# Gold Mining **Gold Mining Quests** can be performed by up to six Heroes at a time in each realm. These quests award **Gold**, and can award other rare items. > *Oi! Want to work those wee arms ya got? Grab a pickaxe! There's plenty o' shinies awaiting eager hands ta take them home!* Gold Mining Quests are begun in the **Professions** zone by speaking to the **Miner** or **Pickman**, depending on the realm. Any Hero can attempt Gold Mining Quests, but Heroes with the **Mining profession gene** will use their Stamina more efficiently and have increased chances of item rewards. Successfully completing a Gold Mining Quest will grant each Hero a small amount of XP, and a chance toward increasing their **Mining skill**. These quests also have a chance to reward Heroes with **Gaia's Tears**, **Runes**, and **Yellow Pet Eggs**. All of these items may be swapped at the Trader in the [Marketplace](https://docs.defikingdoms.com/gameplay/locations/marketplace) for other tokens or items. Some items are also used as reagents in **Potions** and [Enhancement Stones](https://docs.defikingdoms.com/gameplay/items/enhancement-stones), for hatching [Pets](https://docs.defikingdoms.com/gameplay/pets), and for [leveling Heroes](https://docs.defikingdoms.com/gameplay/heroes/leveling). ### **Mining Basics** #### Duration per Stamina 12 minutes (10 with the **Mining profession gene**) #### Stamina Required 1 Stamina minimum #### Required Hero Range 1-6 Heroes #### Minimum XP Reward 4 XP per Stamina spent + 8 XP per 5 Stamina spent ### **Gold Rewards** The amount of **Gold** rewarded from **Gold Mining Quests** per Stamina spent is based on the Hero's **Strength** and **Endurance** stats, its **Mining skill,** and the presence of the **Mining profession gene**. Each Hero calculates Gold rewards independently, even when questing as a group. ### **Item Rewards** {% hint style="info" %} The item drop rates below are increased by varying combinations of the Hero's **Strength** and **Endurance** stats, its **Mining skill,** and the presence of the **Mining profession gene**. {% endhint %}

Name	Base Drop Rate	XP Awarded	Stamina Usage
Gaia's Tear	7.5% / 11.25% *	10 XP	per 5 Stamina
Shvās Rune	0.3% / 1.5% *	30 XP	per 5 Stamina
Moksha Rune	0.009% / 0.045% *	100 XP	per 5 Stamina
Yellow Pet Egg	0.005%	100 XP	per 10 Stamina

\* The higher percentage applies to Heroes with the **Mining profession gene**.