Rubium mining in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a members Mining method on Charred Island that gives Rubium splinters, a stackable Sailing resource used to make incendiary cannonballs. Players can mine Rubium rocks at 48 Mining for splinters, while 68 Mining unlocks Rubium deposits that give Rubium geodes, which can be broken into splinters with a hammer and chisel.

For more Old School RuneScape guides, the main OSRS guide hub keeps the latest skilling, Sailing, combat, and item guides in one place.

What Rubium Mining Is In OSRS

Rubium mining is a Sailing connected Mining method in OSRS where players mine Rubium rocks or Rubium deposits in the Charred Dungeon to collect Rubium splinters for incendiary cannonballs.

Rubium is different from normal ore because the main output is not a bar. The important item is Rubium splinters, which are stackable, tradeable, and used in the cannonball upgrade process for ship combat. That makes Rubium more of a Sailing supply method than a classic Mining and Smithing loop.

The method has 2 main versions. Rubium rocks are the lower requirement option and give splinters directly. Rubium deposits are the higher requirement option and give Rubium geodes, which can be cracked open into splinters. Deposits become more interesting once longer trips and larger cannonball supply matter.

Rubium mining became important fast because it launched as both useful XP and a valuable resource method. That combination is why it immediately became part of the wider Sailing economy discussion instead of just being another rock in a cave. OSRS players see a stackable resource with strong rates and suddenly everyone becomes a mining analyst with a spreadsheet.

Rubium Mining Requirements

Rubium rocks require 48 Mining, while Rubium deposits require 68 Mining and give Rubium geodes that need a hammer and chisel to break into splinters.

The Mining requirements are not extreme, but access matters. Rubium is found in the Charred Dungeon on Charred Island, so the account needs to reach the island through Sailing content. Players who are still getting started with Sailing should handle the early access and boat basics first before worrying about Rubium trips.

For anyone still unlocking the skill and early travel path, the OSRS Sailing where to start guide covers the early setup before moving into resource islands and deeper Sailing activities.

Requirement	What It Unlocks
48 Mining	Mine Rubium rocks for direct Rubium splinters.
68 Mining	Mine Rubium deposits for Rubium geodes.
Hammer And Chisel	Break Rubium geodes into Rubium splinters.
Charred Island Access	Reach the Charred Dungeon where Rubium is found.
Pickaxe	Mine Rubium rocks and Rubium deposits.

The hammer and chisel are easy to forget, but they matter if using deposits. Without them, the account can still mine geodes, but the trip becomes worse because the inventory fills instead of turning into stackable splinters.

Where To Mine Rubium In OSRS

Rubium is mined in the Charred Dungeon on Charred Island.

Charred Island is the key location for Rubium mining, and the Charred Dungeon is where the Rubium rocks and deposits are found. This is not a mainland Mining method like iron, coal, or granite. The location is part of the Sailing resource network, so the trip is connected to boat travel, docks, and island access.

That matters because preparation is more important than it is for normal skilling spots. Bring the right tools before leaving, especially if mining deposits. A pickaxe is obvious, but a hammer and chisel are the difference between a clean geode trip and a short run that ends with a full inventory and a quiet walk of shame.

For a wider look at Sailing resource routes, the OSRS Sailing new resources and items guide covers how Rubium fits into the broader resource system.

Location Detail	Info
Main Island	Charred Island
Dungeon	Charred Dungeon
Resources	Rubium rocks and Rubium deposits
Main Item	Rubium splinters
Main Use	Incendiary cannonballs for ship cannons

Rubium Rocks Explained

Rubium rocks require 48 Mining and give Rubium splinters directly.

This is the entry route for Rubium mining. The rock method is simple because there is no geode conversion step. Mine the rock, get splinters, and keep going until the rock depletes. It is the right method for players who have the lower Mining requirement or only need a smaller amount of splinters.

At launch, Rubium rocks provided guaranteed splinters before later depletion chances. Balance changes have been discussed around making rocks last longer before depletion checks begin while shifting output more clearly around Mining level. That means Rubium rocks should be treated as a method that may settle differently after the first wave of adjustments.

Rubium Rock Detail	Info
Mining Level	48 Mining
Output	Rubium splinters directly
Item Type	Stackable resource
Best For	Lower Mining levels, smaller supply runs, and simple splinter gathering.

Rubium rocks are the cleanest starting point. They are not the highest level method, but they get the resource without making the player deal with geodes, tools, or inventory conversions.

Rubium Deposits And Rubium Geodes

Rubium deposits require 68 Mining and give Rubium geodes, which can be broken down into Rubium splinters with a hammer and chisel.

The deposit method is the better long trip version of Rubium mining once it is unlocked. Instead of giving splinters directly, deposits give geodes. The geodes can then be cracked into splinters, and the splinter amount scales with Mining level.

This scaling is the big reason deposits matter. Higher Mining levels improve the value of each geode, so Rubium becomes more rewarding for accounts that push past the minimum. It also gives the method a clearer identity as a supply gathering activity instead of only a mid level Mining option.

Players specifically looking for the Mining side of Sailing can also use the OSRS Sailing Mining and new ores guide to compare Rubium with the other new Mining resources added around Sailing.

Deposit Detail	Info
Mining Level	68 Mining
Primary Output	Rubium geodes
Required Tools	Hammer and chisel
Final Output	Rubium splinters
Scaling	Splinter output from geodes scales with Mining level.

Deposits are the better choice for anyone planning to gather a serious cannonball supply. Rocks are easier. Deposits are more interesting once the account has the level and the tools ready.

Best Rubium Mining Method

The best Rubium mining method is to mine Rubium rocks at 48 Mining, then switch to Rubium deposits at 68 Mining for geodes and stronger long trip splinter gathering.

Rubium rocks are best before 68 Mining because they are the only option and give splinters directly. Once deposits unlock, they become the better method for players who want more Rubium splinters over longer trips, especially at higher Mining levels where geode output improves.

Player Goal	Best Method	Why
Lowest requirement	Mine Rubium rocks	Only needs 48 Mining and gives splinters directly.
Longer trips	Mine Rubium deposits	Geodes can be converted into stackable splinters.
Best splinter supply	Use deposits at higher Mining levels	Splinter output scales upward with Mining level.
Simple gathering	Use rocks	No geode breaking or tool conversion needed.
Ship combat supply	Use the highest Rubium method available	More splinters means more incendiary cannonballs later.

Rubium is not the only Sailing resource worth learning, but it is one of the most directly useful because its output feeds ship combat. For broader Sailing progress, the OSRS Sailing leveling guide is a better route for planning the skill around unlocks instead of only one resource.

Rubium Mining XP And 2026 Changes

Rubium mining launched with very strong XP potential, but Jagex has discussed changes that would remove tick manipulation, lower Mining XP per action, and increase the method’s focus on Rubium splinter output.

At launch, high effort Rubium mining with tick manipulation and Mining enhancers reached around 133k Mining XP per hour. That put it close to 3 tick granite while also producing valuable stackable resources. The problem is obvious. If one method gives top tier XP, money, stackable supplies, and lower inventory annoyance, it starts bullying the rest of the Mining skill out of the room.

The proposed direction is to make Rubium less of a best in slot active Mining XP method and more of a valuable Sailing resource method. The discussed changes include preventing tick manipulation at Rubium rocks, reducing base Mining XP from 30 XP to 24 XP per action, making rocks last for at least 3 successful mining attempts before depletion checks begin, and increasing Rubium splinter output based on Mining level.

Rubium Change	What It Means
Tick manipulation removal	Rubium would stop competing with top active Mining XP methods through tick manipulation.
Base XP reduction	Mining XP would drop from 30 XP to 24 XP per action.
Longer rock life	Rocks would last for at least 3 successful mining attempts before depletion chance begins.
Scaling splinter output	Higher Mining levels would receive more Rubium splinters.
Method identity	Rubium shifts toward splinter gathering instead of pure XP meta.

That changes how Rubium should be judged. It may still be useful Mining XP, but the stronger reason to mine it is the splinter supply. Players looking for wider Sailing training routes should use the OSRS Sailing training guide instead of treating Rubium as the whole skill plan.

What Rubium Splinters Are Used For

Rubium splinters are used with smithable cannonballs at an anvil to make incendiary cannonballs for ship cannons.

The recipe uses 10 Rubium splinters and 2 cannonballs of the matching smithable type to make 2 incendiary cannonballs. The required Smithing level depends on the cannonball tier, with bronze starting low and rune requiring much higher Smithing.

The important interaction detail is that the anvil’s Smith option is used for the process. Using Rubium splinters or cannonballs directly on the anvil does not work the same way. That is a small detail, but it is the kind of small detail that makes someone think the item is broken when the interface is just being OSRS about it.

Incendiary Cannonball	Smithing Level	Materials
Bronze incendiary cannonball	5 Smithing	2 bronze cannonballs and 10 Rubium splinters
Iron incendiary cannonball	20 Smithing	2 iron cannonballs and 10 Rubium splinters
Steel incendiary cannonball	35 Smithing	2 steel cannonballs and 10 Rubium splinters
Mithril incendiary cannonball	55 Smithing	2 mithril cannonballs and 10 Rubium splinters
Adamant incendiary cannonball	75 Smithing	2 adamant cannonballs and 10 Rubium splinters
Rune incendiary cannonball	90 Smithing	2 rune cannonballs and 10 Rubium splinters

For the full splinter item breakdown, the OSRS Rubium splinters guide covers the resource itself, geodes, deposits, and cannonball uses in more detail.

Incendiary Cannonballs And Sailing Combat

Incendiary cannonballs are ship cannon ammunition made with Rubium splinters, and they can burn targets when fired from a ship’s cannon.

This is where Rubium gets its real value. The splinters are not only a skilling resource. They feed into Sailing combat supplies, which means Rubium mining supports cannon based fights at sea. Players who plan to use ship combat often will care more about a steady Rubium supply than a one time stack of splinters.

Incendiary cannonballs also help explain why Jagex is careful with Rubium output. If splinters become too common, incendiary cannonballs can become too cheap and too normal for main accounts. If they are too scarce, the ammo feels annoying to use. Rubium has to sit in that middle space where gathering it feels worthwhile without making the upgraded cannonball supply meaningless.

For players still learning the sea combat side, the OSRS Sailing combat guide is the better next step after understanding what Rubium splinters are used for.

Rubium Mining Tips

The best Rubium mining setup is to bring the right tools, use the highest Rubium source available, and treat the method as a splinter supply route first.

Players at 48 Mining should start with Rubium rocks. Players at 68 Mining should bring a hammer and chisel and move to deposits when longer trips or stronger splinter output matter. Higher Mining levels improve splinter output from geodes, so the method becomes more attractive as the account progresses.

Use Rubium rocks at 48 Mining for direct splinters.
Use Rubium deposits at 68 Mining for Rubium geodes.
Bring a hammer and chisel when mining deposits.
Break geodes during the trip to turn them into stackable splinters.
Judge Rubium as a cannonball supply method, not only a Mining XP method.
Check current balance changes before planning long term XP rates.
Use the anvil Smith option when making incendiary cannonballs.

For players who want a lower intensity Sailing plan alongside resource gathering, the OSRS Sailing AFK training guide can help with more relaxed Sailing methods. Rubium itself has some AFK value, but its real purpose is still splinter supply.

Rubium Mining OSRS Quick Answers

Question	Answer
What Mining level is needed for Rubium in OSRS?	Rubium rocks require 48 Mining, while Rubium deposits require 68 Mining.
Where do you mine Rubium?	Rubium is mined in the Charred Dungeon on Charred Island.
What do Rubium rocks give?	Rubium rocks give Rubium splinters directly.
What do Rubium deposits give?	Rubium deposits give Rubium geodes, which can be broken into Rubium splinters.
How do you break Rubium geodes?	Use a hammer and chisel to break Rubium geodes into splinters.
What are Rubium splinters used for?	They are used with smithable cannonballs to make incendiary cannonballs.
Is Rubium mining good XP?	Rubium was very strong XP at launch, but the 2026 balance direction shifts it more toward splinter gathering.
Is Rubium connected to Sailing?	Yes, Rubium is a Sailing area resource used for ship cannon ammunition.

Final Blurb

Rubium mining in OSRS is done in the Charred Dungeon on Charred Island. Mine Rubium rocks at 48 Mining for direct Rubium splinters, or mine Rubium deposits at 68 Mining for Rubium geodes that can be broken down with a hammer and chisel.

The method is best viewed as a Sailing combat supply route because Rubium splinters are used to make incendiary cannonballs. Early Rubium rates made it extremely strong as both a Mining XP method and a resource method, but the 2026 balance direction clearly pushes it toward lower XP and better splinter focused gathering. Bring the right tools, use the best Rubium source your Mining level allows, and treat the unstable red rock as fuel for making ship cannons meaner than they probably needed to be.