This is a guide on how to level your mining skill from 1 to 450 quickly. At each level, it outlines which ore you will be able to mine, and where best to mine it from. If you need info on any of the items or places mentioned in this guide, head over to WoWHead and search for it on the WoW database.

Mining is one of the gathering professions of World of Warcraft. It requires a mining pick. It is paired well with the Blacksmithing, Jewelcrafting and Engineering professions, and is also the most lucrative of the gathering professions. Mining an ore node also gives a chance of discovering minerals and stones, which can be sold or used, depending on your other primary profession. A miner can also smelt ore into bars at a forge, which can be either used or sold. All prices in this guide are approximate, they may differ slightly depending on where you buy recipes and your server.

A free add-on that can make your mining career easier is Gatherer. This will allow you to track ore locations on your map in more detail.

Levels 1 - 50

To begin your career as a miner, you will need to visit a mining trainer in one of the major cities of Azeroth and become an Apprentice. This will cost 8 copper and will give you the skill Find Minerals which will allow you to see ore nodes on your mini-map. You will also need to purchase a mining pick for 69 copper, and this must be in your inventory in order to be able to mine.

You will then be able to mine Copper. Mining copper gives a chance of finding Rough Stone, Shadowgem, Malachite, Tigerseye and Blood Shard (only in The Barrens). Copper is most commonly found in:

Elwynn Forest
Dun Morogh
Mulgore (Venture Co. Mine, Palemane Rock)
The Barrens

Levels 50 - 100

Visit another mining trainer and become a Journeyman. This will cost 4 silver and 25 copper. At level 65, return to your trainer and purchase the Smelt Bronze recipe for 1 silver 70 and the Smelt Tin recipe for 42 copper. At level 75 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Silver recipe for 1 silver 70 copper. At level 75 you will gain the Toughness skill. This will rank up at various points in your mining career.

At level 65, you will be able to mine Tin veins. Mining Tin gives a chance of finding Coarse Stone, Rough Stone, Moss Agate, Shadowgem, Lesser Moonstone, Jade and Rethban Ore (Redridge Mountains only). At level 75, you will be able to mine Silver veins. Mining Silver gives a chance of finding Moss Agate, Shadowgem and Lesser Moonstone.

Tin: Silverpine Forest, The Barrens, Thousand Needles, Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands
Silver: Arathi Highlands, Badlands, The Barrens, Duskwood, Hillsbrad Foothills

Levels 100 - 170

At 125, return to your trainer and become an Expert Miner. This will cost 42 silver and 50 copper. You will also be able to purchase the Smelt Iron recipe for 4 silver 25 copper. At level 155 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Gold recipe for 21 silver 25 copper. At level 165 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Steel recipe for 21 silver 25 copper.

At level 125, you will be able to mine Iron deposits. Mining Iron gives a chance of finding Heavy Stone, Lesser Moonstone, Jade, Citrine and Aquamarine. At 155, you will be able to mine Gold veins. Mining Gold gives a chance of finding Lesser Moonstone, Jade and Citrine.

Iron: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Badlands, Stranglethorn Vale
Gold: Badlands, Burning Steppes, Arathi Highlands

Levels 170 - 210

At level 175 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Mithril recipe from your trainer for 42 silver 50 copper. At 200, return to your trainer and become an Artisan Miner. This will cost 4 gold and 75 silver, and you must be at least level 25.

At level 175, you will be able to mine Mithril deposits. Mining Mithril gives a chance of finding Solid Stone, Black Vitriol, Aquamarine, Citrine and Star Ruby. Mithril is most commonly found in:

Azshara
Badlands
Desolace
The Hinterlands
Stranglethorn Vale

Levels 210 - 250

At level 230, you will be able to mine Truesilver and Dark Iron deposits. Mining Truesilver gives a chance of finding Aquamarine, Citrine and Star Ruby. Mining Dark Iron gives a chance of finding Black Vitriol, Blood of the Mountain and Black Diamond. You will also be able to purchase the Smelt Truesilver recipe from your trainer for 85 silver. At level 245, you will be able to mine Small Thorium veins. Mining these veins gives a chance of finding Dense Stone, Black Vitriol, Arcane Crystal, Large Opal, Star Ruby, Huge Emerald, Blue Sapphire and Azerothian Diamond.

Truesilver: Burning Steppes, Un'Goro Crater
Dark Iron: Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes, Blackrock Depths, Molten Core
Small Thorium: Un'Goro Crater, Silithus, Burning Steppes, Blasted Lands

Levels 250 - 300

At level 250 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Thorium recipe from your trainer for 1 gold 70 silver. At level 275, you will be able to mine Rich Thorium veins. Mining these veins gives a chance of finding Dense Stone, Black Vitriol, Arcane Crystal, Large Opal, Star Ruby, Huge Emerald, Blue Sapphire and Azerothian Diamond. Rich Thorium is most commonly found in:

Winterspring
Eastern Plaguelands
Azshara
Burning Steppes

Levels 300 - 325

Travel to the Outlands and learn the Mining Master rank from Thrallmar or Honor Hold. This will cost 8 gold and 50 silver and you need to be at least level 40. You can also purchase the Shatter Earth and Fire Sunder recipes for 85 silver each, and the Smelt Fel Iron recipe for 3 gold 40 silver.

At level 300 you will be able to mine Fel Iron and Nethercite deposits. Mining Fel Iron gives a chance of finding Mote of Earth, Mote of Fire, Eternium Ore, Golden Draenite, Blood Garnet, Flame Spessarite, Deep Peridot, Shadow Draenite and Azure Moonstone. Mining Nethercite gives a chance of finding Mote of Earth, Mote of Fire, Netherwing Egg, Eternium Ore, Golden Draenite, Blood Garnet, Flame Spessarite, Deep Peridot, Shadow Draenite, Azure Moonstone, Dawnstone, Living Ruby, Nightseye, Noble Topaz, Star of Elune and Talasite. Nethercite is only found in Shadowmoon Valley. Fel Iron is most commonly found in:

Hellfire Peninsula
Zangarmarsh
Blade's Edge Mountains

Levels 325 - 350

At level 325 you can purchase the Smelt Adamantite recipe from your trainer for 3 gold 40 silver.

You will be now be able to mine Adamantite. Mining Adamantite gives a chance of finding Mote of Earth, Eternium Ore, Golden Draenite, Blood Garnet, Flame Spessarite, Deep Peridot, Shadow Draenite and Azure Moonstone. Adamantite is most commonly found in:

Blade's Edge Mountains
Nagrand
Terrokar Forest

Levels 350 - 375

Travel to Northrend and learn the Mining Grand Master rank from Warsong Hold, Valgarde, Vengeance Landing or Dalaran. This will cost 28 gold and you must be at least level 55. You can also purchase the Smelt Eternium and Smelt Felsteel recipes for 3 gold 40 silver each.

At level 350 you will be able to mine Rich Adamantite and Colbalt deposits. Mining Rich Adamantite gives a chance of finding the same minerals as Adamantite. Mining Cobalt gives a chance of finding Crystallized Earth, Crystallized Water, Bloodstone, Chalcedony, Dark Jade, Huge Citrine, Shadow Crystal and Sun Crystal.

Rich Adamantite: Nagrand, Netherstorm, Shadowmoon Valley
Cobalt: Borean Tundra, Dragonblight, Grizzly Hills, Howling Fjord

Levels 375 - 400

At level 375 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Hardened Adamantite and Smelt Khorium recipes from your trainer for 8 gold 50 silver each.

You will be now be able to mine Khorium veins and and Rich Cobalt deposits. Mining Khorium gives a chance of finding Mote of Earth, Eternium Ore, Mote of Fire, Arcane Crystal, Azure Moonstone, Blood Garnet, Deep Peridot, Flame Spessarite, Golden Draenite, Shadow Draenite, Dawnstone, Living Ruby, Nightseye, Noble Topaz, Star of Elune and Talasite. Mining Rich Cobalt deposits gives a chance of finding the same minerals as Cobalt, and also Autumn's Glow, Forest Emerald, Monarch Topaz, Sky Sapphire and Twilight Opal.

Khorium: Nagrand, Terrokar Forest
Rich Colbalt: Borean Tundra, Dragonblight, Grizzly Hills, Howling Fjord

Levels 400 - 450

At level 400 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Saronite recipe for 12 gold. At level 450 you will be able to purchase the Smelt Titanium and Smelt Titansteel recipes for 16 gold each.

You will now be able to mine Saronite deposits. Mining Saronite also gives a chance of finding Crystallized Earth, Crystallized Shadow, Bloodstone, Chalcedony, Dark Jade, Huge Citrine, Shadow Crystal and Sun Crystal. At level 425 you will be able to mine Rich Saronite deposits. Mining Rich Saronite gives a chance of finding the same minerals as Saronite, and also Autumn's Glow, Forest Emerald, Monarch Topaz, Sky Sapphire and Twilight Opal. At level 450 you will be able to mine Titanium veins. Mining Titanium gives a chance of finding the same minerals as Rich Saronite, and also Crystallized Air, Crystallized Water and Crystallized Fire.

Saronite: Icecrown, Sholazar Basin, Storm Peaks
Rich Saronite: Icecrown, Sholazar Basin, Storm Peaks
Titanium: Icecrown, Sholazar Basin, Storm Peaks

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