Thread: Good areas for each tier ores.

It's one thing to know what regions spawn different tier nodes, it's another thing to wander across those areas looking for the next spawn. I do know there are some great areas that provide a denser amount of nodes that tend to provide a higher chance of suppling both types per tier.

I'm thinking of compiling a list of the best harvesting sites with an abundance of each spawn type. Add your input as well if you're so inclined. (I realize some people like having their own little areas for mining and don't want everyone else finding it and taking all their mats.)
(As an aside, I'll add comments about what I've found regarding forester branches as well, as an Explorer)

Tier 1 Tin/Copper: Swamp regions. Rushock Bog in the Shire, Midgewater Swamp in Bree-Lands

Tier 2 Barrow-Iron/Silver: Barrow-Downs (Both north and south. Southern barrows have a mix of tier 2 and 3) Old Forest, Rath Teraig in Ered Luin (easy to run laps around the mountain there.)

Tier 3 Rich Iron/Gold: Kingsfell in North Downs

Tier 4 Dwarf-Iron/Platinum: Across the Lake in Evendim in Emyn Uial, West side of Misty Mountains {Misties only have Black Ash Branches which are tier 5 mats, so if you're trying to gather all the tier 4 mats, west Evendim or Trollshaws are the best bet.}

Tier 5 Ancient Iron/Ancient Silver: Taur Orthon in Forochel, West side of Misty Mountains

Tier 6 K-Tin/KCopper:
K-Iron/K-Gold:


If anyone else has any input, I'll update their suggestions as I am able.

2 things I'd differ on with your list at first glance, at least for more vet players who can ride around each area without incident:

BIO/Silver: Make a continual riding loop starting at Bree's West Gate, ride north along the edge and then around/through the Eastern Breefields, then back down eventually and pick up anything along the way when you're pretty much ready to head back. There always seems to be a plethora of nodes that pop up in EBF whenever I'm up there.

RIO/Gold: Kingsfell is decent, but riding around Nan Amlug East & West is by far more productive. I'll even find 3 nodes right near each other at times in spots over on the other side of Esteldin.

Very good points. As I've leveled my explorer to this point now, I have found that the east and west sides of Nan Amlug north of Esteldin are really great spots for these. I've often just spent time wandering the area north of Othrikar. The east side is easier as it is flatter though.

So far, I have yet to find a good area for Dwarf-Iron/Plat other than running around the west end of the Trollshaws. Also, western Angmar does seem to yield more density of nodes, I have yet to find a good reliable area for this.

The north half of Eregion has definitely yielded a large amount of Ancient ores for me.

Assuming you don't see anyone else about as you're harvesting (and especially if you have use a character with the mobs outleveled and the highest level mining tools you can use), the best area for DIO/Plat is Evendim on the west side of the lake by far I've found. Platinum can still be a pain (most of the precious metals are though gold tends to be worst I think), but if you harvest every node regardless of what you need too that's the quickest way to get to the goal you're trying to reach on either side of the coin.

The northern parts of Eregion are good for Ancient Iron and Ancient Silver.

The southern parts of Eregion have K-Copper and K-tin.

Inside Moria, the Upper and Central portions have K-Copper and K-Tin. It's all over and Rich nodes are abundant. Silvertine Lodes is a good place for mining.

The Lower portions of the zone have K-Iron and K-Gold. Redhorn Lodes is a good place for mining.

Originally Posted by Aleronde

The northern parts of Eregion are good for Ancient Iron and Ancient Silver.

You use to find TOOOONS of Ancient Silver along the dried river beds, but after the updates it has drastically dropped.

On the other side, do not look to be successful when mining in the Lonelands at lower levels. The nodes are so spread out, it's not even worth the time.