training and free-to-play players who want a quiet session
- Level Requirement: Mining 60 to 90 or higher, depending on the star’s tier
- XP Rate: About 23,500 to 30,800 Mining XP per hour from level 60 to 99
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, stardust provides rewards you can use without trading
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A rune pickaxe, at least level 41
Calcified Rocks: Relaxed Prayer Materials
Calcified rocks are a newer Mining method you’ll find in the Cam Torum Mine. Instead of ore, each rock gives you blessed bone shards, and now and then you’ll get a calcified deposit as a bonus. You’ll need level 41 Mining and access to Cam Torum, which means starting Perilous Moons first. Bring a pickaxe and keep at least one inventory slot free, since the shards stack but the rocks still need room to be mined.
Expect a relaxed pace rather than a race. Ordinary rates run from about 23,500 Mining XP per hour at level 50 up to about 49,000 at level 99. One guide’s testing reported roughly 30,000 to 50,000 XP per hour from levels 70 to 99, close to what you’d get at Motherlode Mine. Jagex also notes that the method pays out Prayer XP, and that waterfall veins raise your success rate by 15%. The rocks deplete after about 70 seconds, so you’ll need to move between them, but the wait is short.
The trade-off is simple. You get low effort and a steady stock of Prayer materials, but the bones are the main reward, not ore, and the XP comes in slower than an active iron route. It isn’t the longest AFK option either, since Shooting Stars leave you more time between clicks. If you want ore or money, another method will serve you better.
At a glance
- Best for: Ironmen and players who want passive Prayer supplies
- Level Requirement: Level 41 Mining, plus starting Perilous Moons to reach Cam Torum
- XP Rate: About 23,500 to 49,000 Mining XP per hour from level 50 to 99
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe and at least one free inventory space
Granite: The Three-Tick Speed Route
Granite is the route for players who want the most XP per hour and don’t mind a tricky learning curve. You mine granite rocks at the Desert Quarry or the Cape Conch mine, and you usually drop the granite instead of banking it. The Desert Quarry requires protection from the heat, such as waterskins or a circlet of water. Cape Conch skips that, but you need to have partly completed Troubled Tortugans first.
The fast version is three-tick granite, often called 3t4g. It uses tick manipulation while you move between four rocks, and a cycle-setting action, such as swamp tar on a clean herb, helps keep your timing on track. You need frequent, accurate clicks, and the method is hard to learn. Granite rocks give 50, 60, or 75 Mining XP depending on their size.
At level 45, the benchmark rate is about 87,000 XP per hour, rising to around 126,000 at level 99. Realistic level 99 rates sit closer to 120,000 to 125,000 per hour once occasional mistakes are included. The gap from level 45 to 99 is about 12.97 million XP, so that stretch takes roughly 103 to 149 hours at a constant rate, before accounting for rates that rise with level or for downtime.
Granite isn’t an AFK method, and it isn’t a meaningful money maker, so don’t pick it for gp. Ironmen can use it for fast XP, but dropping the granite means giving up a resource they could have kept. It suits players with at least 45 Mining who want speed and enjoy focused, precise sessions.
At a glance
- Best for: Players with 45 Mining or higher who want high XP and accept tick manipulation
- Level Requirement: Level 45 Mining
- XP Rate: About 87,000 XP per hour at level 45, rising to about 126,000 at level 99
- Ironman Friendly: Yes for fast XP, though dropping granite gives up resources
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe, plus waterskins or a circlet of water for the Desert Quarry
Gem Rocks: Random Gems and Fast Tick XP
Gem Rocks is a members-only Mining route in Old School RuneScape, and you’ll find it in Shilo Village. You need level 40 Mining and a pickaxe. Each successful mine gives you a random uncut gem and 65 Mining XP, so every success pays out twice. The Shilo Village quest opens the surface mine, which has seven gem rocks. Finish the Medium Karamja Diary and you unlock the much larger underground mine, with 48 rocks and a bank deposit chest.
Around level 70, expect roughly 57,000 Mining XP per hour if you wear a charged amulet of glory, which triples your success rate on gem rocks. Push into high-efficiency tick manipulation in the underground mine and the rate climbs to about 105,000 to 115,000 XP per hour at level 99. That’s fast, but it isn’t the fastest Mining XP method, and it isn’t AFK. You’ll be clicking the whole time.
Gems are the profit angle, since the Mining training guide calls gem rocks a profitable alternative when tick-manipulated, with experience rates comparable to granite. Ordinary gem mining is considerably slower, which is why it’s mainly recommended for Ironmen who want opals, jades, or red topazes. Ironman accounts can’t trade for gems, so mining them yourself keeps your supplies coming while you train.
This route suits players at level 40 and up who want fast XP with a gem reward and don’t mind active play.
At a glance
- Best for: Level 40+ players who want fast XP with gem rewards and don’t mind active play
- Level Requirement: Level 40 Mining, with the Shilo Village quest for the surface mine and the Medium Karamja Diary for the underground mine
- XP Rate: About 57,000 Mining XP per hour at level 70 with a charged amulet of glory; about 105,000 to 115,000 at level 99 with tick manipulation
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, the gems you mine supply your account
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe and a charged amulet of glory
Sandstone: Crafting Supplies While You Train
Sandstone is a members-only Mining method in the Quarry south of the Bandit Camp. You mine sandstone rocks there, then carry the blocks to the Sandstorm grinder just west of the Quarry to make buckets of sand. Each block also gives you 30, 40, 50, or 60 Mining XP, depending on its size. You’ll need level 35 Mining and a pickaxe to start.
Expect roughly 30,000 to 60,000 Mining XP per hour, depending on your level and technique. Normally, you’ll make about 3,000 to 4,500 buckets of sand per hour. Tick manipulation can push that to about 5,000 to 6,500, but it’s an active method, so you’ll be clicking and timing the whole time. The Quarry is subject to desert heat, so bring waterskins, a circlet of water, or a Desert amulet 4 to avoid taking damage.
Sandstone isn’t the fastest route to 99. Three-tick granite beats it from level 45 onward, and it won’t hold your attention the way Shooting Stars does. Its real strength is the sand. Ironmen can’t trade for Crafting supplies, and the Ironman Mining guide on the OSRS Wiki recommends sandstone for exactly this reason, since it earns Mining XP while collecting sand for Crafting training.
At a glance
- Best for: Ironmen and players who want useful items from their training
- Level Requirement: Level 35 Mining, members only
- XP Rate: Roughly 30,000 to 60,000 Mining XP per hour, depending on level and technique
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, the sand supplies Crafting training
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe, plus waterskins, a circlet of water, or a Desert amulet 4 for the heat
Blast Mine: High-Level XP and Profit
Blast Mine is a members-only activity in northern Lovakengj, and it works differently from a standard rock. You chisel into hard rock, set and light dynamite, then wash and collect the ore that gets blasted out before it disintegrates. You need at least level 43 Mining, plus dynamite, a chisel, and a tinderbox. A pickaxe isn’t required, and each blast also awards Firemaking XP.
Level 75 is a recommended point to start, because runite ore becomes available there. The pay-to-play guide estimates about 65,000 to 76,000 Mining XP per hour at level 75, rising to 87,000 to 101,000 at level 99, depending on your strategy. That moves you through the upper levels quickly, but it isn’t a single guaranteed fastest route to 99.
Don’t pick Blast Mine for a relaxed session. The guide classifies it as high-intensity training, so you’ll be chiseling, lighting, and collecting the whole time. It is a profitable solo option, though, so you earn ore to sell alongside your XP. Ironmen can use it too, as long as they get their own dynamite, which Thirus sells.
Blast Mine suits players with 75 Mining or higher who want XP and gp together and don’t mind active play.
At a glance
- Best for: Level 75+ players who want high XP and gp together and don’t mind active play
- Level Requirement: Mining 43 minimum; level 75 for runite ore
- XP Rate: About 65,000 to 76,000 Mining XP per hour at level 75; 87,000 to 101,000 at level 99
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, if you obtain your own dynamite
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: Dynamite, a chisel, and a tinderbox; no pickaxe required
Volcanic Mine: Coordinated Group Training
Volcanic Mine is a members’ Mining minigame beneath the Fossil Island Volcano. You mine a moving boulder for ore fragments, and while you do, you manage gas chambers to keep the mine stable. The boulder keeps you clicking, and the chambers keep the whole mine from getting out of hand.
To get in, you need at least level 50 Mining. Each visit costs 30 numulite, or you can pay a one-time 3,000 numulite for permanent access. The Volcanic Mine wiki page lists the full details.
Expect about 40,000 Mining XP per hour at level 50. The real draw comes at level 99, where well-coordinated group runs can reach roughly 85,000 to 95,000 XP per hour. That’s below the peak of three-tick granite, but it asks far less of your clicks. You still need to pay attention, so it isn’t an AFK method, and it doesn’t make much profit.
Solo players have a path too. Capping a vent and leaving the boulder alone earns about 45,000 to 50,000 Mining XP and around 13,300 points per hour, depending on your level. Bring a pickaxe and 12 to 16 pieces of food, plus a stamina potion if you’re going solo. Ironmen who don’t want to find a team can use this vent-capping strategy.
Volcanic Mine suits players at level 50 or above who enjoy group play. The Mining training guide recommends it from level 70 onward, so it fits best once you’re past the middle levels and ready to coordinate with others.
At a glance
- Best for: Level 50+ players who enjoy coordinated group play
- Level Requirement: Mining 50 to enter, recommended from level 70
- XP Rate: About 40,000 Mining XP per hour at level 50; roughly 85,000 to 95,000 at level 99 with well-coordinated play
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, the solo vent-capping strategy suits Ironmen who don’t want a team
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A pickaxe, 12 to 16 pieces of food, and a stamina potion for solo play
Zalcano: Boss Training Beneath Prifddinas
Zalcano is a skilling boss you fight in the volcanic caverns beneath Prifddinas, so it works differently from a normal ore rock. You start by mining rock formations for tephra, then process it and use it to break Zalcano’s armour. Once her armour is down, you mine her while she’s vulnerable. Any pickaxe will do, but a higher-tier pickaxe gives you a Mining bonus against her.
This is not an AFK route. You need to finish Song of the Elves, and you need at least level 70 Mining and level 70 Smithing before you can take her on. Every cycle asks you to mine and process tephra, attack the boss, and then mine her during the vulnerable phases. When you speak to Rhiannon, you choose between ordinary resource rewards and extra Mining XP. Turning resource rewards off doesn’t remove your chance at unique or pet rewards.
In May 2024, Jagex said the resource-off mode was aimed at around 50,000 XP per hour, then adjusted that target the next day after mass-world rates came in higher than intended. Your results depend on the reward mode you pick, your team size, how much you contribute, and how many kills you get per hour. Check Jagex’s current announcements before planning around any single rate.
Zalcano suits higher-level players who want a boss-style challenge and a change of pace from standard mining. Ironmen who want its resources and unique rewards may also find it worth the effort.
At a glance
- Best for: High-level players who want a boss-style challenge and a change of pace
- Level Requirement: Level 70 Mining and level 70 Smithing, plus Song of the Elves
- XP Rate: Varies with reward mode, team size, and kills per hour, so it isn’t a reliable route to 99
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, for Ironmen who want its resources and unique rewards
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: Any pickaxe, with higher tiers giving a Mining bonus against Zalcano
Amethyst: Ranged Ammunition From the Guild
Amethyst mining takes you to the Mining Guild, where you mine amethyst crystals and keep the ore or process it into ranged ammunition materials. The method is members-only, and you need level 92 Mining to start. A rune, dragon, or crystal pickaxe is enough, and no quest is required. Each amethyst gives 240 Mining XP, and the ore can be made into dart, arrow, bolt, and javelin tips, as Jagex’s 2017 poll described.
Expect roughly 20,000 to 25,000 Mining XP per hour, with about 80 to 100 amethyst coming out of the rocks in that time. That’s a steady rate, but it’s slow for a level 92 player. One guide estimates about 325 hours to climb from level 92 to 99, so amethyst is a long road rather than a shortcut.
Its appeal is how little you have to do. The method is low effort and needs very little attention, so you can keep an eye on a show while you train. Amethyst rocks regenerate slowly, which is why expert mining gloves are worth having, since they stop a rock from depleting while you mine. Amethyst can also make money, and it suits Ironman accounts, because gathering your own amethyst keeps your ranged supplies coming while you train.
At a glance
- Best for: Level 92+ players who want low-attention training and their own ranged ammunition materials
- Level Requirement: Level 92 Mining, members only
- XP Rate: Roughly 20,000 to 25,000 Mining XP per hour
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, you gather the amethyst yourself
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A rune, dragon, or crystal pickaxe; expert mining gloves and Varrock armour 4 are optional upgrades
Runite Rocks: Slow Ore for Profit
Runite rocks sit around Gielinor, and you can start mining them at level 85 Mining. Each successful attempt gives you one runite ore and 125 Mining XP, and you’ll need a pickaxe, with a rune or dragon pickaxe as the one the money-making guide lists. Rocks stay empty for a while after you mine them, so most miners hop worlds to find a fresh one. The Old School RuneScape Wiki’s runite rocks page says they normally respawn after 12 minutes, or after 6 minutes in the Mining Guild.
Runite is the slowest way to train on this list. One money-making guide’s relatively AFK miner, hopping between worlds, can expect about 65 ores per hour, which works out to 8,125 Mining XP per hour. Going from level 85 to 99 would take 9,775,821 XP, or about 78,207 runite ores at 125 XP each. Even when you’re busy, the level climbs slowly.
The appeal is the ore, not the XP. Runite is valuable, so it’s a money-making choice rather than the fastest route to 99, and competition between miners changes the rate you’ll see. Expert Mining Gloves help here, since the top mining pages note they stop slow-regenerating rocks like runite from depleting. A recent update also reached Runite Golems. As a recent news report noted on 14 October 2026, golems now have a chance to drop extra runite ore based on your Wilderness Diary tier, and Expert Mining Gloves stop them from depleting.
Runite suits high-level miners who want ore and XP at the same time. Free-to-play players can mine the Lava Maze runite mine in the Wilderness, but the free-to-play guide calls that spot extremely dangerous. Ironmen can mine runite too, because they gather the ore directly. It isn’t a low-attention option, though, since finding fresh rocks often means switching worlds.
At a glance
- Best for: Level 85+ miners who want runite ore for profit alongside XP
- Level Requirement: Mining 85
- XP Rate: About 8,125 Mining XP per hour for a relatively AFK miner hopping worlds
- Ironman Friendly: Yes, you mine the ore directly
- Pickaxe or Gear Needed: A rune or dragon pickaxe, with Expert Mining Gloves suggested
Picking Your First Mining Route Today
Open your skills tab and check your Mining level before you do anything else. Your level decides which routes are open to you, so it’s the quickest way to narrow the list.
If you’re under level 15, stay with copper and tin until you reach it, then move to iron. Keep a simple log of how many hours you spend and how much XP you gain, so you can compare your real rate with the estimates in this guide.
If you have a members account and sit between level 30 and 56, try Motherlode Mine for a relaxed session. Start saving golden nuggets now. The upper level needs 100 of them, and a full Prospector kit needs 180, so every nugget you collect along the way brings you closer.
Ironman? Choose a route that leaves you with something useful. Sandstone supplies Crafting training, Motherlode Mine gives you ore and nuggets, and banked iron gives you materials for smithing.
Once you reach level 60, decide between the Mining Guild’s steady iron and three-tick granite, which is faster but harder to learn. Pick one method and stick with it for a full week of play. Then check your XP gains and decide whether to switch.