Ore Deposits

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Typical example of ore distribution.

Finding ore can be quite challenging. A picture of a typical ore distribution is shown (right). Ores are distributed at random heights, in discs at various angles. Some ores have wider discs than others. Most discs average 5.5 blocks wide, though quartz discs are larger. The overall shape of the ore disc reflects the surface above and will always cover the same horizontal area. This means that regions with flat ground will have flat ore discs, and where the surface is jagged, the discs will be tilted and distorted. Thus, in flat areas, mining horizontally reduces the chances of finding an ore disc. This continues to be true until the surface is jagged enough that its slope is greater than the width of the ore disc.

For more information on the prospecting pick and how to prospect to detect ores, see the mining page.

Ore generation

As of version 1.9, ores only appear in certain rock types. Many ores are only found in some host rocks, and different rocks can have different ore qualities. Examining a rock while holding (Sneak + H), will provide information about which ores can appear in that rock type.
Ores are found in shallow deposits and deep deposits. The tables below provide information about disc generation for each ore type.

  • Y min and Y max: Ores are distributed throughout the range given by these values. The Y values reflect proportions of the total world height, i.e. 0.5 is half the world's height in blocks.
  • Average radius: the average width of the deposit along the X and Z coordinates
  • Average thickness: the average height of the deposit along the Y coordinate.
  • Tries per chunk: how many times the game tries to generate a deposit in each map chunk.

Shallow ores

Shallow deposits are indicated by the presence of loose stones containing ore on the surface of the world. To craft metal tools, copper is the first metal ore players need to find. Surface copper deposits are readily available sources of material available to players during early game stages.

Ore Y min Y max Average radius Thickness Disc Generator Tries per chunk
Lignite 0.48 0.92 10 2 Surface 8
Bituminous coal 0.1 0.9 10 2 Sea level 7
Anthracite 0 0.8 8 1.5 Sea level 6
Copper 0.962 0.968 4.25 1 Surface 0.2
Cassiterite 0.92 0.98 3 1 Surface 0.007
Galena 0 1 4 1 Surface 40
Lapis lazuli 0.05 0.85 2 1 Surface 5
Sulfur 0.3 0.9 8 1 Sea level 15
Borax 0.4 1 8 1 Sea level 6
Cinnabar 0 0.4 8 1 Sea level 1
Fluorite 0.2 0.6 8 2 Sea level 2
Graphite 0.05 0.85 8 2 Sea level 6
Kernite 0.2 0.6 8 2 Sea level 2
Olivine 0 1 32 1.2 Anywhere 0.5
Phosporite 0.2 0.6 8 2 Sea level 2

Deep ores

Deep ores do not have surface hints and most can only be found using the prospecting pick. Some ores, saltpeter for example, can't be found with a propick at all and must be found caving.

Ore Y min Y max Average radius Thickness Disc Generator Tries per chunk
Saltpeter 0 0.8 10 7 Sea level 7
Deep native copper 0 0.6 6 1 Surface 25
Malachite 0.1 0.9 6 1 Surface 15
Sphalerite 0 0.95 4 1 Surface 10
Cassiterite 0.4 0.75 5 1 Surface 7
Cassiterite, Rare 0 0.6 12 1 Surface 0.1
Bismuthinite 0.05 0.85 4 1 Surface 16
Limonite 0.05 0.85 26 1 Sea level 0.8
Hematite 0.05 0.85 26 1 Sea level 0.5
Magnetite 0.05 0.85 26 1 Sea level 0.3
Diamond 0 0.2 2 1 Sea level 18
Emerald 0 0.26 1 1 Sea level 64
Chromite 0 0.4 3 1 Sea level 6
Ilmenite 0.05 0.85 3 1 Sea level 2
Pentlandite 0 0.4 6 1 Surface 10
Rhodochrosite 0 0.4 3 1 Sea level 5

Ore specifics

Gold

Gold only spawns in layers of quartz. Following a quartz layer is a good way to find them. Ore blasting bombs can be utilized to great effect to clear out quartz.

Silver

Silver can be found alongside gold in quartz deposits, but it can also be found in deposits of lead.

Cassiterite

There's a 0.003% chance to come across a massive cassiterite deposit in a chunk. Players who locate these are extremely lucky, since the smallest of these deposits are larger than the largest of the normal sized deposits.

Generally Cassiterite is very rare, yet it is needed to make tin bronze. Some players may find this frustrating as bronze alloys are required to advance to the iron working stages of the game. Some traders sell bronze tools that can be used to work iron, but players must find enough ore to cast a bronze anvil.

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