An exhaustive list of Minecraft Ores and where to find them
Minecraft features a large variety of blocks. These blocks have different users; some can be used for building, some are decorative, some are used to craft weapons, others are used to brew potions, or create portals. If you started playing a world where the goal was to collect one of each type of item, you’d be playing for hours.
Minecraft Ores
Ores in Minecraft are found underground in the overworld. Some ores can be found by digging in the Nether. Ores aren’t necessarily metal. There are very few metal ores and plenty non-metal ones.
All ores can be mined with a pickaxe however, some ores requires a higher quality pickaxe e.g., diamonds cannot be mined with a wooden pickaxe. In most cases, an iron pickaxe will do.
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 given you an overview of the ores in Minecraft. Ores that occur commonly are used to craft all sorts of items while the ores that are rare are a crafting ingredient in fewer items. You may be able to find all 8 types of overworld ores in a single cave system.
