After reading this guide I've tried my hand at mining today, with the default ship (Kestrel), and default equipment and Freelancer ID. I tried Helium (Pennsylvania, C6), but after shooting rock (with my mining turrets) for about 5 minutes in several places in this sector, I did not get a single bit of ore (is helium an ore?).
I'm probably doing something wrong, but I can't figure out what.
Server characters Tyrannis Hawk - Liberty police rookie Greymalkin Gillion - Gallian trader & merchant Gerlof Goedhart - Rheinland miner