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Kittychanley

[0.79.18+] Finding Ores & Minerals

4 posts in this topic

There have been enough requests in the forums and posts about people having a hard time finding specific ores and minerals, that I thought it was about time that somebody made a guide that can just be linked as reference. While this guide is written specifically for Kaolinite, Graphite and Garnierite, the general concepts can still be used to find almost any ore or mineral. This guide is simply for finding exposed minerals, and readings from the prospector's pick. For more information on how to find ore using propick readings, please see the tool's wiki page.

 

This guide will occasionally reference the Ores & Minerals page of the wiki, henceforth called "the wiki page."

 

http://wiki.terrafirmacraft.com/Ores_&_Minerals

 

Kaolinite

 

Posted Image

 

As with any ore or mineral, we start our search by checking the wiki page for which stone types it will spawn in.

  • Using the chart on the wiki page, we see that Kaolinite spawns in all sedimentary stone types: Chalk, Chert, Claystone, Conglomerate, Dolomite, Limestone, Rock Salt, and Shale.
  • The chart also has the word (Top) underneath the word Sedimentary. This means that sedimentary stones can only be found on the top, or surface, layer of stone.

Knowing these two things, we are able to narrow down our search to only those specific stone types, and we know that there is no need to dig deep underground because those stone types can only be found on the surface.

  • Explore the surface by walking or running around in search for a sedimentary stone type. Pay attention to the color of the soil, as well as the rocks scattered about on the ground. If either of these changes, it means a new stone type, so you should check to see if it is a sedimentary stone.

Once you have found a sedimentary stone type, you can search specifically for Kaolinite.

  • If the area is mountainous, or has a lot of exposed stone cliff-sides or ravines, keep your eyes peeled for the pinkish streaks in the stone signaling a Kaolinite ore block.
  • Wander around on the surface while using the prospector's pick roughly every 10-20 blocks, keeping an eye on the readings. You do not have to use the propick on stone, you can use it on the grass and still get readings.
  • Explore any exposed caves that you come across. Once again using the propick roughly every 10-20 blocks, as well as keeping your eyes peeled for pinkish streaks.

Eventually you may reach the edge of the stone layer that you are currently searching in. If this is the case, check the new stone type to see if it is also sedimentary. If it is, keep going forward as normal. If it is not, follow the edge of the layer for 20-30 blocks, before doubling back and continuing your search in the sedimentary layer.

 

Note: Finding a sedimentary layer does not guarantee that you will find Kaolinite in the area. By default, Kaolinite has a rarity value of 90. This means that statistically, only 1 out of every 90 chunks will contain the center of a kaolinite cluster.

 

If you manage to thoroughly explore an entire sedimentary stone layer without finding any Kaolinite readings or ore, move on and try to find another sedimentary stone layer.

 

Graphite

 

Posted Image

 

As with any ore or mineral, we start our search by checking the wiki page for which stone types it will spawn in.

  • Using the chart on the wiki page, we see that Graphite spawns in a few metamorphic stone types: Gneiss, Marble, Quartzite, and Schist.
  • The chart also has the words (Top & Middle) underneath the word Metamorphic. This means that metamorphic stones can be found on the top, or surface, layer of stone, and in the middle layer of stone.

Knowing these two things, we are able to narrow down our search to only those specific stone types, and we know that we should take core samples to check the middle stone type, but that there is no need to dig down to the bottom layer because those stone types cannot be found there.

  • Explore the surface by walking or running around in search for a graphite-spawning stone type. Pay attention to the color of the soil, as well as the rocks scattered about on the ground. If either of these changes, it means a new stone type, so you should check to see if it is a graphite-spawning stone.
  • Every time you come across a new surface stone layer, be it graphite-spawning or not, travel roughly 100-200 blocks towards the middle of the layer, and dig down to check the stone type of the middle layer. To save pickaxe durability, simply dig a 2 wide hole straight down while standing between the two blocks to avoid falling into any caves or other openings you might dig into. Make sure to listen for the sounds of a cave-in, so you don't collapse the ground from under your feet. Use ladders to climb back up.

Once you have found a graphite-spawning stone type, you can search specifically for Graphite.

 

If the stone is in the surface layer:

  • If the area is mountainous, or has a lot of exposed stone cliff-sides or ravines, keep your eyes peeled for the bluish-grey streaks in the stone signaling a Graphite ore block.
  • Wander around on the surface while using the prospector's pick roughly every 10-20 blocks, keeping an eye on the readings. You do not have to use the propick on stone, you can use it on the grass and still get readings.
  • Explore any exposed caves that you come across. Once again using the propick roughly every 10-20 blocks, as well as keeping your eyes peeled for blueish-grey streaks.

If the stone is in the middle layer:

  • Tunnel through the stone while using the prospector's pick roughly every 10-20 blocks, keeping an eye on the readings. Make sure that you are using support beams to prevent your tunnel from collapsing.
  • Explore any caves that you come across. Once again using the propick roughly every 10-20 blocks, as well as keeping your eyes peeled for blueish-grey streaks.

Eventually you may reach the edge of the stone layer that you are currently searching in. If this is the case, check the new stone type to see if it is also graphite-spawning. If it is, keep going forward as normal. If it is not, follow the edge of the layer for 20-30 blocks, before doubling back and continuing your search in the graphite-spawning layer.

 

Note: Finding a graphite-spawning layer does not guarantee that you will find Graphite in the area. By default, Graphite has a rarity value of 100. This means that statistically, only 1 out of every 100 chunks will contain the center of a graphite vein.

 

If you manage to thoroughly explore an entire graphite-spawning stone layer without finding any Graphite readings or ore, move on and try to find another graphite-spawning stone layer.

 

 

Garnierite

 

Posted Image

 

As with any ore or mineral, we start our search by checking the wiki page for which stone types it will spawn in.

  • Using the chart on the wiki page, we see that Garnierite spawns in a single igneous intrusive stone type: Gabbro.
  • The chart also has the words (All) underneath the words Igneous Intrusive. This means that igneous intrusive stones can be found in all three layers of stone (top, middle, and bottom).

Knowing these two things, we are able to narrow down our search to only that specific stone type, and we know that we should take core samples to check the middle and bottom layer stone types.

  • Explore the surface by walking or running around in search for gabbro. Pay attention to the color of the soil, as well as the rocks scattered about on the ground. If either of these changes, it means a new stone type, so you should check to see if it gabbro.
  • Every time you come across a new surface stone layer, be it gabbro or not, travel roughly 100-200 blocks towards the middle of the layer, and dig down to check the stone type of the middle and bottom layers. To save pickaxe durability, simply dig a 2 wide hole straight down while standing between the two blocks to avoid falling into any caves or other openings you might dig into. Make sure to listen for the sounds of a cave-in, so you don't collapse the ground from under your feet. Use ladders to climb back up.
  • While exploring the surface, if you come across any fissures, including ones filled with water, hot springs, or lava, the raw stone blocks surrounding the liquid is the same stone type that is in the bottom layer of that area, so you won't need to do a bottom-layer core sample near it.

Once you have found gabbro, you can search specifically for Garnierite.

 

If the stone is in the surface layer:

  • If the area is mountainous, or has a lot of exposed stone cliff-sides or ravines, keep your eyes peeled for the greenish streaks in the stone signaling a Garnierite ore block.
  • Wander around on the surface while using the prospector's pick roughly every 10-20 blocks, keeping an eye on the readings. You do not have to use the propick on stone, you can use it on the grass and still get readings.
  • Explore any exposed caves that you come across. Once again using the propick roughly every 10-20 blocks, as well as keeping your eyes peeled for blueish-grey streaks.
  • Because Garnierite is an ore, and not a mineral, you can also find small pieces of garnierite ore scattered on the ground if there is a nearby vein. A sluice can also produce small pieces of garnierite ore if there is a vein in the area.

If the stone is in the middle or bottom layer:

  • Tunnel through the stone while using the prospector's pick roughly every 10-20 blocks, keeping an eye on the readings. Make sure that you are using support beams to prevent your tunnel from collapsing.
  • Explore any caves that you come across. Once again using the propick roughly every 10-20 blocks, as well as keeping your eyes peeled for greenish streaks.

Eventually you may reach the edge of the gabbro layer that you are currently searching in. If this is the case, follow the edge of the layer for 20-30 blocks, before doubling back and continuing your search in the gabbro layer.

 

Note: Finding a gabbro layer does not guarantee that you will find Garnierite in the area. By default, Garnierite has a rarity value of 150. This means that statistically, only 1 out of every 150 chunks will contain the center of a garnierite vein.

 

If you manage to thoroughly explore an entire gabbro layer without finding any Garnierite readings or ore, move on and try to find another gabbro layer.

 

I've followed the entire guide and still can't find it!

 

Please keep in mind that TerraFirmaCraft requires a lot of exploring. It is not uncommon for a player to travel 10,000 blocks in search of a single specific material. If all else fails, and you do not wish to cheat the ore or mineral in yourself, there is one final option.

  • TFCOre.cfg is a configuration file used to determine the world generation of ores. The values in this file can be altered to make ores spawn more commonly, as well as in larger veins and clusters.
  • Please note that any changes to this file will only affect newly generated chunks. Areas that have already been explored before the file is altered will not reflect these changes.

For more information, please reference the Configuration page of the wiki:

 

http://wiki.terrafirmacraft.com/Configuration#TFCOre.cfg

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Guide has been updated to include Garnierite. It now has information for a mineral that only spawns on the surface, a mineral that spawns in the top and middle layer, and an ore that spawns in all three layers. Hopefully that should cover all of the bases for any ore or mineral that you're trying to find.

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