Ironman Mining Guide OSRS: Best Methods at Every Stage
Get celestial ring first (2k stardust). MLM for prospector/coal bag/gem bag. Sandstone 70-80 to bank 99 Crafting. Amethyst 92-99 for blowpipe/tbow ammo. Mining on an ironman is about what you GET while training, not XP rates.
Mining training on an OSRS ironman isn’t about XP rates — it’s about what you get while training. Here’s how to make every level count.
At a glance:
- Supplies needed: Prospector kit, coal bag, gem bag, celestial ring, expert mining gloves
- Best AFK: Shooting Stars (gem bags for Crafting)
- Best for Prayer: Calcified Rocks (pre-70 Prayer)
- Endgame: Amethyst 92-99 (blowpipe/tbow ammo)
Priority Unlocks
Get these before focusing on XP:
| Item | Source | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Celestial Ring | 2,000 stardust (Shooting Stars) | +4 invisible Mining boost, works uncharged |
| Prospector Kit | 180 nuggets (MLM) | 2.5% XP bonus, needed for Varrock Elite diary |
| Coal Bag | 100 nuggets (MLM) | Essential for Blast Furnace |
| Gem Bag | 100 nuggets (MLM) | Holds gems while mining |
| Expert Mining Gloves | Unidentified minerals (Mining Guild) | Prevents ore depletion, huge for amethyst |
Early Game (1-45)
Quests (1-37)
Skip the early grind entirely:
- Doric’s Quest → Level 10
- Plague City → Level 18
- The Dig Site → Level 37
Total: 27,525 XP for minimal effort.
Power Mining Iron (37-45)
- Where: Mining Guild (60 Mining) or any iron spot
- Why: Fast XP, work towards expert mining gloves
- Tip: Mine in the Mining Guild once unlocked — rocks respawn faster and you earn unidentified minerals
Mid Game (45-70)
You have choices here based on what you need:
Option 1: Motherlode Mine
- XP/hr: 30-50k
- Effort: Low (but not truly AFK)
- Why do it: Prospector kit, coal bag, gem bag, ores for Blast Furnace
- When to stop: Once you have the unlocks (around 180 nuggets for prospector + 200 for bags)
Option 2: Sandstone (for Crafting)
- XP/hr: 50-70k (with tick manipulation)
- Effort: Medium-High
- Why do it: Buckets of sand for giant seaweed → 99 Crafting
- How much: Mining to ~80 gives enough sand for 99 Crafting
Option 3: Shooting Stars
- XP/hr: 20-35k
- Effort: Very Low (7+ min AFK per layer)
- Why do it: Celestial ring (2,000 dust), then gem bags (300 dust each) for passive Crafting XP
- When: Anytime you want true AFK — working, watching TV, etc.
Option 4: Calcified Rocks (41+)
- XP/hr: 30-50k (up to 94k with tick manipulation)
- Effort: Low-Medium (~70 sec per vein)
- Why do it: Passive Prayer XP (10-15k/hr) via blessed bone shards
- Best for: Pre-70 Prayer push. Less valuable once you have Piety.
Late Game (70-92)
Volcanic Mine (85+)
- XP/hr: 68-79k
- Effort: Medium (requires teams)
- Why do it: Best XP rates, chance at broken dragon pickaxe from ore packs
- Tip: Get prospector kit first
Gem Rocks (with Karamja Hard diary)
- XP/hr: 50-70k
- Effort: Medium-High
- Why do it: Gems for jewellery (slayer bracelets, teleport jewellery, dragonstones)
- Where: Underground Shilo Village mine (requires diary for deposit box)
Continued Shooting Stars / Calcified
Both remain viable to 92 if you prefer the AFK lifestyle or want the secondary rewards.
Endgame (92-99)
There are faster methods to 99 — Volcanic Mine, shooting stars, even gem rocks. But here’s the thing: once you hit 99 Mining, you’re probably never mining again. Amethyst is the one resource you’ll want a massive stockpile of for endgame PvM.
Amethyst
- XP/hr: ~20k
- Effort: Very Low (75 sec respawn)
- Why do it: Amethyst darts for blowpipe, amethyst arrows for tbow
- How much: 92-99 gives ~27k amethyst
Expert Mining Gloves
These prevent ore depletion 1-3 times. Huge for amethyst efficiency. Get them from Mining Guild before parking here.
Method Comparison
| Method | XP/hr | Effort | Secondary Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power mine iron | 50-82k | High | Expert mining gloves |
| 3-tick Granite | 85-125k | Very High | None (pure XP) |
| Motherlode Mine | 30-50k | Low | Ores, nuggets (prospector, bags) |
| Shooting Stars | 20-35k | Very Low | Stardust (ring, gem bags, clay packs) |
| Calcified Rocks | 30-50k | Low | Blessed bone shards (Prayer XP) |
| Sandstone | 50-70k | Medium | Buckets of sand (Crafting) |
| Gem Rocks | 50-70k | Medium | Gems (jewellery, Crafting) |
| Volcanic Mine | 68-79k | Medium | D pick chance, best XP |
| Amethyst | ~20k | Very Low | Amethyst ammo |
Recommended Path
Based on community consensus:
| Stage | Do This | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1-37 | Quests | Skip early levels |
| 37-50 | Shooting Stars | Get celestial ring (2k dust) |
| 50-60 | MLM | Prospector kit + coal bag + gem bag |
| 60-70 | Mining Guild Iron | Expert mining gloves |
| 41-70 | Calcified Rocks (alternative) | If pushing for Piety |
| 70-80 | Sandstone | Bank 99 Crafting |
| 80-92 | Stars / Gem Rocks / Volcanic Mine | Your preference |
| 92-99 | Amethyst | Park here, accumulate ammo |
Dragon Pickaxe
Getting a d-pick is optional but nice:
| Source | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wilderness bosses (Callisto, Venenatis, etc.) | Best drop rate but risky |
| Kalphite Queen | Safer but longer kills |
| King Black Dragon | Very rare (1/1500) |
| Volcanic Mine ore packs | 1% chance per 4,000 point pack |
Common Mistakes
- Grinding MLM for ores — You’ll buy bars with GP from Blast Furnace shop. MLM is for the unlocks, not the ores.
- Skipping Celestial Ring — +4 invisible boost is too good. Get it early.
- Ignoring Sandstone — Mining sandstone effectively banks 99 Crafting. Don’t skip it.
- Calcified Rocks after 70 Prayer — The Prayer XP is most valuable pre-Piety. After that, shooting stars or amethyst give better value.
- Not getting Expert Mining Gloves — These make amethyst way better. Worth the iron grind.
FAQ
What’s the best AFK mining method for ironman?
Shooting stars. You can AFK for 7+ minutes per layer, and you get stardust for the celestial ring and gem bags. Amethyst is also extremely AFK (75 second respawn) but requires 92 Mining.
Should I do MLM or shooting stars?
Both, but for different reasons. Do MLM until you have prospector kit, coal bag, and gem bag (~280 nuggets total). After that, shooting stars are better — more AFK, and stardust rewards are more useful long-term.
When should I start amethyst?
At 92 Mining, or you can boost from 90 with celestial ring + dwarven stout(m). Don’t rush to 92 with other methods just to start amethyst earlier — the XP rates are similar and you’ll want the full 92-99 grind to build your stockpile.
Is the dragon pickaxe worth getting?
It’s a ~5-6% speed increase over rune. Nice to have, not essential. If you’re doing Wilderness bosses anyway, great. Don’t grind specifically for it — you’ll eventually get one from Volcanic Mine ore packs or bossing.
Is 3-tick granite worth it?
Only if you want fast XP and don’t care about secondary rewards. Most ironmen prefer methods that give useful resources (sandstone for Crafting, calcified rocks for Prayer, amethyst for ammo). Pure XP grinding is rarely the ironman way.
Related Guides
- Crafting Guide — Sandstone + giant seaweed method
- Prayer Guide — Using blessed bone shards
- Blast Furnace Guide — Where your coal bag gets used