WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Iron Ore
Surface Iron Ore nodes and underground deposits beneath them in standard PC survival worlds.
Before you go
- A pickaxe is the efficient choice; a Stone Axe can work early.
- Bring inventory space for ore and a route back to a Forge.
Farming steps
- Look across the terrain for an Iron Ore surface node and mark its position.
- Dig beneath the marker until you reach the deposit.
- Mine exposed iron with your tool, checking adjacent blocks rather than widening the shaft at random.
- When gravel appears beside the vein, clear it carefully and inspect the newly exposed boundary for more ore.
- Keep the opening stable enough to enter and exit; remove loose blocks that obstruct your route.
- Carry the ore home and smelt it in a Forge for iron used in crafting.
- Gravel often borders ore, so use it as a clue to check nearby blocks.
- A marked entrance makes it easier to return and continue the same deposit later.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat on another surface node when you need more ore; deposits are a renewable exploration target across the world, not a one-time quest reward.
Common mistakes
- Digging far from the surface marker: start directly beneath it, then expand only when ore or bordering gravel points onward.
- Hauling without space: clear inventory before the trip and take only the ore you can carry safely.
- Leaving ore unprocessed: smelt it at a Forge when you need usable iron for crafting.
When to stop or switch
Stop when you have enough ore for the next forge or crafting batch, or return to base if your carrying capacity or safe exit is compromised.
Sources & fact checks
What you can get here
Open a guide to find other locations and see what the item is used for.