Iron bloom

Iron bloom

Iron blooms are produced by melting iron ore (hematite, magnetite, or limonite) in a bloomery , and are a pre-cursor for iron ingots.

Creation

Iron blooms are a metal item obtained by first refining iron ore in a bloomery . Iron blooms are intermediate products used to create iron ingots, which can then be further smithed into tools, weapons and armor.

Gathering iron ore

There are 3 ores of non-meteoric iron: hematite, magnetite, and limonite. Each ore spawns in different rock types, but in total, iron ores can be found in any type of rock except sandstone and bauxite. As with most ores, one of the best ways to find iron ore is to use a prospecting pick in density search mode to find a high concentration, and then excavate a vertical staircase down. Due to how ores generate as flat discs, vertical prospecting shafts are more efficient than horizontal ones. A bronze or better pick is required to mine iron ores.

Using bloomeries

To create iron blooms, place iron ore nuggets inside a bloomery. Bloomeries can hold up to 120 nuggets, and will produce 1 iron bloom per 20 iron ore nuggets, so a maximum of 6 iron blooms if 120 nuggets are used. Bloomeries must be heated using fuel that reaches at least 1200°C, such as charcoal , anthracite or black coal . Once the bloomery has finished burning, destroy it to reveal the iron blooms inside.

Usage

The main use for iron blooms is refining them into iron ingots.

In order to turn an iron bloom into an iron ingot, it must be worked on an anvil (bronze tier or better) using a hammer. The bloom must be hot, and if necessary it can be reheated on a forge , similar to metal ingots.

Working an iron bloom consists of removing the oxide (darker colored voxels) layer, and moving iron voxels into position. Removing oxide often removes several voxels at a time. There will often be excess iron voxels left after shaping the ingot - split them off to finish the working process. Iron blooms have some variability in size and shape, but are for the most part similar.

Helve hammers can be used to automate the refining process. A hot iron bloom placed under a helve hammer will slowly be worked into an ingot.

Protip: If you accidentally remove too many voxels from an iron bloom, save it to place under a helve hammer - the helve hammer will magically fix missing voxels!

Tutorial video