diff --git a/js/scenes/GameScene.js b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
index 1f50b56..3da13f8 100644
--- a/js/scenes/GameScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
@@ -9737,6 +9737,29 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The MAX effects.mining.capacity across a restore's build records
+   * (r.builds.built — planet → build ids — the same source
+   * _restoreMiningUpgrades reads once those records are back in
+   * buildState). applyRestore calls this to raise the hold cap BEFORE
+   * setMinerals, so a save holding more minerals than the base cap (250)
+   * survives the load / jump-cut instead of being clamped to 250. Returns
+   * the ship's current cap when no record expands it.
+   */
+  _miningCapacityFromBuilds(builds) {
+    let cap = Number(this.ship?.stats?.mineralStorage) || 0;
+    const built = builds?.built;
+    if (built && typeof built === 'object') {
+      for (const ids of Object.values(built)) {
+        for (const id of Array.isArray(ids) ? ids : []) {
+          const c = Number(defById(id)?.effects?.mining?.capacity);
+          if (Number.isFinite(c) && c > cap) cap = c;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return cap;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Re-derive the ship's mining upgrades from the build RECORDS (the
    * save carries the records, not the ship's derived stats): the MAX
@@ -10230,8 +10253,17 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       this.ship.setPosition(Number(r.ship.x) || 0, Number(r.ship.y) || 0);
       if (typeof r.ship.heading === 'number') this.ship.rotation = r.ship.heading;
       // The hold — saves that predate minerals have no field (stay at 0);
-      // setMinerals clamps to the ship's capacity.
-      if (typeof r.ship.minerals === 'number') this.ship.setMinerals(r.ship.minerals);
+      // setMinerals clamps to the ship's capacity. The hold CAP's source
+      // of truth is the save's build records (effects.mining.capacity —
+      // restored into buildState below, re-asserted by
+      // _restoreMiningUpgrades after create), so raise it BEFORE the
+      // minerals land: a save with more minerals than the base cap (250)
+      // must not be clamped away.
+      if (typeof r.ship.minerals === 'number') {
+        const cap = this._miningCapacityFromBuilds(r.builds);
+        if (cap > (Number(this.ship.stats?.mineralStorage) || 0)) this.ship.stats.mineralStorage = cap;
+        this.ship.setMinerals(r.ship.minerals);
+      }
       // The credit ledger (data/economy.json) — a save predating credits
       // has no field; setCredits floors a missing/invalid value at 0.
       this.ship.setCredits(r.ship.credits ?? 0);
diff --git a/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js b/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js
index 418d870..c35d825 100644
--- a/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js
@@ -387,6 +387,10 @@ export class SurfaceScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       if (!s.live || s.id === 'shop') continue; // SHOP is the way out
       bar.setSlotEnabled(s.id, !locked);
     }
+    // Re-assert the EXPLORE story gate (idempotent): the blanket re-arm
+    // above would lift its standby underneath the gate (open the shop,
+    // leave it, and Explore would come back live pre-'Special Delivery').
+    this._syncExploreLock();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -536,6 +540,9 @@ export class SurfaceScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         if (!s.live) continue;
         deck.setSlotEnabled(s.id, !locked);
       }
+      // Re-assert the EXPLORE story gate (idempotent): the blanket
+      // re-arm above must not lift its standby underneath the gate.
+      this._syncExploreLock();
     }
     const drawer = this.exploreSubBar;
     if (drawer && Array.isArray(drawer.buttons)) {
diff --git a/js/ui/BuildWindow.js b/js/ui/BuildWindow.js
index 285c17b..15fe480 100644
--- a/js/ui/BuildWindow.js
+++ b/js/ui/BuildWindow.js
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ export class BuildWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     });
     this.closeG.on('pointerover', () => {
       this.closeBtn.hover = true;
+      this.sfx('ui_hover');
       this._paintClose();
     });
     this.closeG.on('pointerout', () => {
@@ -781,7 +782,6 @@ export class BuildWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
         });
         g.on('pointerover', () => {
           row.hover = true;
-          this.sfx('ui_hover');
           this._paintRow(row);
         });
         g.on('pointerout', () => {
diff --git a/js/ui/ResearchWindow.js b/js/ui/ResearchWindow.js
index 8e33e6a..ab5d59f 100644
--- a/js/ui/ResearchWindow.js
+++ b/js/ui/ResearchWindow.js
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ export class ResearchWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     });
     this.closeG.on('pointerover', () => {
       this.closeBtn.hover = true;
+      this.sfx('ui_hover');
       this._paintClose();
     });
     this.closeG.on('pointerout', () => {
@@ -887,7 +888,6 @@ export class ResearchWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     });
     g.on('pointerover', () => {
       node.hover = true;
-      this.sfx('ui_hover');
       this._paintNode(node);
     });
     g.on('pointerout', () => {