Resources & Ores
The full ore progression — from coal at the surface to diamonds in the deepslate layer. Where they generate, what tools you need and what they're for.
Ore progression
Minecraft tools follow a strict tier system. You must mine each tier with the previous tier's pickaxe (or better). Using the wrong tier will break the block but drop nothing.
| Tier | Required | Can mine | Durability | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | — | Stone, coal ore | 60 | 1x |
| Stone | Wood+ | Iron, copper, lapis | 132 | 1.33x |
| Iron | Stone+ | Gold, redstone, diamond, emerald | 251 | 1.5x |
| Diamond | Iron+ | Obsidian, ancient debris | 1,562 | 2x |
| Netherite | Diamond (upgraded) | Everything + faster | 2,032 | 2.25x |
| Gold | Wood+ | Same as wood (very fast) | 33 | 3x (fastest) |
Where ores generate
With the 1.18 Caves & Cliffs update, ores now follow triangular distributions with a sweet-spot Y level. Below Y = 0 the world is made of deepslate, where ore variants are slightly tougher to mine.
Coal
Best: Y 95Copper
Best: Y 47Iron
Best: Y 15 / 232Gold
Best: Y −16Redstone
Best: Y −59Lapis Lazuli
Best: Y 0Emerald
Best: Y 236Diamond
Best: Y −59Mining techniques
Branch Mining
At Y = −59, dig a main tunnel 2 blocks tall. Branch off every 3 blocks to maximize ore exposure while minimizing mining.
Best for: Diamonds, RedstoneTNT Mining
Use TNT to clear large areas quickly. Works best in the Nether for ancient debris since it's blast-resistant.
Best for: Ancient DebrisBed Mining (Nether)
Beds explode in the Nether. Cheap alternative to TNT for finding ancient debris.
Best for: Ancient Debris (budget)Cave Exploration
Explore naturally generated caves. Less efficient but more fun. Watch for mobs and lava.
Best for: Variety, early gameOther key resources
| Resource | Source | Primary use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Trees (8 species) | Crafting, building, fuel | Most fundamental resource. Different species have different colors. |
| Stone | Underground, mountains | Tools, building, furnaces | Smelt cobblestone for smooth stone. Deepslate below Y=0. |
| Sand | Deserts, beaches, rivers | Glass, concrete, TNT | Affected by gravity. Red sand in badlands. |
| Gravel | Underground, beaches | Flint (10%), concrete, paths | Affected by gravity. Flint used for arrows. |
| Clay | Rivers, swamps, lush caves | Bricks, terracotta | Smelt into bricks. Dye terracotta for colors. |
| Obsidian | Water + lava source | Nether portal, enchanting table | Takes 9.4 seconds to mine with diamond pick. |
| Amethyst | Amethyst geodes | Spyglass, tinted glass | Grows on budding amethyst blocks. Cannot be silk-touched. |
| Ancient Debris | Nether Y=8-22 | Netherite gear | Blast-resistant. Floats in lava. Smelt into scraps. |
Enchantments for mining
Efficiency V
Massively increases mining speed. Essential for large-scale mining.
Fortune III
Multiplies ore drops. Average 2.2x diamonds. Does not work on iron/gold/copper.
Silk Touch
Drops the ore block itself. Store for later Fortune mining. Required for glass, ice.
Unbreaking III
Tool lasts ~4x longer. Essential for expensive netherite tools.
Pro tip: Fortune vs Silk Touch