Pathfinder,.. Mining.

[Kyberwulf]

So a Group of players found a mining shaft. They survayed the area, and found some gold. How do i figure out how much Ore they get from mining the vein. How much its worth when they smelt it down?

They got a cartful before they left.

[Baroncognito]

What skill checks did you have them use to survey and mine? What was the result of the rolls and bonuses minus the DC?

Let's assume the mine cart is 4 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. That's 36 cubic feet. In oddly shaped chunks (which I'm assuming your players did not pack carefully) we'll say they got 27 cubic feet worth of ore.

Assuming it's rich ore, then they'll get about a .2 ounces of gold per ton. We'll say the ore is about 200 pound per cubic foot.

(200*27)/2000 = 2.7*.2= .54 ounces of gold.

The processing is something they probably cannot do themselves. They don't have the equipment.

[Diefje]

A cartful is 1/2 ton

Gold is 50gp/lb

You need to decide how pure their cartload is. Like roll % or something. Do they have the necessary survey/mining/appraise skills?

[Baroncognito]

You know, I'd say the 1000 pounds is probably a better weight for the cart. Ignore my calculations for the volume of the cart, I was making stuff up anyway.

[Fouredged Sword]

Roll a treasure roll from the DMG for the encounter they just fought. Make only a roll for the gold pieces, and give them that amount.

Simple, balanced to any level bracket, and based on previous tendencies in the rules.

[The Boz]

Loot appropriate to level+1, but with a miniquest to fence.