just started mining, any tips?

[Classikal]

Grinding isn't really all that bad of an option for EXP, yes leves are technically way more. But if you keep you Gathering/Perception as high as possible you can get around 200-300k~ an hour above 30. Less than that under 30, but still a good amount when compared to the TNL's.

[Lyein]

Before you go and grind out that level on the new tier, look up all the uses of the materials (I use GamerEscape) if your goal is sustainability. You'll also want to look into what Leves you intend to do on your crafters. Many materials, you will find, may only need a stack of 40 to never run out (Danburite for a small group of jewelery) or you may choose not to gather any at all (Maiden Artichoke is ONLY used for Stuffed Artichoke recipe).

Triple turn-ins require 3 items to complete and can be repeated two times without using another allowance. 9X the materials but 3X the EXP & Gil. So aim to gather up materials that can be used to make those items (IE Walnut Lumber and Iron Bar can both be gathered and the resulting item would be a candidate; Walnut Lumber and Iron Bar and Crab Oil requires monster drops). Leve item-rewards rotate. Aim for useful materials or large quantities of shards (about 50) to save mining time later.

[Corkafish]

Doing leves as a gatherer is a waste of leveallowances. I would HIGHLY suggest against doing that. Save them for your crafting job. The leve allowances for gathering are only SLIGHTLY faster than just grinding it out. Also, you can self-sustain crafting by leveling it and selling HQ items along the way, then buy the mats for the next tier. Ect.

The sad truth is, if you're adamant about gathering to self sustain.. You'd have a better go of it just gathering shards, and selling Shards for gil and then buying materials you need.. Than puling up ore and stuff.

If you go the route of farming shards for gil, make sure to get both Botany and Mining up to 20 first. That lets you spend 400 GP to farm 15 of any kind of shard out of the same node (with an extra gathering attempt proc).