Minecraft 1.18 Mining Guide: Latest Distribution Locations for Diamond, Iron, Gold, and Other Ores

Since the release of Minecraft 1.18, the generation of ores in the Overworld has undergone earth-shattering changes. This update introduced entirely new types of caves and mountains, but with the bedrock layer moving downward (64 layers), all ores have coincidentally "moved" together.

As an essential part of the game, when a player breaks an ore block, it drops the metal items it contains. There are eight types of ores in the Overworld, scattered across every corner of it. With their distribution changing, players seem to be left wondering where to go.

So, in this article, GW will tell everyone where to mine in MC 1.18.

1. All Overworld Ores and Their Distribution Locations in MC 1.18

The more important ore locations have been bolded by GW for your convenience.

1. Iron: Iron can be found at almost all Y-levels, from Y256 down to Y-64, making it the most common ore block in the game. It generates most frequently at Y16 to Y232.
2. Coal: Coal is also a common ore in MC 1.18, but it mainly generates between Y0 and 256, with most coal found at Y96. Ps: In other words, deepslate coal is rarer than emeralds. "It barely generates, so how could it exist?"
3. Lapis Lazuli: As a frequently used ore for enchanting, players demand a significant amount of it. It can be found between Y64 and Y-64, being most common at Y=0.
4. Redstone: Also a very common ore, it can be found between Y-levels 14 and -64, but unlike other ores that generate most in the middle of their range, it is most abundant at Y=-64.
5. Copper: As a new ore added in 1.17, it is easily found between Y112 and -16, and is most common at Y=48. With the MC 1.18 update, this ore becomes even more common in dripstone caves.
6. Gold: Unlike other ores, gold is relatively "picky" – part of it generates between Y32 and -64, most commonly at Y-16, but in badlands biomes, it generates at Y=28 to 256.
7. Emeralds: Although officially classified as the rarest ore, they have become more common in the new version. In mountain biomes, they can be found between Y256 and -16.
8. Diamonds: Finally, the highlight of mining: diamonds have also become more common, found between Y-16 and -64 (not above Y0 anymore, remember that). Since the Overworld's bedrock layer is at Y-64, the best place to find diamonds is at Y=-58.

2. Ore Veins and Clusters

In addition to the ores and their distributions mentioned above, there are two special ore structures underground in the Overworld: veins and clusters. The difference is that the former are large serpentine structures made of ores and rock, while the latter are clusters of the same block type.

1. Iron and Copper Veins

There are only two types of veins: iron and copper. Iron veins generate at Y=-60 to Y=-8, accompanied by tuff; copper veins generate at Y0 to Y50, accompanied by granite. What good are these? If you come across them, you can basically achieve "iron and copper freedom" in the early game.

2. Clusters

There's not much to say about this small structure – it's just some ores or rocks (waste rock) packed closely together.

More or less, GW has "rambled" through this article. But besides knowing where they "live", you also need to know how to mine them. However, given the current harsh conditions of caves, "finding" is more important than "mining". Instead of mining straight down to a fixed layer, it's more worthwhile to find a natural cave at the right ore generation height.

So, fellow torch holders, are you enjoying mining in the new version? Players on the NetEase platform, wait a bit longer – when MC 1.19 official version comes out, we'll be able to mine down to negative Y-levels!