Secondary Resources: Cobalt, Copper, Platinum, Uranium, Paraffinium
Beyond the most basic materials, several secondary resources are crucial for advanced crafting, ship upgrades, and profitable trading in No Man's Sky. Understanding where to find and how to efficiently gather Cobalt, Copper, Platinum, Uranium, and Paraffinium will sificantly accelerate your progress and open up new avenues for exploration and wealth generation.
These resources often have specific applications that make them indispensable. Cobalt, for instance, is vital for recharging shields and crafting certain components. Copper is a primary component in many early-to-mid game technologies. Platinum is a high-value commodity and essential for many ship and exosuit upgrades. Uranium is a powerful fuel source, and Paraffinium is a key ingredient in advanced building materials.
- Cobalt: Found in large blue crystalline deposits on many planets. Essential for recharging shields and crafting Shield Batteries. Can be refined into Ion Batteries.
- Copper: Abundant in red crystalline deposits on many planets. Used in numerous early-game crafting recipes, including basic ship and tool upgrades. Refines into Pure Copper.
- Platinum: Often found in small, shimmering deposits or as a rare drop from certain creatures and asteroids. Crucial for S-class upgrades and valuable for trading.
- Uranium: Typically found in yellow crystalline deposits on radioactive planets. Primarily used as a potent fuel source for starship hyperdrives and as a crafting component.
- Paraffinium: Harvested from large, greyish-white rock formations on many planets. A key component for building advanced base structures and certain technologies.
The presence of these resources is often tied to planetary biomes. For example, Uranium is most commonly found on planets with high radiation levels, while Copper is prevalent on temperate or arid worlds.
Resource Gathering Tips:
| Resource | Best Gathering Method | Key Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt | Mining Beam, large deposits | Shield recharge, Shield Batteries |
| Copper | Mining Beam, abundant deposits | Early tech crafting, Pure Copper |
| Platinum | Mining Beam, rare finds, derelict freighters | S-class upgrades, high-value trade |
| Uranium | Mining Beam, radioactive planets | Hyperdrive fuel, crafting |
| Paraffinium | Mining Beam, large formations | Base construction, advanced tech |
Consider investing in upgrades for your Multi-Tool that increase mining speed and capacity. For large deposits of these secondary resources, using the Terrain Manipulator to create a small pit can allow for more efficient harvesting with fewer wasted shots.