...
Resource Probes can be deployed at prospective mining sites to learn about the abundance of natural resources. In order to locate Solid natural resources, the player ship can use Scan Mode to help visually detect asteroids. Nebulae are represented as blue tiles, asteroid fields as red tiles and mixed collection sites as purple tiles on the Map. After use, Deployables like Resource Probes can be deactivated through the HUD menu, and collected by flying over them.
Mining ships Piloted by Captains
Small and Medium ships:
These ships collect their wares like other items and wares in space (on contact with the ship).
Those with Solid cargo storage equip a mining laser turret to gun/turret to break up asteroids into small, collectable mineral fragments.
...