Dynamic Trade Routes adds all known medieval mines of gold, silver, and copper. It also adds all other sources of essential or important ores, such as iron, tin, mercury, marble, gemstones, or salt.
The Base Ore Extraction Capacity of mines depends on the assumed technical innovations needed to work them to their full potential. Their classification into Tribal (c. 476-950), Early Medieval (start c. 900/950), High Medieval (start c. 1050), or Late Medieval mines (start c. 1200) is estimated from the historical starting year of mining, and the reported yield by period.
| Building Level | Tribal (Antiquity) | Early Medieval | High Medieval | Late Medieval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mining Settlement | 25% | 10% | 5% | 2% |
| 2. Mine | 10% | 25% | 10% | 3% |
| 3. Large Mine | 5% | 10% | 25% | 5% |
| 4. Mining Complex | 2% | 5% | 10% | 25% |
So, for example, the Kutná Hora late medieval silver mine (Base Product = 100%) will yield a 100% x 2% = 2% (= 0.02) silver ore, a value later modified by Activity, and this is what will get exported to the Trade Region and Trade Religion of its holder.
Metal Flow
Medieval miners were usually private workers or entrepreneurs who moved freely, frequently in large groups, attracted by the increasing yields of newly discovered deposits, or invited by its owner. The output was their property, with the rulers taxing it. Mints were usually opened close to mines, but metal flowed freely throughout regions of the same faith, reaching realms of other religions because of the negative balance of payments.
Mines On Start
Not all mines can be built at any given year, because some of them became exhausted before a certain year. These are the mines that will spawn (or are buildable) for each bookmarked period:
867 Bookmark
Gold
Present · yaresna (mali) · Level 2. # Malinese
Present · niani (mali) · Level 1. # Malinese
Buildable · lobi (lobi). # Lobi Goldfield (eventually under Mali influence)
Present · allaqi (alallaqi) · Level 1. # Al-Allaqi
Silver
Buildable · goslar (rammelsberg). # Letting players build Goslar later than 867
Present · melle (metullum) · Level 1. # Melle, important during 10th c.
Present · parwan (pandjhir) · Level 1. # Ilak region mines [Merkel et al. 2013]
Present · murcia (tudmir) · Level 1. # Tudmir – produced 30 pounds/day in the 9th-10th c.
Present · al-qasrayn (majjana) · Level 1.
Present · tudgha (tamdult) · Level 1.
Present · hyspiratis (argyropolis) · Level 1. # traditional Byzantine source
# Dubious whether these should be here
Buildable · komorcbanya (banska). # 12-13th c.
Buildable · freiberg (freiberg). # 12-13th c.
Buildable · sankt_veit (friesach). # 12-13th c.
Buildable · montalcino (amiata). # 12-13th c.
Copper
Present · niebla (riotinto) · Level 1.
Present · sohar (aljizzi) · Level 1. # until at least 12th c.
Present · lurijan (sardan) · Level 1.
Present · soli (troodos) · Level 1.
Buildable · ikjan (kutama). # 11th-12th c. (sources point longer-lasting Iron ore sources)
# Present · panjikand (osrusana) · Level 1. # 9th-12th c. (sources point longer-lasting Iron ore sources, added below)
Present · sakarai (rajasthan) · Level 1.
Present · castamon (kastamon) · Level 1.
Iron
Present · nariz (nayriz) · Level 1. # 9th-10th c.
Present · miyan-rudan (ferghana) · Level 1. # until 10th c.
Present · mor (jarnberaland) · Level 1.
Buildable · gauldala (gauldalr).
Present · sankt_veit (friesach) · Level 1. # Starts before 10th c. (makes silver mine appear much earlier on the map…)
Present · leoben (eisenerz) · Level 1.
Present · sulzbach (amberg) · Level 1.
Present · abensberg (kelheim) · Level 1.
Present · bergh (bergisches) · Level 1.
Present · hall (schwabisch) · Level 1.
Present · wetzlar (lahndill) · Level 1.
Present · tonbridge (weald) · Level 1.
Present · winchcombe (forestdean) · Level 1.
Present · wrexham (rhuddlan) · Level 1.
Present · morvan (morvan) · Level 1.
Present · argentan (saintgermain) · Level 1.
Present · nogent (champagne) · Level 1.
Present · tarascon (vicdessos) · Level 1.
Present · grenoble (mesage) · Level 1.
Present · bergamo (scalve) · Level 1.
Present · piombino (elba) · Level 1.
Buildable · gemer (stitnik). # From 13th c. (earlier for some western sources of iron)
Present · kielce (swietokrzyskie) · Level 1.
Present · irun (irugurutzeta) · Level 1.
Present · oviedo (uvieu) · Level 1.
Present · guadiz (bernite) · Level 1.
Present · talavera (losvascos) · Level 1.
# Present · al-qasrayn (majjana) · Level 1. # 9th-11th c. (also silver mine, lasting longer)
Present · ikjan (kutama) · Level 1.
Present · cerasus (kerasoun) · Level 1.
Present · rila (samokov) · Level 1.
Present · faustinopolis (loulon) · Level 1. # Silver mines as proxy
Present · beirut (beirut) · Level 1. # 12-14th c.
# Present · parwan (pandjhir) · Level 1. # Main Silver mine before 11th c. (makes silver mine survive longer…)
Present · panjikand (osrusana) · Level 1.
Present · ranthambore (gwalior) · Level 1.
Present · kodalaka (jabalpur) · Level 1.
Present · nirmal (golkonda) · Level 1.
Present · talakad (mysuru) · Level 1.
Present · kovai (malabar) · Level 1.
Tin & Zinc
Present · okehampton (devon) · Level 1.
Present · mertola (ocsobona) · Level 1.
Present · kaisereia (kaisaria) · Level 1.
Present · candravati (zawar) · Level 1.
Gemstones
Present · badakhshan (badakhshan) · Level 1.
Present · nishapur (firouzeh) · Level 1.
Alum
Present · kharga (kharga) · Level 1.
# Present · bilma (kawar) · Level 1. # Already a Salt Mine
# Present · taghaza (taghaza) · Level 1. # Already a Salt Mine
Present · messina (vulcano) · Level 1.
Present · santander (cantabrian) · Level 1.
Mercury
Present · almader (almadi) · Level 1.
Present · kucha (sogdian) · Level 1.
# Present · montalcino (amiata) · Level 1. # Already a silver mine
Marble
Present · lucca (carrara) · Level 1.
Present · athens (attika) · Level 1.
Present · namur (namur) · Level 1.
Present · tournai (tournai) · Level 1.
Present · almeria (macael) · Level 1.
Present · elvas (alentejo) · Level 1.
# Dubious whether these Alabaster sources were available for trade so early…
Buildable · castleton (trent).
Buildable · urgell (sarral).
# Present · grenoble (mesage). # Already an Iron Mine
Salt
Buildable · krakow (wieliczka).
Buildable · szek (sovidek).
Present · bilma (kawar) · Level 1.
Present · taghaza (taghaza) · Level 1.
Present · naxcivan (duzdagi) · Level 1.
Present · katasraj (khewra) · Level 1.
Present · kalabagh (kalabagh) · Level 1.
Present · wan_bhachran (warcha) · Level 1.
Present · shakambhari (sambhar) · Level 1.
Present · evesham (droitwich) · Level 1.
Buildable · lausanne (saunerie).
Buildable · kolomyia (halych).
Buildable · luneburg (luneburg).
Buildable · hallstatt (aussee).
Buildable · hallein (reichenhall).
Buildable · halle (stassfurt).
1066 Bookmark
Gold
Present · yaresna (mali) · Level 2. # Malinese
Present · niani (mali) · Level 2. # Malinese – under Muslim control
Buildable · lobi (lobi). # Lobi Goldfield (eventually under Mali influence)
Present · allaqi (alallaqi) · Level 1. # Al-Allaqi
Present · polygyros (siderokausia) · Level 2. # Byzantium
Silver
Present · goslar (rammelsberg) · Level 2. # Goslar
Buildable · caslav (kutna_hora). # Kutna Hora, not built until much later
Buildable · cagliari (argentiera). # Iglesias, much later
Present · asht (lashkerek) · Level 2. # Chah region mostly wasted, the Talas mines take over until 12th c. [Sala 2011, Morony 2019]
Present · murcia (tudmir) · Level 2. # Tudmir, starting to be exhausted
Present · al-qasrayn (majjana) · Level 1.
Present · tudgha (tamdult) · Level 1.
Buildable · jihlava (iglau). # 13th c.
Buildable · komorcbanya (banska). # 12-13th c.
Buildable · freiberg (freiberg). # 12-13th c.
Buildable · sankt_veit (friesach). # 12-13th c.
Buildable · montalcino (amiata). # 12-13th c.
Present · appleby (tynedale) · Level 1. # Carlisle (ca. 1086 until early 1200s – low function until 14th c.)
Present · faustinopolis (loulon) · Level 1. # Ca14 9th century. al-Umari (1332-33) still mentions
Present · hyspiratis (argyropolis) · Level 1. # ca. 10th-11th c. and later Tzanicha from 14th c.
Copper
Present · niebla (riotinto) · Level 1.
Present · sohar (aljizzi) · Level 1. # until at least 12th c.
Present · lurijan (sardan) · Level 1.
Present · soli (troodos) · Level 1.
Present · ikjan (kutama) · Level 1. # 11th-12th c. (sources point to longer-lasting Iron ore sources)
Present · panjikand (osrusana) · Level 1. # 9th-12th c. (sources point to longer-lasting Iron ore sources)
Present · sakarai (rajasthan) · Level 1.
Present · castamon (kastamon) · Level 1.
Iron
Present · mor (jarnberaland) · Level 1.
Present · gauldala (gauldalr) · Level 1.
# Present · sankt_veit (friesach) · Level 1. # Starts before 10th c. (makes silver mine appear earlier…)
Present · leoben (eisenerz) · Level 1.
Present · sulzbach (amberg) · Level 1.
Present · abensberg (kelheim) · Level 1.
Present · bergh (bergisches) · Level 1.
Present · hall (schwabisch) · Level 1.
Present · wetzlar (lahndill) · Level 1.
Present · tonbridge (weald) · Level 1.
Present · winchcombe (forestdean) · Level 1.
Present · wrexham (rhuddlan) · Level 1.
Present · morvan (morvan) · Level 1.
Present · argentan (saintgermain) · Level 1.
Present · nogent (champagne) · Level 1.
Present · tarascon (vicdessos) · Level 1.
Buildable · grenoble (mesage).
Present · bergamo (scalve) · Level 1.
Present · piombino (elba) · Level 1.
Buildable · gemer (stitnik). # From 13th c. (earlier for some western sources of iron)
Present · kielce (swietokrzyskie) · Level 1.
Present · irun (irugurutzeta) · Level 1.
Buildable · oviedo (uvieu).
Present · guadiz (bernite) · Level 1.
Present · talavera (losvascos) · Level 1.
# Present · almeria (macael) · Level 1. # 12-14th c. – Already appears as Marble mine
# Present · al-qasrayn (majjana) · Level 1. # 9th-11th c. (also silver mine, lasting longer)
# Present · ikjan (kutama) · Level 1. # also Copper sources, lasting longer
Present · cerasus (kerasoun) · Level 1.
Present · rila (samokov) · Level 1.
# Present · faustinopolis (loulon) · Level 1. # Silver mines as proxy
Buildable · beirut (beirut). # 12-14th c.
Present · parwan (pandjhir) · Level 1. # Main Silver mine before 11th c. (makes silver mine survive longer…)
# Present · panjikand (osrusana) · Level 1. # also Copper sources, lasting longer
Present · gwalior (gwalior) · Level 1.
Present · kodalaka (jabalpur) · Level 1.
Present · kanthakota (cutch) · Level 1.
Present · nirmal (golkonda) · Level 1.
Present · talakad (mysuru) · Level 1.
Present · kovai (malabar) · Level 1.
Tin
Present · okehampton (devon) · Level 1.
Present · mertola (ocsobona) · Level 1.
Present · kaisereia (kaisaria) · Level 1.
Present · candravati (zawar) · Level 1.
Gemstones
Present · badakhshan (badakhshan) · Level 1.
Present · nishapur (firouzeh) · Level 1.
Alum
Present · phocaea (phokaia) · Level 1. # 13th c.
Buildable · colonea (koloneia). # 13th c.
Present · kharga (kharga) · Level 1.
# Present · bilma (kawar) · Level 1. # Already a Salt Mine
# Present · taghaza (taghaza) · Level 1. # Already a Salt Mine
Present · messina (vulcano) · Level 1.
Present · santander (cantabrian) · Level 1.
Mercury
Present · almader (almadi) · Level 2.
Present · kucha (sogdian) · Level 1.
# Present · montalcino (amiata) · Level 1. # Already a silver mine
Marble
Present · lucca (carrara) · Level 1.
Present · athens (attika) · Level 1.
Present · namur (namur) · Level 1.
Present · tournai (tournai) · Level 1.
Present · almeria (macael) · Level 1.
Present · elvas (alentejo) · Level 1.
Present · castleton (trent) · Level 1.
Present · urgell (sarral) · Level 1.
# Present · grenoble (mesage) · Level 1. # Already an Iron Mine
Salt
Buildable · krakow (wieliczka).
Buildable · szek (sovidek).
Present · bilma (kawar) · Level 1.
Present · taghaza (taghaza) · Level 1.
Present · naxcivan (duzdagi) · Level 1.
Present · katasraj (khewra) · Level 1.
Present · kalabagh (kalabagh) · Level 1.
Present · wan_bhachran (warcha) · Level 1.
Present · shakambhari (sambhar) · Level 1.
Present · evesham (droitwich) · Level 1.
Buildable · lausanne (saunerie).
Buildable · kolomyia (halych).
Buildable · luneburg (luneburg).
Buildable · hallstatt (aussee).
Buildable · hallein (reichenhall).
Buildable · halle (stassfurt).
1184 Boomkark
Gold
Present · yaresna (mali) · Level 2. # Malinese
Present · niani (mali) · Level 2. # Malinese – under Muslim control
Buildable · lobi (lobi). # Lobi Goldfield (eventually under Mali influence)
Present · allaqi (alallaqi) · Level 1. # Al-Allaqi
Present · polygyros (siderokausia) · Level 2. # Byzantium
Silver
Present · jihlava (iglau) · Level 1. # 13th c.
Present · asht (lashkerek) · Level 1. # Chah region mostly wasted, the Talas mines take over until 12th c. [Sala 2011, Morony 2019]
Present · al-qasrayn (majjana) · Level 1.
Present · tudgha (tamdult) · Level 1.
# Present · appleby (tynedale) · Level 1. # Carlisle (ca. 1086 until early 1200s – low function until 14th c.)
Present · freiberg (freiberg) · Level 1. # 12-13th c.
Present · sankt_veit (friesach) · Level 1. # 12-13th c.
Present · faustinopolis (loulon) · Level 1.
Present · hyspiratis (argyropolis) · Level 1.
Present · montalcino (amiata) · Level 1.
Present · komorcbanya (banska) · Level 1. # Late
Buildable · novobrdo (novobrdo). # Novo Brdo (increasing importance of mining town in Serbia)
Copper
Present · niebla (riotinto) · Level 1.
# Present · sohar (aljizzi) · Level 1. # until at least 12th c.
Present · lurijan (sardan) · Level 1.
Present · soli (troodos) · Level 1.
# Present · ikjan (kutama) · Level 1. # 11th-12th c. (sources point longer-lasting Iron ore sources)
# Present · panjikand (osrusana) · Level 1. # 9th-12th c. (sources point longer-lasting Iron ore sources)
Present · sakarai (rajasthan) · Level 1.
Present · castamon (kastamon) · Level 1.
# Present · komorcbanya (banska) · Level 1. # already a Silver Mine
Iron
Present · siderokastron (trilision) · Level 1. # 14th c. onwards
Present · mor (jarnberaland) · Level 1.
Present · gauldala (gauldalr) · Level 1.
# Present · sankt_veit (friesach) · Level 1. # Starts before 10th c. (makes silver mine appear much earlier on the map…)
Present · leoben (eisenerz) · Level 1.
Present · sulzbach (amberg) · Level 1.
Present · abensberg (kelheim) · Level 1.
Present · bergh (bergisches) · Level 1.
Present · hall (schwabisch) · Level 1.
Present · wetzlar (lahndill) · Level 1.
Present · tonbridge (weald) · Level 1.
Present · winchcombe (forestdean) · Level 1.
Present · wrexham (rhuddlan) · Level 1.
Present · morvan (morvan) · Level 1.
Present · argentan (saintgermain) · Level 1.
Present · nogent (champagne) · Level 1.
Present · tarascon (vicdessos) · Level 1.
Present · grenoble (mesage) · Level 1.
Present · bergamo (scalve) · Level 1.
Present · piombino (elba) · Level 1.
Present · gemer (stitnik) · Level 1. # From 13th c. (earlier for some western sources of iron)
Present · kielce (swietokrzyskie) · Level 1.
Present · irun (irugurutzeta) · Level 1.
Present · oviedo (uvieu) · Level 1.
Present · guadiz (bernite) · Level 1.
Present · talavera (losvascos) · Level 1.
# Present · almeria (macael) · Level 1. # 12-14th c. – Already appears as Marble mine
Present · ikjan (kutama) · Level 1.
Present · cerasus (kerasoun) · Level 1.
Present · rila (samokov) · Level 1.
Present · faustinopolis (loulon) · Level 1. # Silver mines as proxy
Present · beirut (beirut) · Level 1. # 12-14th c.
Present · parwan (pandjhir) · Level 1. # Main Silver mine before 11th c. (makes silver mine survive longer…)
Present · panjikand (osrusana) · Level 1.
Present · ranthambore (gwalior) · Level 1.
Present · kodalaka (jabalpur) · Level 1.
Present · nirmal (golkonda) · Level 1.
Present · talakad (mysuru) · Level 1.
Present · kovai (malabar) · Level 1.
Tin
Present · okehampton (devon) · Level 1.
Present · mertola (ocsobona) · Level 1.
Present · kaisereia (kaisaria) · Level 1.
Present · candravati (zawar) · Level 1.
Gemstones
Present · badakhshan (badakhshan) · Level 1.
Present · nishapur (firouzeh) · Level 1.
Alum
Present · phocaea (phokaia) · Level 1. # 13th c. (available 1066 for more immersive gameplay)
Present · colonea (koloneia) · Level 1. # 13th c. (available 1066 for more immersive gameplay)
Present · kharga (kharga) · Level 1.
# Present · bilma (kawar) · Level 1. # Already a Salt Mine
# Present · taghaza (taghaza) · Level 1. # Already a Salt Mine
Present · messina (vulcano) · Level 1.
Present · santander (cantabrian) · Level 1.
Mercury
Present · almader (almadi) · Level 1.
Present · kucha (sogdian) · Level 1.
# Present · montalcino (amiata) · Level 1. # Already a silver mine
Marble
Present · lucca (carrara) · Level 1.
Present · athens (attika) · Level 1.
Present · namur (namur) · Level 1.
Present · tournai (tournai) · Level 1.
Present · almeria (macael) · Level 1.
Present · elvas (alentejo) · Level 1.
Present · castleton (trent) · Level 1.
Present · urgell (sarral) · Level 1.
# Present · grenoble (mesage) · Level 1. # Already an Iron Mine
Salt
Present · krakow (wieliczka) · Level 1.
Present · szek (sovidek) · Level 1.
Present · bilma (kawar) · Level 1.
Present · taghaza (taghaza) · Level 1.
Present · naxcivan (duzdagi) · Level 1.
Present · katasraj (khewra) · Level 1.
Present · kalabagh (kalabagh) · Level 1.
Present · wan_bhachran (warcha) · Level 1.
Present · shakambhari (sambhar) · Level 1.
Present · evesham (droitwich) · Level 1.
Present · lausanne (saunerie) · Level 1.
Present · kolomyia (halych) · Level 1.
Present · luneburg (luneburg) · Level 1.
Present · hallstatt (aussee) · Level 1.
Present · hallein (reichenhall) · Level 1.
Present · halle (stassfurt) · Level 1.
# Present · hall (schwabisch) · Level 1. # Already an Iron mine