((I'm not much for double posting, but I've been itching to write an update. FORGIVE ME))
Sham'Yek, feeling like they may have struck oil, grabs a stray tumble weed and sticks it in the small fire, and moves about ten feet away from camp. He then tosses the little wad of black sand onto the burning bush, and scampers away. A few seconds later, a sound which seemed to be thunder and a cannon going off together erupted from the spot, and a small crater remained where they had both been. Sham'Yek had been right to a degree, but he figures that the substance must be Gunpowder-Infused Oil Sand! Perhaps there was a way to separate the two substances?
The previous Gnome who had designed the mining machine before once more sat down and wracked her brain for ideas. After a few long hours, she feels like she may have a way to design a mining machine, whose hull was cased in Titanium to resist force. She also adds in a way to add a GPS co-ordinate, allowing it to return to the spot it began mining in case of collapse. Pleased with her work, she moved on to trying to create an ambient lighting machine. This was quite a bit harder, and after a goodnight's sleep, she feels like it could be accomplished, but it would consume more parts than she was willing to use. She stores the plans into her head for safe keeping.
The gnomes ponder moving to the hole for some fresh air, but upon closer inspection, no air seems to be coming out but stale, cave air. It must be a series of caves that don't breech the surface.
Meanwhile, The sandstorm outside has subsided, and the Desert sun is shining across the view able desert.