Method Description, Instructions and Tips for Success

General Description

Coal is used in the smelting of steel, mithril, adamantite and runite bars and is always in high demand.

You can start mining it at level 30, but it is still slow, and low level players have to deal with a variety of issues, including attacking monsters. At higher levels you can use the more convenient Mining Guild, and yield improves greatly. The use of a lava titan familiar at very high levels is also helpful. Even with all that, coal is not the best money maker in the world, but it's an option some players like.

Very high level players who also have high combat skills should strongly consider mining concentrade coal deposits instead, to earn more money and more XP as well.

Note that a dragon pickaxe will provide more yield than a rune pickaxe for those with Mining levels above 60. Due to its very high cost, however, I have decided not to include it in the Moneymaking Guide at this time.

Specific Method Details

There aren't many good places for mining coal for players below level 60 Mining -- most mines are far from banks and the ones that aren't are crowded. I like the coal trucks because there are many coal rocks, few people, and the trucks allow you to get the coal to the bank quickly. At this level the giant bats are also no longer a problem.

Bank at Seers' Village, equipping yourself with a duelling ring, an amulet of glory (to get more gems), pickaxe, and Varrock Armour 1 (or better) from the Varrock Achievement Diary -- this gives you a chance of mining two coal at once.

Run west, skimming along the southern fence of McGrubor's Wood, then hugging the water until you get to a log Agility shortcut. Cross it and you will be in a huge coal mine.

Start mining, avoiding the bats whenever they start to harrass you. Once your inventory is full, "use" a piece of coal on one of the mine carts and it will empty all your coal into it. The capacity of the cart is 120 ores. Repeat until the cart is full, then fill your inventory again. Note that a full world will give you faster respawn times, if not too crowded.

When full, teleport out, empty the last inventory of coal into your bank at Castle Wars, and return to Seers' Village.

Take off the Varrock Armour, then summon a spirit terrorbird and run to the other coal truck terminal located behind the pub, just northwest of the bank. Get a full load of coal, put 12 in the terrorbird, then get 12 more. Run back to the bank, then repeat two times for exactly 120. Use two Tireless Run scrolls after the first two trips to restore run energy.

Count on about 280 coal per hour with this method.