diff --git a/code/__defines/mobs.dm b/code/__defines/mobs.dm
index 566ffc6829..2991886a54 100644
--- a/code/__defines/mobs.dm
+++ b/code/__defines/mobs.dm
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #define BORGMESON 0x1
 #define BORGTHERM 0x2
 #define BORGXRAY  0x4
-#define BORGMATERIAL  8
+#define BORGMATERIAL  0x8
 
 #define STANCE_ATTACK    11 // Backwards compatability
 #define STANCE_ATTACKING 12 // Ditto
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/bags.dm b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/bags.dm
index 7369d39004..1b19bf7a20 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/bags.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/bags.dm
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
 		to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You fill the [src].</span>")
 	else if(!silent)
 		to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You fail to pick anything up with \the [src].</span>")
-	if(istype(user.pulling, /obj/structure/ore_box/)) //Bit of a crappy way to do this, as it doubles spam for the user, but it works.
+	if(istype(user.pulling, /obj/structure/ore_box)) //Bit of a crappy way to do this, as it doubles spam for the user, but it works.
 		var/obj/structure/ore_box/O = user.pulling
 		O.attackby(src, user)
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/machine_processing.dm b/code/modules/mining/machine_processing.dm
index c820b5abf4..6775b1709f 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/machine_processing.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/machine_processing.dm
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 		dat += "<A href='?src=\ref[src];choice=claim'>Claim points.</A><br>"
 	else
 		dat += "No ID inserted.  <A href='?src=\ref[src];choice=insert'>Insert ID.</A><br>"
-
+	dat += "High-speed processing is <A href='?src=\ref[src];toggle_speed=1'>[(machine.speed_process ? "<font color='green'>active</font>" : "<font color='red'>inactive</font>")]."
 	dat += "<hr><table>"
 
 	for(var/ore in machine.ores_processing)
@@ -122,6 +122,10 @@
 
 		show_all_ores = !show_all_ores
 
+	if(href_list["toggle_speed"])
+
+		machine.toggle_speed()
+
 	if(href_list["choice"])
 		if(istype(inserted_id))
 			if(href_list["choice"] == "eject")
@@ -163,6 +167,7 @@
 	var/list/ores_stored[0]
 	var/static/list/alloy_data
 	var/active = FALSE
+	var/tick = 0
 
 	var/points = 0
 	var/static/list/ore_values = list(
@@ -208,6 +213,25 @@
 		if(src.output) break
 	return
 
+/obj/machinery/mineral/processing_unit/proc/toggle_speed(var/forced)
+	var/area/refinery_area = get_area(src)
+	if(forced)
+		speed_process = forced
+	else
+		speed_process = !speed_process // switching gears
+	if(speed_process) // high gear
+		STOP_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+		START_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+	else // low gear
+		STOP_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+		START_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+	for(var/obj/machinery/mineral/unloading_machine/unloader in refinery_area.contents)
+		unloader.toggle_speed()
+	for(var/obj/machinery/conveyor_switch/cswitch in refinery_area.contents)
+		cswitch.toggle_speed()
+	for(var/obj/machinery/mineral/stacking_machine/stacker in refinery_area.contents)
+		stacker.toggle_speed()
+
 /obj/machinery/mineral/processing_unit/process()
 
 	if (!src.output || !src.input)
@@ -217,11 +241,11 @@
 		return
 
 	var/list/tick_alloys = list()
+	if(speed_process)
+		tick++
 
 	//Grab some more ore to process this tick.
-	for(var/i = 0,i<sheets_per_tick,i++)
-		var/obj/item/weapon/ore/O = locate() in input.loc
-		if(!O) break
+	for(var/obj/item/weapon/ore/O in input.loc)
 		if(!isnull(ores_stored[O.material]))
 			ores_stored[O.material]++
 			points += ore_values[O.material] // Give Points!
@@ -309,7 +333,11 @@
 		else
 			continue
 
-	console.updateUsrDialog()
+	if(!(tick % 10) && speed_process)
+		console.updateUsrDialog()
+		tick = 0
+	else
+		console.updateUsrDialog()
 
 #undef PROCESS_NONE
 #undef PROCESS_SMELT
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/machine_stacking.dm b/code/modules/mining/machine_stacking.dm
index 92eedabdad..f76b1663bd 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/machine_stacking.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/machine_stacking.dm
@@ -109,6 +109,18 @@
 		return
 	return
 
+/obj/machinery/mineral/stacking_machine/proc/toggle_speed(var/forced)
+	if(forced)
+		speed_process = forced
+	else
+		speed_process = !speed_process // switching gears
+	if(speed_process) // high gear
+		STOP_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+		START_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+	else // low gear
+		STOP_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+		START_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+
 /obj/machinery/mineral/stacking_machine/process()
 	if (src.output && src.input)
 		var/turf/T = get_turf(input)
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/machine_unloading.dm b/code/modules/mining/machine_unloading.dm
index 06a6da599b..58eec29a4c 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/machine_unloading.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/machine_unloading.dm
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 	var/obj/machinery/mineral/input = null
 	var/obj/machinery/mineral/output = null
 
-
 /obj/machinery/mineral/unloading_machine/Initialize()
 	. = ..()
 	for(var/dir in cardinal)
@@ -22,6 +21,18 @@
 		if(output)
 			break
 
+/obj/machinery/mineral/unloading_machine/proc/toggle_speed(var/forced)
+	if(forced)
+		speed_process = forced
+	else
+		speed_process = !speed_process // switching gears
+	if(speed_process) // high gear
+		STOP_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+		START_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+	else // low gear
+		STOP_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+		START_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+
 /obj/machinery/mineral/unloading_machine/process()
 	if (src.output && src.input)
 		if (locate(/obj/structure/ore_box, input.loc))
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm b/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm
index dcd169bfed..4595b6fbb7 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 	w_class = ITEMSIZE_LARGE
 	matter = list(DEFAULT_WALL_MATERIAL = 3750)
 	var/digspeed = 40 //moving the delay to an item var so R&D can make improved picks. --NEO
+	var/sand_dig = FALSE // does this thing dig sand?
 	origin_tech = list(TECH_MATERIAL = 1, TECH_ENGINEERING = 1)
 	attack_verb = list("hit", "pierced", "sliced", "attacked")
 	var/drill_sound = "pickaxe"
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@
 	icon_state = "handdrill"
 	item_state = "jackhammer"
 	digspeed = 30
+	sand_dig = TRUE
 	origin_tech = list(TECH_MATERIAL = 2, TECH_POWER = 3, TECH_ENGINEERING = 2)
 	desc = "Yours is the drill that will pierce through the rock walls."
 	drill_verb = "drilling"
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@
 	icon_state = "diamonddrill"
 	item_state = "jackhammer"
 	digspeed = 5 //Digs through walls, girders, and can dig up sand
+	sand_dig = TRUE
 	origin_tech = list(TECH_MATERIAL = 6, TECH_POWER = 4, TECH_ENGINEERING = 5)
 	desc = "Yours is the drill that will pierce the heavens!"
 	drill_verb = "drilling"
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@
 	icon_state = "jackhammer"
 	item_state = "jackhammer"
 	digspeed = 15
+	sand_dig = TRUE
 	desc = "Cracks rocks with sonic blasts. This one seems like an improved design."
 	drill_verb = "hammering"
 
@@ -122,6 +126,7 @@
 	attack_verb = list("bashed", "bludgeoned", "thrashed", "whacked")
 	sharp = 0
 	edge = 1
+	var/digspeed = 40
 
 /obj/item/weapon/shovel/spade
 	name = "spade"
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm b/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm
index 117d5cf5d5..cb2c96115e 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm
@@ -303,19 +303,20 @@ turf/simulated/mineral/floor/light_corner
 		return
 
 	if(!density)
+		var/valid_tool = 0
+		var/digspeed = 40
 
-		var/list/usable_tools = list(
-			/obj/item/weapon/shovel,
-			/obj/item/weapon/pickaxe/diamonddrill,
-			/obj/item/weapon/pickaxe/drill,
-			/obj/item/weapon/pickaxe/borgdrill
-			)
+		if(istype(W, /obj/item/weapon/shovel))
+			var/obj/item/weapon/shovel/S = W
+			valid_tool = 1
+			digspeed = S.digspeed
 
-		var/valid_tool
-		for(var/valid_type in usable_tools)
-			if(istype(W,valid_type))
+		if(istype(W, /obj/item/weapon/pickaxe))
+			var/obj/item/weapon/pickaxe/P = W
+			if(P.sand_dig)
 				valid_tool = 1
-				break
+				digspeed = P.digspeed
+
 
 		if(valid_tool)
 			if (sand_dug)
@@ -329,7 +330,7 @@ turf/simulated/mineral/floor/light_corner
 			to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You start digging.</span>")
 			playsound(user, 'sound/effects/rustle1.ogg', 50, 1)
 
-			if(!do_after(user,40)) return
+			if(!do_after(user,digspeed)) return
 
 			to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You dug a hole.</span>")
 			GetDrilled()
@@ -543,7 +544,7 @@ turf/simulated/mineral/floor/light_corner
 	if(!density)
 		if(!sand_dug)
 			sand_dug = 1
-			for(var/i=0;i<(rand(3)+2);i++)
+			for(var/i=0;i<5;i++)
 				new/obj/item/weapon/ore/glass(src)
 			update_icon()
 		return
diff --git a/code/modules/recycling/conveyor2.dm b/code/modules/recycling/conveyor2.dm
index 91b04cf494..37dd909a74 100644
--- a/code/modules/recycling/conveyor2.dm
+++ b/code/modules/recycling/conveyor2.dm
@@ -40,6 +40,18 @@
 
 	default_apply_parts()
 
+/obj/machinery/conveyor/proc/toggle_speed(var/forced)
+	if(forced)
+		speed_process = forced
+	else
+		speed_process = !speed_process // switching gears
+	if(speed_process) // high gear
+		STOP_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+		START_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+	else // low gear
+		STOP_PROCESSING(SSfastprocess, src)
+		START_MACHINE_PROCESSING(src)
+
 /obj/machinery/conveyor/proc/setmove()
 	if(operating == FORWARDS)
 		movedir = forwards
@@ -186,6 +198,7 @@
 
 	var/list/conveyors		// the list of converyors that are controlled by this switch
 	anchored = 1
+	var/speed_active = FALSE // are the linked conveyors on SSfastprocess?
 
 
 
@@ -200,6 +213,15 @@
 		if(C.id == id)
 			conveyors += C
 
+/obj/machinery/conveyor_switch/proc/toggle_speed(var/forced)
+	speed_active = !speed_active // switching gears
+	if(speed_active) // high gear
+		for(var/obj/machinery/conveyor/C in conveyors)
+			C.toggle_speed(TRUE)
+	else // low gear
+		for(var/obj/machinery/conveyor/C in conveyors)
+			C.toggle_speed(FALSE)
+
 // update the icon depending on the position
 
 /obj/machinery/conveyor_switch/proc/update()