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Home Guides Orb Vallis Mining (2026): Every Ore and Gem, and Which Cutter to Buy
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Orb Vallis Mining (2026): Every Ore and Gem, and Which Cutter to Buy

10 ores and gems, the cutter to buy, and where veins cluster

Last Updated on September 30, 2026

The short answer

The Vallis has 4 ores in red veins and 6 gems in blue veins. The Sunpoint Plasma Drill from Smokefinger is the cutter to own, and Zodian and Thyst need it or the Advanced Nosam Cutter. Deck 12 is the best cave, and the rare ore Hesperon sits far from Fortuna, near the Temple of Profit.

Reviewed September 30, 2026, current through Update 44 (Iceblade of Narin). Every number on this page has two sources; this page is re-checked after every major patch.

Ore or gemVein colourRarityRefines intoUsed for
AxiditeRedCommonAxidrol Alloy (20 ore)MOA cores and brackets (Alcrom, Drex, Drimper), K-Drive parts (Bad Baby, Fatboys), Garuda Neuroptics
TravorideRedCommonTravocyte Alloy (20 ore). 20 more go into Adramal AlloyMOA parts (Alcrom, Oloro), Catchmoon kitgun chamber, Garuda Chassis
VenerolRedUncommonVenerdo Alloy (20 ore). 20 more go into Thaumic DistillateGaruda Systems, Gaze kitgun chamber, K-Drive parts (Arc Twelve, Flatbelly)
HesperonRedRareHespazym Alloy (20 ore)Baruuk Chassis and Neuroptics, Caliban and Styanax Chassis, K-Drive parts (Highbrow, Hothead)
PhasminBlueCommonSmooth Phasmin (10 gems)MOA parts (Alcrom, Drex), kitgun loaders (Zipfire, Zipneedle). Turn in: 50 standing
NoctrulBlueCommonHeart Noctrul (10 gems)MOA gyros (Aegron, Munit, Trux), Yareli Neuroptics. Turn in: 50 standing
GobliteBlueUncommonGoblite Tears (10 gems)Kitgun loaders (Flutterfire, Killstream), MOA parts (Nychus, Oloro). Turn in: 200 standing
AmarastBlueRareStar Amarast (6 gems)Garuda Neuroptics, kitgun loaders (Ramflare, Splat), Helstrum. Turn in: 500 standing
ZodianBlueSpecialRadiant Zodian (3 gems)Garuda Chassis, Baruuk and Gauss Systems, Amp prisms (Cantic, Klamora, Lega). Turn in: 1,000 standing
ThystBlueSpecialMarquise Thyst (3 gems)Garuda Systems, Baruuk Chassis, Gauss Systems, Amp braces (Certus, Plaga, Suo). Turn in: 1,000 standing

The mining run

  1. Buy the Sunpoint Plasma Drill from Smokefinger in Fortuna (2,500 standing at Neutral) and equip it from the Gear wheel.
  2. Head for caves and rock clusters. The HUD counts deposits in range, and the ticking speeds up as you close in.
  3. Aim at a blue heat spot on a vein, zoom, and hold fire.
  4. Release when the ring sits inside the bracket. The small bracket adds a gem, even on a red vein.
  5. Finish every heat spot. Stopping early locks that spot and cuts the yield.
  6. Turn spare gems in to Smokefinger for Solaris United standing, then refine the rest in the Foundry.

Which cutter to buy

CutterBuy fromCostWhat you get
Nosam CutterOld Man Suumbaat, Cetus500 Ostron standing (Neutral)Cheap start. Can't mine the special gems.
Focused Nosam CutterOld Man Suumbaat, Cetus750 Ostron standing (Visitor)Steadier laser. Can't mine the special gems.
Advanced Nosam CutterOld Man Suumbaat, Cetus1,000 Ostron standing (Surah)Minimap radar. Mines the special gems.
Sunpoint Plasma DrillSmokefinger, Fortuna2,500 Solaris United standing (Neutral)Best pick. Mines the special gems, slow stable laser, upgradable.

Where the veins cluster

  • Deck 12: densely packed veins and no enemies inside. Walk deep, come back out, and the veins in the first cave respawn.
  • The road between Central Maintenance and the small coolant lake behind the Fortuna entrance, plus the cave beside it.
  • Hesperon: the lake and mushroom forest in the northwest, near the Temple of Profit.
  • Zodian and Thyst also drop from the Exploiter Orb.

Tips that save runs

  • Rarer minerals spawn farther from Fortuna. Travel out for Hesperon and the rare gems.
  • A drop chance booster or playing Steel Path makes more veins gems and fewer ore. Leave boosters off when you need ore.
  • Zodian and Thyst also come from red veins if you land the small bonus bracket.

Mistakes that waste runs

  • Refining every gem. Raw gems turn in for standing (Phasmin and Noctrul are 50 each). Refined ones don't.
  • Stopping a cut early. That heat spot completes and can't be retried.

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