Iron ore mining

Mine and bank iron ore. Available at Mining 15 with no other requirements at all.

F2PBeginnerNo riskModerate attention

Iron is the classic first Mining money maker. The rocks respawn almost immediately, the ore always sells, and the requirement is Mining 15 — which is a few minutes of work.

Varrock armour from the Varrock Diary gives a chance to mine two ores at once, which is a straight and permanent rate increase for a method that otherwise never improves.

The choice is between banking the ore for coins and power-mining it for experience. Both are legitimate; they are simply different goals.

The rate is small. This exists on the list because it is available to an account that has nothing, and almost nothing else is.

What you actually do

1Travel to a nearby iron rock cluster — the Al Kharid mine or Varrock south are common choices.
2Mine until full, then bank.
3Power-mine and drop instead if you want experience rather than gp.

Getting the most from it

Iron is the classic low-level Mining money maker because it respawns quickly and always sells.
Varrock armour gives a chance of mining two ores at once, which is a straight rate increase.
The rate is modest. Its value is that it works at Mining 15 with no other requirements.