This is really one suggestion with two or three instances where it might be applied.
Since the introduction of metallurgy and weapons crafting we are finding droves of players busily whacking away with their picks prospecting for various metal ores. Of course, we hardly ever really "see" anything happening besides the movement of the pick and the movement of players shuffling from spot to spot. Therefore, I, for one, would find it pleasing to see some small visual effect when a player actually finds something, and that this little visual effect be visable to the other players in the area. It need not be much - even a momentary twinkle (gleam?) or some such thing. Such an effect could brighten up a sometimes long and tedious operation.
On similar lines, it would be quite pleasing if there were a small visual effect in the forge(s) and furnace(s) when a player is actually using them. Again, nothing beyond some simple glows, gleams and/or spark bursts.
I freely admit that this is not a high-priority suggestion, but it would contribute greatly to the "feel" of some of the actions that we currently have in the game.