Long-range mineral scanner
Long-range mineral scanner
A lateral sensor unit used by researchers to detect a specific type of mineral across the planet. The chance to find a resource depends on the operator's research ability. This sensor can be tuned to target a specific resource type. It consumes a lot of electricity. If you find a resource, you'll need to travel to collect it.
Base Stats
- Type
- Miscellaneous – Resources
- Beauty
- -8
- HP
- 250
- Flammability
- 50%
- Path Cost
- 25 (34%)
Building
- Size
- 3 × 3
- Placeable
- Yes
- Cover Effectiveness
- 40%
- Power
- - 700 W
Creation
- Deconstruct yield
-
150 + 
5 + 
1
The long-range mineral scanner can detect mineral deposits in the nearby areas outside your colony when manned by a researcher. It can be tuned to different minerals, such that it will only find deposits of a certain kind.
The scanner spawns mineral lumps mini-maps in the world map and triggers its respective world event which always has an expiry date of 30 days. They can either be unguarded (60% chance), guarded by pirates or surrounded by a manhunter pack. Once the area is clear of hostiles, you have 10 days to mine everything before the caravan leaves.
- Pirate defenders will surround the lump with a rudimentary base and possibly turrets.
- Manhunter packs will charge at your colonists. Some are slow allowing evasion and kiting, while others are fast and require a defensive stance.
The amount of time taken is random, though better researchers increase the chances that a mineral deposit may be found. At its baseline, it finds lumps with a mean time between of 9.2 days and will guarantee a lump after 8 days of work. The mean time between finding deposits can be altered by research speed of the user, though how this is done remains unknown.
While scanning, a pawn will gain Intellectual skill, but only at about half the rate they would while working at a research bench.
Although not explicitly mentioned in the item description, the long-range mineral scanner is not usable if there is a roof over it. (Similar to the ground-penetrating scanner.)
Resources
All minerals, as well as components, can be discovered with the scanner. The expected yield and mass from a lump can be found in the table below; this is useful for knowing how many pack animals to send to various discovered lumps.
| Resource | Number of Tiles | Total Yield | Total Mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | 55 - 60 | 2200 - 2400 | 1100 - 1200 |
| Plasteel | 10 - 15 | 400 - 600 | 100 - 150 |
| Components | 50 - 70 | 100 - 140 | 60 - 84 |
| Silver | 60 - 80 | 2400 - 3200 | 16.8 - 22.4 |
| Gold | 8 - 12 | 320 - 480 | 2.5 - 3.8 |
| Uranium | 15 - 20 | 600 - 800 | 600 - 800 |
| Jade | 20 - 25 | 700 - 875 | 350 - 438 |
Version history
It received a rework in Beta 19. Prior to that:
- It can only find gold or jade, and cannot be tuned.
- It did not require a colonist to operate.
- The lumps did not expire.
- Only one scanner is effective in the same map- building more did nothing.
In 1.1 its power cost was increased, and the time between finding ore veins is displayed.
- Misc
- Caravan hitching spot • Egg box • Grave • Marriage spot • Party spot • Pen marker • Sarcophagus • Tool cabinet • Meditation spot
• Nature shrine (Large, Small) - (research)
- Comms console • Cryptosleep casket • Firefoam popper • Ground-penetrating scanner • Long-range mineral scanner • Moisture pump • Multi-analyzer • Orbital trade beacon • Pod launcher • Stele (Large, Grand) • Transport pod • Vitals monitor • Ship landing beacon