Surface resources
Identify and gather Iron from surface rocks
Iron is a basic crafting and construction material. This method lets you collect it without first locating a buried deposit.
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Identify and gather Iron from surface rocks
On a planet surface, wherever you find an ore rock labeled Iron.
Before you go
- Survival Tool
- Rock Drill mode available on the Survival Tool
Farming steps
- Equip the Survival Tool and select Rock Drill mode.
- Approach a candidate ore rock and aim at it until the material readout appears.
- Check the readout for Iron. If it shows another material or ordinary stone, leave that rock and inspect another.
- Drill the Iron-labeled rock until it breaks.
- Pick up the Iron Ore dropped by the rock.
- Check your inventory and keep the ore for crafting or construction; use the current constructor recipe display to see what you can make with it.
- Use the displayed resource name as your confirmation; color and shape can help you spot candidates but are not conclusive.
- Search based on the resources present in your current world, since availability differs with geography and planet type.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat while you can find Iron-labeled surface rocks. Each rock is a finite source; move on when the local supply is exhausted or you have enough for your current crafting needs.
Common mistakes
- Drilling ordinary stone by appearance alone: confirm the Iron label before spending time on a rock.
- Expecting the same placement in every world: search the current terrain and inspect labels instead of following fixed biome assumptions.
When to stop or switch
Stop when you have the Iron Ore needed for the recipes or construction you currently plan to complete, or switch to another Iron source if suitable surface rocks are scarce.
Sources & fact checks
What you can get here
Open a guide to find other locations and see what the item is used for.