Someone already suggested headlamps so I tought two more things to help you mine and ‘cavesplore’.
The fisrt one is the ‘ore detector stone’ which helps you find ores (copper, iron, silver, gold, titanium, and gems). It works like the light cube, but when you use (shake) it, every searched ore block will light up for 10 seconds if its (maximum) 5 blocks away from you. So you could see them through other blocks too even if they are not on the surface, but you cant see too far with it. You can craft it with the ore you want to search and it can wear out like other tools. For example you need ‘iron detector stone’ for iron ores which needs iron to craft and diamond for ‘diamond detector stone’, so its made from the same material you search for.
The second one is the Dropflare. Its an item which you can throw, and it will give light mid-air and at the place where it landed for 60 seconds. The light it gives could be similar to the light of torches, but once thrown you cant pick it up anymore.
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I’ve always wanted something to help assist in finding ores but that’s just cuz I’m kinda lazy. I would prefer a potion that lasts approximately 5-10 minutes, shines up to 10 meters, that can identify resource blocks.
Although your suggestion of an iron-divining ingredient, made of iron, is a good idea to include, that way you still need to find iron naturally, and this would simply help you find more
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Love the thrown flare idea. That’s a winner👍
With ore detection, it could easily be an unlockable skill, combined with needing the proper stone for each detector, and the possibility to level it up. I like the idea if its done right. And I agree that it shouldn’t “see” to far into blocks. Could be really useful in the end!
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The skill to unlock the blueprint to craft them, the skill to use them, or both? With the first there could be ore-detector maker players, with the second you could hire an ore-detector specialist. Anyway about the recipe they should need sparks to make and maybe the tech fragment for metal ones and component for gem ones.
The potion isnt a bad idea either but the detector stone could fit better in the theme of Boundless (mentioned here: Q: What is the theming of Boundless?), dont you think?
whatever froots your loops. i just like the idea. however its implemented. through tech or technomagic, or just straight up magic, it’s all cool with me.
I completely agree about the flare part, and the logic of ore-finder sound pretty neat.
I do not really like this idea, BUT, there is an option, let say some specific flowers or mushrooms will grow close to a certain mineral or metal.
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Or eating a specific mushroom gives you visions. 
Ooooh, I seeee… mine here, continue 10 blocks down and then 8 blocks east… mmmmm… I think I will throw up.
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If it were up to me, then Ore detection would be a set of toggle skills for the compass in the hammer mastery skill tree with different rarity tiers requiring specific mastery levels. Right now, I don’t feel like there is really anything that separates miners from hunters in specialization aside from being able to break blocks faster (hunters have weapon skills).