This should answer a lot of your questions. As for finding Cobalt... Omega-7 is the only place I can think of looking. The mining section of your map screen should be fully operational, so check the locations it mentions. If those places don't drop Cobalt, then it has not been added as a drop. Mm, maybe I should prod Dusty for a list of all minable commodities and vague directions on where you might find them.
The number of mining lasers you use does add a commulative effect to mining yield. So technically the more you use the more you get. However as I undestand it, the yield bonus is applied as soon as the asteroid is struck and the chances of all your miners hitting at once is limited. I was advised to fit 4 or 5 lasers at front of ship and mine from the cockpit view as this seems to increase the chance of those lasers hitting together apparrently
' Wrote:This really isn't something that needs to be taken super seriously because it's a game and most of us are just here to have fun. You should try smiling, you'll feel better about things (honest).