Resources

Resources are required to complete equipment and ship upgrades. Resources are found by probing and mining planets in the galaxy. There are four kinds of mineral resources in Mass Effect 2.

Upgrades
Certain upgrades are elective, while others are all but required to complete the game on certain difficulties.

Planet Types
Brown Dwarf Frequency: Rare Examples:Osalri, Urdak. Element Zero: None Iridium:30% Palladium:40% Platinum:30%

The minerals on a brown dwarf are typically spread out along the bands of the planet, so look there when mining.

Desert Frequency: Very Common Examples: Laena, Bovis Tor Element Zero: None Iridium: 20% Palladium:60% Platinum: 20%

They are rich in minerals, but those deposits are spread out across the surface in small clusters.

Garden Frequency:Rare Examples: Earth, Sanctum, Talis Fia Element Zero: Poor Iridium: 15% Palladium: 25% Platinum: 60%

Garden planets are one of the few planets where you can expect to find Element Zero – look to the continents. The other minerals should be looked for in mountainous areas.

Ice Giant Frequency: Common Examples: Neptune, Tula, Alkonost Element Zero: None Iridium: 20% Palladium:30% Platinum: 50%

Minerals on a giant ice are concentrated in smallish clusters. Look for noticeable features, such as massive storms, for the location of rich deposits.

Jovian Frequency: Common Examples: Bast, Nephros Element Zero: None Iridium: 30% Palladium:30% Platinum: 40%

As on brown dwarfs, the minerals on a giant Jovian are spread out across the colorful bands.

Pegasid Frequency:Rare Examples: Rescel, Jontan Element Zero: None Iridium:30% Palladium:40% Platinum:30%

Similar to Jovian giants, but are locked in close orbit with their parent stars. The orbit causes a tidal lock, meaning that there is a “hot pole” that faces the star and a “cold pole” that faces deep space(and is incredibly dark). Giant Pegasids have hurricane winds that move from the hot pole to the cold pole. These poles are where you should expect to find the richest deposits, which is quite different from other planets, which typically see their deposits along the equator or in the horizontal bands.

Post-Garden Frequency: Rare Examples: Helyme, Etamis Element Zero: Rich Iridium:30% Palladium:40% Platinum: 40%

Element Zero is highly concentrated on post-garden planets as a result of fallen civilizations. The remaining minerals are spread out across the equator with occasional deposits elsewhere.

Ocean/Ice Frequency: Common Examples: Anedia, Maisuth Element Zero: None Iridium: 15% Palladium: 15% Platinum: 70%

Look for mineral deposits in small clusters.

Rock Frequency: Very Common Examples: Moon(Luna), Gregas, Quarem Element Zero: None Iridium: 60% Palladium: 20% Platinum: 20%

When mining a rock planet, look to the impact craters for the richest deposits.

You may find Element Zero on planets where it is listed as None, as each planet has a random number of low value deposits. While there are general rules and assumption for mineral distribution, do not assume that every planet of the same type will give up the same minerals.