An exhaustive list of Minecraft Ores and where to find them

Minecraft Ores

Ores can be found underground in the overworld of Minecraft. Digging in the Nether can provide some ores. Ores aren’t always made of metal. Metal ores are scarce, whereas non-metal ores abound.

A pickaxe can mine all ores, although some ores require a higher-quality pickaxe, such as diamonds, which cannot be mined with a wooden pickaxe. In most circumstances, a pickaxe made of iron will suffice.

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List of Minecraft Ores in the Overworld

Coal

• Found on Y levels 0 – 127.
• Found in caves in the overworld.
• Can be mined with a wooden pickaxe and higher
• Used mainly as fuel
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft

Copper

• Found on Y levels 0 – 96, most common on level 48-46.
• Found in caves in the overworld.
• Can be smelted to get copper ingot.
• Can be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher.
• Used to make a spyglass or lightning rod.
• Newly added in 2021.

Diamonds

• Found below Y level 16 and exceptionally rare
• Usually found near lava and redstone veins.
• Can be found in chests in temples and mineshafts
• Can be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher.
• Used to make armour, enchantment table, mining tools for mining obsidian and netherite.
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft

Emeralds

• Found on Y level 4 – 32 but most common on level 11.
• Found in caves and chests in temples and mineshafts.
• Can be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher.
• Used for trading with villagers.
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft.

Gold

• Found on Y level 32 all the way down to bedrock but most common between levels 2 – 29.
• Can be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher.
• Can be smelted to get gold ingot.
• Used to craft armor, mining tools, Golden Apples, trading with villagers, clocks, powered rail, and more.
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft.

Iron

• Found on Y level 0 – 65. It is fairly common and can be found near coal.
• Can be mined with a stone pickaxe or higher.
• Can be smelted to get iron ingot.
• Iron ingots can be found in chests.
• Is used to craft a large number of versatile items including armor, mining tools, buckets, a compass, doors, iron bars, and much much more.
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft.

Lapis Lazuli

• Found below Y level 32
• Can be mined with a stone pickaxe or higher.
• Primary usage as dye ingredient for blue color.
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft.

Redstone

• Found on Y level 0 – 15.
• Can be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher.
• Can be found in chests.
• Used to brew potions, make a compass, clock, detector rail, dispenser, dropper, and more.
• One of the oldest ores in Minecraft.

List of Minecraft Ores in the Nether

Netherite

• Found on Y level 12 in the Nether
• Can be mined with a diamond pickaxe or higher.
• Mined from Ancient Debris.
• Occurs rarely and is hard to find.
• Is used to craft armor and tools. Netherite armor is fireproof.
• A fairly new type of ore that was added in 2019.

Conclusion

We’ve gone over the many types of ores in Minecraft. Ores that are common are used to make a variety of products, whereas rare ores are utilized to make a smaller number of items. In some cave systems, you may be able to find all eight varieties of overworld ores.