Production Output

[lordrichter]

In Horatius's TU -- I am noble and wealthy. I am currently in Glimmerdrift G and the particular system has some excellent gem resources.

The mainworld and its moon have a -8 and -4 mod on gem prices respectively. There are several Rich worlds (+8 gems) jump 2 away. The mainworld and its moon are non-industrial, so the operations are small.

Horatius was kind enough to detail specific trade tables for both the mainworld and the moon. When available the mainworld kicks down 1d6 Tons and the moon 2d6 Tons.

I want to either acquire the mines or the rights to the gems. I am sure that I will have on going expenses and debt that will require my attention. Once I get all the gems in system, I want to keep them as a revenue stream. In order to keep this business running I need to know the following.

The Question:
How many Tons can I expect the world to produce every day?
The Moon?


I made a guess that generates numbers on par with the trade tables, but I would like a second opinion. Turns out, I don't trust myself. =)

 

[RainOfSteel]

How many dTons of gems can are produced depend on the amount of carats per dTon of ore, and how many dTons of ore can be extracted per time period.

Once the gems are extracted, they must be graded, and then either cut, or sold to cutters (or to big Sector wide combines like todays 800 pound gorilla, DeBeers).

As to how much ore can be extracted per time period, that depends on the enviornment and the type of operation under way (i.e. what scale of industrial equipment and gem mining and ore extracting processing is being used).

I'd imagine that a TL-15 application of gem extraction would involve pulverizing the ore down to an acceptable size (the smallest size at which the average excellent stone is likely to be retrieve), and to pour the gravel into a vat of nano-machines that strip the ore away and leave only the gems. That would provide nearly 100% recovery from the ore.

 

[lordrichter]

RoS
Thanks. By chance, do you have rules/notes for how to determine the "richness" of the vein? And thoughts on how I determine the the effeciency of industrial equipment that I bring in? The moon is a vacuum, but I can afford equipment to offset those penalties (or I get the rights - so the belters are absorbing those mods). Obviously, I can put all this on Horatius (gotta love handing off to the GM =D ), but I was hoping to be able to keep track for him. That way it feels more like my character has a life going on outside of adventuring.

As far as sales, I am going to run these as speculative cargoes. Of course, I need to secure ships...

I always assumed that the trades tables were dealing with raw (uncut) gems. That assumption was based on the cargo being sold in tonnage. I figured the buyer would turn around and handle all the aspects grading, cutting, etc.. After all, a well cut gem could command an Emperor's ransom. Plus gems for industrial purposes can be profitable. I saw gems as a generic catch all. Was I wrong?


Does any one have a copy of BeltStrike? Horatius said this boxed set contained the information I seek. Or does anyone know of a web site that runs through this stuff?