Minerals (StarCraft)
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Minerals are one of the two resources gathered in the computer game, StarCraft, the other being Vespene gas. They look like blue crystal formations. Template:StarCraft Minerals are essential for any base to function. All units and buildings require minerals to create, though not necessarily Vespene Gas.
According to Doran Routhe, a famous Terran scientist, solar systems outside of the Sun's could contain new resources. Earth does not have direct access to these minerals.
Only one worker may mine from any particular node at one time. Up to 3 workers per node may be assigned; any more would not increase mineral income at all. Unlike Vespene Geysers, mineral nodes are much more abundant, they are smaller, they do not require a structure to mine (although there needs to be a resource center, such as a Command Center, Hive or Nexus, in order for it to be dropped off), and they disappear after they are exhausted. Workers will attempt to mine from an adjacent mineral node if there is already one mining from its targeted node. Most mineral piles begin with 1500 units in it.
Being a limited resource, a game can deplete all of the minerals in the level, in which case no new units can be built.In UMS (use map settings) minerals can be replenished via triggers for any location that contains them.
Vespene and mineral formations slowly regrow over time on planets such as Antiga Prime; this allowed the Terrans to survive in the Koprulu Sector. This does not occur quickly enough to be seen in-game.
Some terrestrial ores appear as blue crystals, especially copper ores such as chalcanthite (copper sulfate).
References
- Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
- Official StarCraft Page (http://www.blizzard.com/starcraft/)
- Mineral regeneration (http://www.battle.net/scc/OS/0798.shtml/)