When you are mining, you will more than likely find a gem, which give some experience towards your mining, but the ore will still remain in the rock. You can sell these or use in crafting to make Jewelry. Wearing the Amulet of Glory (members only), which increases you chances of finding a gem. The Shilo Village has a few “gem rocks” which give specific gems.

Mining is one of the most profitable skills in Runescape, especially if you can put it together with Smithing, but that requires a lot of work. The easiest is to pick one and focus, since you can never mine enough to smith. No matter what you choose to do in Runescape, you will want to at least get your mining up to 15, since that can provide you with some basic ores for other things, …