Iron Ore

For other iron-related blocks and items, see Iron.
Iron Ore

Iron Ore.png: Infobox image for Iron Ore the block in Minecraft

Deepslate Iron Ore.png: Infobox image for Iron Ore the block in Minecraft

Invicon Iron Ore.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Ore in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Iron OreInvicon Deepslate Iron Ore.png: Inventory sprite for Deepslate Iron Ore in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Deepslate Iron Ore
Renewable

No

Stackable

Yes (64)

Tool

Blast resistance

3

Hardness

Iron Ore: 3
Deepslate Iron Ore: 4.5

Luminous

No

Transparent

No

Flammable

No

Catches fire
from lava

No

Map color (JE)


 11 STONE 

{
    "title": "Iron Ore",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes (64)",
            "label": "Stackable"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"height:32px;width:32px;--vertical-align:middle\">(link to File:Invicon Stone Pickaxe.png article, displayed as 32x32px|link=Stone Pickaxe|alt=|class=pixel-image|A stone pickaxe or better is required to mine this block)</span>",
            "label": "Tool"
        },
        {
            "field": "3",
            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "'''Iron Ore''': 3<br>\n'''Deepslate Iron Ore''': 4.5(link to Category:Pages with overridden hardness article, displayed as Category:Pages with overridden hardness)",
            "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Catches fire<br>from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span style=\"display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(112, 112, 112); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 11 STONE</span>",
            "label": "(link to Map color article, displayed as Map color) <small>((link to Java Edition article, displayed as ''JE''))</small>"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Iron Ore",
        "Deepslate Iron Ore"
    ],
    "images": [
        "Iron Ore.png",
        "Deepslate Iron Ore.png"
    ]
}

Iron ore is a mineral block typically found underground. It is a source of raw iron, which can be smelted into iron ingots.

Deepslate iron ore is the deepslate variant of iron ore. It is found in deepslate layers.

Obtaining

Breaking

Iron ore itself can be obtained by mining it with a stone pickaxe or higher enchanted with Silk Touch. When mined without Silk Touch, iron ore drops a single raw iron. It is affected by the Fortune enchantment, dropping 1–2, 1–3, or 1–4 raw iron respectively with Fortune I, II, and III.

Block BlockSprite iron-ore.png: Sprite image for iron-ore in MinecraftIron Ore BlockSprite deepslate-iron-ore.png: Sprite image for deepslate-iron-ore in MinecraftDeepslate Iron Ore
Hardness 3 4.5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)[A]
Default 15 22.5
BlockSprite oak-planks.png: Sprite image for oak-planks in MinecraftWooden 7.5 11.25
BlockSprite cobblestone.png: Sprite image for cobblestone in MinecraftStone 1.15 1.7
ItemSprite copper-ingot.png: Sprite image for copper-ingot in MinecraftCopper
​ 		0.9 1.35
ItemSprite iron-ingot.png: Sprite image for iron-ingot in MinecraftIron 0.75 1.15
ItemSprite diamond.png: Sprite image for diamond in MinecraftDiamond 0.6 0.85
ItemSprite netherite-ingot.png: Sprite image for netherite-ingot in MinecraftNetherite 0.5 0.75
ItemSprite gold-ingot.png: Sprite image for gold-ingot in MinecraftGolden 1.25 1.9
Legend
  • incorrect tool, drops nothing
  • correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
  • correct tool, drops the block itself
  • italicized can be instant mined
  1. ↑ These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g. Mining Fatigue), and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Natural generation

See also: Ore (feature)

Iron ore generates in three batches. The first batch attempts to generate 90 times per chunk in blobs of 0-13‌ or 0-16‌, from levels 80 to 384, being most common around level 232 and becoming less common toward either end of the range. The second batch attempts to generate 10 times per chunk in blobs of 0-13‌ or 0-16‌, from levels -24 to 56, being most common around level 16 and becoming less common toward either end of the range. The third batch attempts to generate 10 times per chunk in blobs of 0-5, evenly from levels -64 to 72.

Iron ore can replace stone, andesite, diorite, granite, tuff, and deepslate. Iron ore that replaces tuff or deepslate becomes deepslate iron ore.

Iron ore can generate as a large ore vein found in the deepslate layer, consisting of iron ore, blocks of raw iron, and tuff.

Usage

The primary usage of iron ore is to mine it for raw iron.

Smelting ingredient

Ingredients Smelting recipe
 or
Deepslate Iron Ore +
Any fuel
Invicon Iron Ore.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Ore in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Iron OreInvicon Deepslate Iron Ore.png: Inventory sprite for Deepslate Iron Ore in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Deepslate Iron Ore with description: Deepslate Iron Ore
Invicon Coal.png: Inventory sprite for Coal in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Coal with description: CoalInvicon Charcoal.png: Inventory sprite for Charcoal in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Charcoal with description: CharcoalInvicon Oak Log.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Log in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Log with description: LogInvicon Oak Planks.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Planks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Planks with description: Overworld PlanksInvicon Lava Bucket.png: Inventory sprite for Lava Bucket in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Lava Bucket with description: Lava BucketInvicon Block of Coal.png: Inventory sprite for Block of Coal in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Block of Coal with description: Block of Coal
Invicon Iron Ingot.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Ingot in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Iron Ingot with description: Iron Ingot0.7

Note blocks

Iron ore can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass drum" sounds.

Sounds

Iron ore

Java Edition:

  • v
  • t
  • e
BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.stone.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break​1.00.816
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.stone.placesubtitles.block.generic.place​1.00.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.stone.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit​0.250.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.stone.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall​0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.stone.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

  • v
  • t
  • e
BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.370.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
BlocksJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
BlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Deepslate iron ore

Java Edition:

  • v
  • t
  • e
BlockSprite deepslate.png: Sprite image for deepslate in Minecraft deepslate sound type
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.deepslate.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break​1.00.816
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.deepslate.placesubtitles.block.generic.place​1.00.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.deepslate.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit​0.250.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.deepslate.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall​0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.deepslate.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

  • v
  • t
  • e
BlockSprite deepslate.png: Sprite image for deepslate in Minecraft deepslate sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.deepslate1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placedplace.deepslate1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.deepslate0.30.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.deepslate0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.deepslate0.31.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.deepslate0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.deepslate0.221.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsItem tagsTranslation key
BlockSprite iron-ore.png: Sprite image for iron-ore in Minecraft Iron Oreiron_oreBlock & Itemiron_ores
mineable/pickaxe
needs_stone_tool		iron_oresblock.minecraft.iron_ore
BlockSprite deepslate-iron-ore.png: Sprite image for deepslate-iron-ore in Minecraft Deepslate Iron Oredeepslate_iron_oreBlock & Itemiron_ores
mineable/pickaxe
needs_stone_tool		iron_oresblock.minecraft.deepslate_iron_ore

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite iron-ore.png: Sprite image for iron-ore in Minecraft Iron Oreiron_ore15Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.iron_ore.name
BlockSprite deepslate-iron-ore.png: Sprite image for deepslate-iron-ore in Minecraft Deepslate Iron Oredeepslate_iron_ore656Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.deepslate_iron_ore.name
  1. ↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. ↑ a b Available with /give command.
  3. ↑ a b The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Video

History

Java Edition Classic
May 21, 2009Notch shows interest in adding iron ore, saying that it could be combined with coal to make steel.
May 23, 2009Notch says he accomplished adding iron blobs in stone.
0.0.14a Added iron ore.
Iron ore spawns in huge blobs, sometimes big enough to protrude into 3 caverns, and could be as big as 167 blocks.
0.26 SURVIVAL TESTBreaking iron ore now gives the player 1–3 blocks of iron when mined.
Java Edition Indev
0.3120100124-2119Iron ore now generates in indev house chests.
20100128-2200Iron ore now drops itself instead of blocks of iron when mined.
20100129-1447Iron ore can now be smelted by throwing it into fire.
Iron ore no longer generates in indev house chests.
20100201-2227Iron ore now requires a stone pickaxe or higher to be obtained.
Java Edition Infdev
20100227-1414Iron ore no longer generates.
20100320Iron ore blobs now generate, but differently.
20100325-1545Ore blobs now appear more like they do today.
20100327Iron ore now regenerates after the world is reloaded, assuming that the positions of the ore blocks were replaced by stone.
20100330Iron ore no longer regenerates.
Java Edition
1.3.112w22aSmelting iron ore, along with other ores, blocks and items, gives the player experience orbs when taking the item out of the furnace. One stack of iron ore gives the player approximately 2 levels of experience.
Texture Update? A new texture for iron ore has been proposed.
1.1418w43a The texture of iron ore has been changed.
1.14.1Pre-Release 1 The texture of iron ore has been changed again.
1.1721w06aThe height limit was expanded down to Y=-64. Iron ores are temporary generating from Y=-64 instead of Y=0.
21w07a The texture of iron ore has been changed, once again.
Iron ore now attempts to generate twice: once as a triangle spread peaking at an altitude of Y=256, generating above Y=128; and another as a triangle spread peaking at Y=32 and generating with a minimum height of Y=-16 and a maximum height of Y=80.
February 17, 2021 Henrik Kniberg shows grimstone variant of iron ore.
February 18, 2021 JAPPA shows updated iron ore texture and grimstone variant of iron ore.
February 22, 2021 JAPPA shows another updated iron ore texture and grimstone variant of iron ore.
21w08a Added deepslate iron ore.
The texture of iron ore has been changed again.
Iron ore now generates less frequently. However, a bug exists in this version where regular iron ore are generated way more infrequent.
Iron ore can now generate in negative Y-levels in smaller blobs.
21w08bRegular iron ore now generates more frequently than in 21w08a.[1]
March 2, 2021 JAPPA shows updated iron ore texture.
March 4, 2021 JAPPA shows updated deepslate variant of iron ore texture.
21w10a The textures of iron ore and deepslate iron ore was updated.
Now generates less iron ore, and it generates lower down.
  • The deepest iron generation range: previously Y = -64 to -8, now Y = -64 to -32.
  • The middle iron generation range: previously Y = -16 to 80(most at 32), now Y = -24 to 56(most at 16).
21w14aIt now drops raw iron when broken without Silk Touch, instead of itself.
21w15aAll changes to iron ore generation in the previous 1.17 snapshots have been reverted, but they can be re-enabled with the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack.
21w18aExtended the vertical range of the smaller blobs of iron ore, to make it possible to find iron in caves near the surface, but only if the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack is applied to a world.
Slightly reduced the amount of normal-sized iron ore blobs, to compensate for large ore veins and the increased range of smaller blobs, but only if the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack is applied to a world.
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1All previous changes to ore distribution from the prototype data pack have been implemented into the base game.
Expanded the generation vertical range.
  • The highest iron generation range: previously Y = 128 to 384, now Y = 112 to 384.
  • The middle iron generation range: previously Y = -64 to 64, now Y = -64 to 72.
experimental snapshot 4Normal-sized blob now generates more frequently.
21w40aDecreased minimum generation height of the upper range of Iron Ore from Y=112 to Y=80, and increased the number of blobs.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.0 Added iron ore.
v0.3.0Iron ore is now obtainable in Survival mode.
v0.3.2Iron ore is now available in the Creative inventory.
With the addition of furnaces, iron ore is able to be smelted into iron ingots.
v0.12.1build 1Iron ore now gives experience when smelted.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The texture of iron ore has been changed.
1.16.220
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.16.220.50 The texture of iron ore has been changed.
In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, additional blobs of iron ore now generate in new mountain biomes between Y=129 and Y=256.
1.17.0
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.16.230.52 Added deepslate iron ore behind the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.
beta 1.16.230.54 Iron ore texture was updated.
beta 1.16.230.56In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, iron ore now attempts to generate four times: the first as a triangle spread peaking at an altitude of Y=256, generating above Y=129; the second as a triangle spread peaking at Y=16 and generating with a minimum height of Y=-23 and a maximum height of Y=55; the third generating in smaller blobs evenly from Y=-64 to Y=-32; and the fourth as extra blobs introduced in beta 1.16.220.50, generating in new mountain biomes.
beta 1.17.0.50It now drops raw iron when broken without Silk Touch, instead of itself.
1.17.0beta 1.17.0.52Now deepslate iron ore generates without the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.
1.17.30
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.17.20.21In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, extended the vertical range of the smaller blobs of iron ore, and slightly reduced the amount of normal-sized iron ore blobs.
1.17.40
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.17.40.20In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, expanded the generation vertical range. And normal-sized blob now generates more frequently.
1.18.0beta 1.18.0.20Removed “Caves and Cliffs” experimental toggle. New iron ore generation are now available through normal gameplay.
Iron ore generation height has been tweaked.
Increased the spawn size of normal-sized iron ore blobs from 9 to 10.
beta 1.18.0.21Decreased minimum generation height of the upper range of Iron Ore from Y=113 to Y=81, and increased the number of blobs.
beta 1.18.0.22Iron ore generation height has been tweaked to be in parity with Java Edition.
beta 1.18.0.24Removed extra blobs generating in mountain biomes.
1.20.30Preview 1.20.20.21Increased the blast resistance of deepslate iron ore from 1.8 to 3.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU1CU11.001.001.00Patch 11.0.1 Added iron ore.
TU7Smelting iron ore now gives experience.
1.90 The texture of iron ore has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0 Added iron ore.

Data history

Java Edition
1.814w06aIron ore now uses the newly-implemented model json file models/block/cube.json; previously the geometry was defined in the game code itself.
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 15.
1.1721w08aAdded iron_ores block tag.

Issues

Issues relating to "Iron Ore" or "Deepslate Iron Ore" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Screenshots

  • A total of 20 iron ore blocks were obtained from this blob, which was most likely composed of two smaller blobs.
    A total of 20 iron ore blocks were obtained from this blob, which was most likely composed of two smaller blobs.
  • Iron ore blob.
    Iron ore blob.
  • Ravine with multiple ores, water and lava falls, and stronghold bridge over it.
    Ravine with multiple ores, water and lava falls, and stronghold bridge over it.
  • Vein of deepslate iron ore with some raw iron blocks.
    Vein of deepslate iron ore with some raw iron blocks.
  • Iron ore in a cave.
    Iron ore in a cave.

In other media

References

  1. ↑ "[MC-216744] Iron ore doesn't generate (only iron ore in deepslate is generated) - Jira" – Mojira, February 24, 2021.

External links

Navigation

  • v
  • t
  • e
Iron
Material
Building blocks
Functional blocks
Armor
Tools
Mobs
edu only
  • v
  • t
  • e
Ore
Coal
Copper
Iron
Gold
Redstone
Emerald
Lapis Lazuli
Diamond
Nether Quartz
Netherite
Joke
Potone ores
Poisonous Potato
Toxic Resin
  • v
  • t
  • e
Blocks
BlockSprite peony.png: Sprite image for peony in Minecraft Natural
Sediment/Soil
Misc. rock
Ore/Mineral
Plant
Flower
Fungus
Fauna & algae
Fauna/Related
Sculk
Fluid
Fluid/Related
Non-physical
This article is issued from Minecraft Wiki. The text is available under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.