Mining Guide 1-525

Author: Furious
Date: October 7, 2023
Updated: October 13, 2023
Expansion: Cataclysm

Welcome to our comprehensive guide, meticulously crafted for enthusiasts looking to master the Mining profession from levels 1 to 525 in World of Warcraft Cataclysm! Mining, revered as a lucrative endeavor, is not only straightforward to level but is also a keystone for several demanding professions, making it a sought-after and rewarding skill to acquire and enhance.

Mining as a profession pairs well with:

Ore Type	Description
Obsidium Ore	A common metal introduced in the Cataclysm expansion. Typically found in initial zones impacted by the Cataclysm events. Serves as a fundamental resource for early-level mining and blacksmithing.
Elementium Ore	A higher-level ore prevalent in more advanced zones. Valued for its utility in crafting advanced weaponry and armor. Essential for mid-to-high level crafting requirements.
Pyrite Ore	A rare ore occasionally located in place of Elementium deposits. Due to its scarcity, it is highly valued in markets and crafting for high-end equipment. Its rarity makes it a target for mining enthusiasts aiming for valuable finds.

Ore Type	Required Mining Level
Copper Vein	1
Tin Vein	50
Bronze (Smelted, not mined)	50
Silver Vein	75
Iron Deposit	125
Gold Vein	155
Steel (Smelted, not mined)	125
Mithril Deposit	175
Truesilver Deposit	205
Dark Iron Deposit	230
Small Thorium Vein	230
Rich Thorium Vein	255
Fel Iron Deposit	275
Adamantite Deposit	325
Felsteel (Smelted, not mined)	350
Rich Adamantite Deposit	350
Cobalt Deposit	350
Khorium Vein	375
Rich Cobalt Deposit	375
Saronite Deposit	400
Rich Saronite Deposit	425
Obsidium Deposit	425
Pure Saronite Deposit	450
Rich Obsidium Deposit	450
Titanium Vein	450
Elementium Vein	475
Rich Elementium Vein	500
Pyrite Deposit	525
Rich Pyrite Deposit	525

Ore	Mining Level
Copper	1
Bronze	50
Tin	50
Silver	65
Iron	100
Gold	115
Steel	125
Mithril	150
Truesilver	165
Thorium	200
Fel Iron	275
Adamantite	325
Cobalt	350
Eternium	350
Felsteel	350
Hardened Adamantite	375
Khorium	375
Saronite	400
Obsidium	425
Titanium	450
Titansteel	450
Elementium	475
Hardened Elementium	500
Pyrite	525

Leveling from 1 to 525 through smelting is faster but more expensive, costing thousands of gold.
Smelting can be a primary method for levels 1 to 340 and 350 to 525, with actual mining required for levels 340 to 350 and 375 to 400.

Level Range	Product	Skill Level (Orange/Yellow/Green/Grey)
1-50	Copper Bar	1 / 20 / 40 / 60
50-70	Tin Bar	x / 50 / 57 / 75
70-90	Bronze Bar	x / 50 / 75 / 100
90-100	Silver Bar	65 / 100 / 105 / 110
100-125	Iron Bar	x / 100 / 125 / 150
125-135	Steel Bar	x / 125 / 130 / 135
135-150	Gold Bar	115 / 150 / 155 / 160
150-185	Mithril Bar	x / 150 / 175 / 200
185-200	Truesilver Bar	165 / 200 / 205 / 210
200-275	Thorium Bar	x / 230 / 245 / 290
275-325	Fel Iron Bar	x / 275 / 300 / 325
300-375	Enchanted Elementium Bar	300 / 350 / 362 / 375
325-340	Adamantite Bar	x / 325 / 332 / 340
340-350	Mine or make Enchanted Elementium
350-365	Eternium Bar	x / 350 / 357 / 365
350-365	Felsteel Bar	x / 350 / 357 / 375
350-375	Cobalt Bar	x / 350 / 362 / 375
375-400	Actual mining required
400-425	Saronite Bar	x / 400 / 412 / 425
425-475	Obsidium Bar	x / 425 / 437 / 475
475-500	Elementium Bar	x / x / 475 / 500
500-525	Hardened Elementium Bar	x / x / 500 / 525

1 – 50: Copper Ore

Players below level 20 should simply mine in their current questing zone, where Copper Ore is also plentiful.
You can also use our standalone Copper Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Race	Level Range
Darkshore	Alliance	Night Elves & Worgen	10-20
Durotar	Horde	Orc & Troll	1-10
Azuremyst Isle	Alliance	Draenei	1-10
Elwynn Forest	Alliance	Human	1-10
Dun Morogh	Alliance	Dwarves & Gnomes	1-10
Azshara	Horde	Goblins	10-20
Eversong Woods	Horde	Blood Elves	1-10
Mulgore	Horde	Tauren	1-10
Tirisfal Glades	Horde	Undead	1-10

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining copper darkshore — Darkshore Copper Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining copper azuremyst isle — Azuremyst Isle Copper Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining copper dun morogh — Dun Morogh Copper Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining copper elwynn forest — Elwynn Forest Copper Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining copper durotar — Durotar Copper Mining Routes

cataclysm classic mining copper azshara — Azshara Copper Mining Routes

cataclysm classic mining copper eversong woods — Eversong Woods Copper Mining Routes

cataclysm classic mining copper mulgore — Mulgore Copper Mining Routes

cataclysm classic mining copper tirisfal glades — Tirisfal Glades Copper Mining Routes

50 – 100: Tin & Silver

Visit the trainer and learn Journeyman Mining.
You can also use our standalone Tin Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Hillsbrad Foothills	[A][H]	20-25
Ashenvale	[A][H]	20-25
Northern Stranglethorn	[A][H]	20-25

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining tin silver hillsbrad foothills — Focus inside the red area as it has many Tin ore nodes and respawns quickly. However you can also follow the cliffs/ledges in the orange area for a few moments to give them time to respawn as needed.
Caves also contain large quantities of ore.

cataclysm classic mining tin silver northern stranglethorn — Northern Stranglethorn Mining Routes

cataclysm classic mining tin silver ashenvale — Ashenvale Mining Routes

100 – 150: Iron & Gold

You can also use our standalone Iron Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Feralas	[A][H]	35-40
Western Plaguelands	[A][H]	35-40
The Cape of Stranglethorn	[A][H]	30-35

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining iron gold feralas — Feralas Iron & Gold Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining iron gold western plaguelands — Western Plaguelands Iron & Gold Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining iron gold the cape of stranglethorn — The Cape of Stranglethorn Iron & Gold Mining Route

150 – 200: Mithril & Truesilver

Visit the trainer and learn Expert Mining.
You can also use our standalone Mithril Ore Farming Guide

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Burning Steppes	[A][H]	49-52
Felwood	[A][H]	45-50
Badlands	[A][H]	44-48

cataclysm classic mining mithril truesilver burning steppes — Burning Steppes Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining mithril truesilver felwood — Felwood Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining mithril truesilver badlands — Badlands Mining Route

200 – 275: Thorium

Visit the trainer and learn Artisan Mining.
To speed things up and make it smoother you should purchase enough Thorium Ore to get your mining to 215 which will enable you to mine Rich Thorium Veins.
At 275 you can go to Outlands and start mining Fel Iron, but you can also continue until your mining level is 300.
You can also use our standalone Thorium Ore Farming Guide

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Un’Goro Crater	[A][H]	50-55
Winterspring	[A][H]	50-55
Silithus	[A][H]	55-60
Blasted Lands	[A][H]	54-60

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining thorium ungoro crater — Un’Goro Crater Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining thorium winterspring — Winterspring Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining thorium silithus — Silithus Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining thorium blasted lands — Blasted Lands Mining Route

275 – 325: Fel Iron

Visit the trainer and learn Master Mining.
If you prefer you can mine Fel Iron until level 350.
You can also use our standalone Fel Iron Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Hellfire Peninsula	[A][H]	58-63

cataclysm classic mining fel iron hellfire peninsula — Hellfire Peninsula Mining Route

325 – 350: Adamantite Ore

Note that you will be unable to mine Rich Adamantite ore that you come across until level 350 in mining.
You can also use our standalone Adamantite Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Nagrand	[A][H]	64-67
Netherstorm	[A][H]	67-70

The red circles are caves that frequently have a lot of ore deposits.

cataclysm classic mining adamantite ore nagrand — Nagrand Mining Route

350 – 400: Cobalt Ore

Visit the trainer and learn Grand Master Mining.
Note that you will be unable to mine Rich Cobalt ore that you come across until level 375 in mining.
If you prefer you can mine Cobalt until level 450.
You can also use our standalone Cobalt Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Howling Fjord	[A][H]	68-72
Borean Tundra	[A][H]	68-72

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining cobalt ore howling fjord — Howling Fjord Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining cobalt ore borean tundra — Borean Tundra Mining Route

400 – 425: Saronite Ore

Note that you will be unable to mine Rich Saronite ore that you come across until level 425 in mining.
Titanium Veins may also present but require a higher mining skill of 450.
You can also use our standalone Saronite Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Sholazar Basin	[A][H]	76-78
Wintergrasp	[A][H]	77-80

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining saronite ore sholazar basin — Sholazar Basin Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining saronite ore wintergrasp — Wintergrasp Mining Route

425 – 475: Obsidium Ore

Visit the trainer and learn Illustrious Grand Master Mining.
Mining in Vashj’ir works best once you have your underwater mount.
You can also use our standalone Obsidium Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Mount Hyjal	[A][H]	80-82
Vashj’ir	[A][H]	80-82

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining obsidium ore mount hyjal — Mount Hyjal Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining obsidium ore vashjir — Abyssal Depths Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining obsidium ore vashjir shimmering expanse — Shimmering Expanse Route

475 – 525: Elementium Ore

Note that you will be unable to mine Pyrite ore that you come across until level 525 in mining.
You can also use our standalone Elementium Ore Farming Guide.

Zone	Faction	Level Range
Twilight Highlands	[A][H]	84-85
Uldum	[A][H]	83-84
Deepholm	[A][H]	82-83

Zones denoted with a star tend to be the best for farming the ore.

cataclysm classic mining elementium ore twilight highlands — Twilight Highlands Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining elementium ore uldum — Uldum Mining Route

cataclysm classic mining elementium ore deepholm — Deepholm Mining Route

About the Author

Furious

If I'm not working or spending time with the family I'm probably gaming. Some of my favorite recent games I've played are Far Cry 5, World of Warcraft Classic, and 7 Days to Die.