Mining Guide for Beginners: How to Clear the Mines
Everything you need to know about Stardew Valley's mines — floors, ores, geodes, combat tips, and how to reach level 120.
The mines are where you’ll find the ores and gems that fund your tool upgrades, feed the Community Center, and pad your wallet. This guide walks you through the whole thing, from the first rock to the bottom.
Getting into the mines
The mines are in the mountains, northeast of town. The entrance is blocked by a rockslide until Spring 5, when it’s cleared automatically. Head inside and you’ll find 120 floors to descend.
How the floors work
- There are 120 levels, going deeper each time.
- An elevator activates every 5 floors, letting you fast-travel back to any checkpoint.
- Each floor has rocks to break and enemies to fight; find a ladder to descend.
- Some floors are “infested” with enemies (kill them all to reveal the ladder), and some have treasure chests.
What you’ll find (and where)
| Floors | Ores and items |
|---|---|
| 1–40 |  Copper Ore,  Geodes,  Coal |
| 40–80 |  Iron Ore,  Frozen Geodes |
| 80–120 |  Gold Ore,  Magma Geodes |
You’ll also find gems like 
Quartz, 
Amethyst, 
Topaz, and eventually 
Diamond — valuable to sell, donate to the museum, or gift to villagers.
Smelt ores into bars (Copper Bar, Iron Bar, Gold Bar) for tool upgrades and crafting. Keep the ores you’ll need before selling the rest.
Combat basics
You’ll fight Slimes, Bats, Rock Crabs, and more as you descend. A few tips:
- Swing your sword as enemies approach — timing matters.
- Watch your health bar and eat food to heal before it gets low.
- Upgrade your weapon whenever you find a better one (in chests or from the Adventurer’s Guild).
- Bring food — mining drains energy, and combat drains health.
What to bring
- A pickaxe (upgrade it to break rocks faster).
- A weapon (sword or club).
- Food for energy and healing.
- Space in your backpack — you’ll fill it fast.
Why mining matters
- Ores fund tool upgrades and crafting (sprinklers, kegs, and more).
- Gems are great money and gifts.
- Geodes (cracked open by Clint for 25g each) contain minerals and artifacts for the museum.
- Combat levels unlock new recipes and gear.
The bottom line
Mine in 5-floor chunks — descend until you reach the next elevator, then head home before you run out of energy or health. Prioritize iron for tool upgrades and quality sprinklers, keep the gems you need for bundles and gifts, and you’ll be sitting on a fortune by the time you hit floor 120.