◈How2GetIt.Find your game ↗
Factorio/Ores and raw resources
Iron ore — Iron Ore
Ores and raw resources

Iron Ore

Iron ore becomes the iron plates that support most factory production.

PC / Global, Space Age edition included as optional expansion; base game scope
WHERE & HOW TO FARM

Where to farm

Iron ore patches on Nauvis.

Mine a Nauvis patch, smelt the ore, and route plates to the production lines that need them. Expand the stage that limits delivery: more drills do not help if furnaces or belts are already backed up.

See farming steps ↓
GET STARTED

How to farm

Before you go

  • Burner drills with fuel or electric drills with power.
  • Furnaces and belts or another ore transport route.
  • Space for a separate iron plate output.
  1. Choose a patch with room for drills and an ore route.
  2. Place drills so their mining areas touch the patch; provide fuel or power.
  3. Collect ore on a dedicated belt and carry it to furnaces.
  4. Smelt the ore into iron plates and collect the plates separately.
  5. Route plates to consumers or a buffer near the factory.
  6. Check whether miners, furnaces, or transport limit delivery, then expand that stage.
  7. Connect another defended patch when the current line cannot meet demand.

Farming tips

  • Use direct drill-to-furnace placement where it fits your layout.
  • Mining Productivity increases miner output and can extend a patch’s useful supply.

Repeat, collect and use

Continuous while ore remains and drills have fuel or power; expansion to another patch repeats the supply setup.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing iron ore with other ores on one belt; keep streams separate.
  • Adding drills while furnaces are backed up; expand smelting or transport instead.
  • Building over the patch before laying out extraction; leave room for drills and belts.

When to stop or switch

Use another patch when a balanced mining, smelting, and transport line still cannot sustain plate demand.

Sources & fact checks
wiki.factorio.com ↗ wiki.factorio.com ↗
REWARD DETAILS & CONDITIONS

Sources & rewards

Farming route

Iron Ore

Iron ore patches on Nauvis.

  • Burner drills with fuel or electric drills with power.
  • Furnaces and belts or another ore transport route.
  • Space for a separate iron plate output.
Rate not listed

Related guides

More guides for gathering materials and making progress.

Find another guide

Keep making progress in Factorio.

More ores and raw resources ↗All Factorio guides ↗