Olympia: The Age of Gods PBEM (May 4 1999)
Mines often contain precious resources, such as iron and gold. To obtain these resources, a noble must have a work crew and use the appropriate mining skill, e.g., [9563] Mine Iron.
As the depth of the shaft increases, the mix of resources obtainable changes. Iron is usually found nearest the surface, at depths of up to 1000 feet. Gold is found from 600 feet downward. Mithril is found below 1000 feet, and gate crystals are found only at the deepest levels.
A noble's chance of finding a resource depends primarily upon his experience. Additional workers help slightly, but only the first 100 workers aid in finding ore. Of course, no amount of experience or additional workers will help find ore if there is none to be found, or if the level being mined is "played out".
When ore is discovered, the amount recovered depends upon the number of workers available to process the ore. Again, only the first 100 workers aid in processing the ore; more cannot fit into the close confines of the mine shaft.
At times nobles may hit rich lodes of ore that will increase (sometimes greatly) the amount of ore harvested, but such occurrences are fairly rare.