Can Mining Drones Mine Ice?
Yes, mining drones can indeed mine ice, but this process requires specialized equipment and is generally performed by specific ships in the Eve Online universe, such as Mining Barges and Exhumers, which can be outfitted with ice mining drones. The use of ice harvesting drones or modules is essential for extracting ice from asteroids and other celestial bodies, highlighting the complexity and specificity of ice mining operations.
Introduction to Ice Mining
Ice mining is a process by which ice is collected from asteroids and other celestial bodies beyond a planetary system’s frost line, with mined water ice generally used to provide water to spacecraft or to locations that suffer from a lack of water.
FAQs About Ice Mining and Mining Drones
General Questions
- Can you mine ice in a Venture? Yes, the Endurance, which is the Tech II upgrade of the Venture, has increased ore and cargo hold and is designed for ice harvesting with improved ice mining systems.
- How does ice mining work? Ice mining involves collecting ice from asteroids and other celestial bodies, which is then used for various purposes, including providing water for spacecraft.
- Is ice mining profitable in Eve? Yes, ice mining can be more profitable than ore mining, depending on market conditions and the efficiency of the mining operation.
Mining Drones and Equipment
- How many ice drones can an Orca use? The Orca can use only one Ice Harvesting Drone II due to the 50mb/s bandwidth limitation, making it less efficient in ice mining compared to other ships like the Skiff.
- What is the best ship for ice mining? Ships like Mining Barges and Exhumers, as well as Expedition Frigates and the Rorqual, are well-suited for ice mining due to their ability to be outfitted with ice mining drones and modules.
Profitability and Comparison
- Is mining still profitable in 2023? Yes, mining can still be profitable, but the profitability depends on various factors, including the type of cryptocurrency being mined, the cost of mining equipment, and the electricity costs.
- What is the most profitable crypto to mine? The most profitable crypto to mine can vary, but Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ravencoin, LiteCoin, ECOS, Vertcoin, and ZCash are often considered to be among the most profitable due to their market demand and mining difficulty.
Ice Mining in Real Life
- Do people still mine ice? While ice harvesting was once a common practice, especially before the advent of mechanical refrigeration, it has largely been replaced by more modern methods of ice production and is now only done in very remote or traditional contexts.
- How did people get ice 100 years ago? People used to cut ice from lakes using hand saws or horse-drawn machinery, which was then stored in icehouses for later use, highlighting the labor-intensive nature of ice harvesting in the past.
Biological and Environmental Aspects
- Can orcas live 100 years? Yes, orcas (also known as killer whales) can live for approximately 50 to 100 years in the wild, with some individuals estimated to have lived up to 105 years, making them one of the longer-lived cetaceans.
- Have orcas ever eaten humans? There is no documented case of an orca killing a human in the wild, as humans are not part of their natural diet.
Technical Aspects of Mining
- How long does it take to mine 1 BTC? The time it takes to mine 1 BTC can vary significantly depending on the mining hardware, the mining pool (if used), and the overall network difficulty of Bitcoin, making it a complex process influenced by numerous factors.
- What is the rarest form of ice? Ice-VII is considered the rarest form of ice, characterized by its cubic crystals and requiring very specific conditions of low temperature and high pressure to form, making it extremely rare in natural environments.
Historical and Economic Perspectives
- How much did a block of ice cost in 1950? A 500-pound block of ice could cost around $2.50 in the 1950s, which is equivalent to a significant amount in today’s money, adjusted for inflation, reflecting the value and scarcity of ice as a commodity at the time.
- Is ice coin mining real? Ice coin mining refers to a type of cryptocurrency mining that is designed to be accessible and energy-efficient, allowing for mining using phones or other low-power devices, which is a relatively new and innovative approach in the crypto mining space.