First produced by Clan Goliath Scorpion in 2842, the basic mining exoskeleton turned out to be the basis for the far more advanced Elemental BattleArmor created by the Wolves. In constant use by the Clans since, in both underwater and underground environments, skeletons like the current mining suit allowed the Clans to maintain a spacefaring culture on a bare minimum of very poor planets. It was the miners that found and removed what little metals and minerals existed on those worlds, keeping the Clans alive.
         Their invasion of the Inner Sphere brought both BattleArmor and exoskeletons to life in a most forceful way, and Inner Sphere manufacturers quickly found the logic of building their own mining exoskeletons. The first of them began construction in 3055, allowing them to exploit mines long-since considered exhausted by the Inner Sphere's wars.
         The basic mining exoskeleton is little more than an armored suit with heavy armor applied to it in order to secure it against extreme environments. Modular hardpoints on the arms can mount anything from basic manipulators to industrial drills. An array of multi-spectrum spotlights and an extended life support module make them ideal for going places that no other unit can go, and stay there for extended periods of time.