Deepslate Coal Ore
Deepslate Coal Ore is the deep-cave variant of coal — same drops, harder rock, distinct dark texture introduced in 1.17.
Description
Functionally, the block is identical to its surface cousin: a wooden pickaxe drops one piece of coal, Fortune adds bonus rolls (up to 4 coal with Fortune III), and Silk Touch returns the ore intact. The only meaningful difference is mining speed — hardness 4.5 versus Coal Ore's 3 makes each block roughly 1.5× slower to break. Players using haste beacons or efficiency-enchanted iron pickaxes barely notice; new survivors definitely do.
Block properties
| Item ID |
minecraft:deepslate_coal_ore
|
|---|---|
| /give command |
/give @p minecraft:deepslate_coal_ore
|
| Stackable | Yes (64) |
| Best tool | Pickaxe |
| Renewable | No |
| Hardness | 4.5 |
| Blast resistance | 3 |
| Java Edition | 1.17 |
| Bedrock Edition | 1.17.0 |
Guide
How to Find and Mine Deepslate Coal Ore in Minecraft
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1
Dig below y=0
Deepslate Coal Ore only generates below y=0, where regular stone transitions into deepslate — mainly in the y=0 to y=8 band, because coal blobs are uncommon at greater depths. Use F3 (Java Edition) or the coordinates display (Bedrock Edition) to track your depth.
-
2
Craft at least a wooden pickaxe
Deepslate Coal Ore requires a wooden pickaxe or better to drop coal. Stone, iron, gold, diamond, and netherite pickaxes all work and mine progressively faster. A bare wooden pickaxe will mine Deepslate Coal Ore but takes noticeably longer than on surface Coal Ore due to deepslate's greater hardness (4.5 versus 3).
-
3
Enchant for better yields
Apply Fortune III to your pickaxe to increase coal drops from Deepslate Coal Ore up to 4 pieces per block. Efficiency IV or V dramatically cuts the longer mining time caused by the deepslate base, making large-scale Deepslate Coal Ore mining practical.
-
4
Use Silk Touch to collect the block intact
A Silk Touch pickaxe causes Deepslate Coal Ore to drop itself rather than coal. Collect Deepslate Coal Ore blocks this way for decoration, building, or to smelt them later in a furnace — smelting one Deepslate Coal Ore block in a furnace yields one coal.
-
5
Light up your mining area
Deepslate Coal Ore generates in the same deep, dark zones as hostile mobs. Place torches or lanterns every few blocks as you mine to prevent mob spawns and keep Deepslate Coal Ore veins visible against the dark grey deepslate background.
Deepslate Coal Ore most often turns up as a bonus while mining other ores in the deepslate layer — coal is uncommon at these depths. The coal from Deepslate Coal Ore works directly as furnace fuel, no extra processing required.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Coal Ore and Deepslate Coal Ore?
Deepslate Coal Ore is the underground variant that generates below y=0 in the deepslate layer, while regular Coal Ore appears above y=0 in normal stone. Both blocks drop the same coal when mined without Silk Touch, but Deepslate Coal Ore takes approximately 1.5× longer to mine because deepslate is harder than standard stone (hardness 4.5 versus 3).
What pickaxe do I need to mine Deepslate Coal Ore?
Deepslate Coal Ore can be mined with any pickaxe, including a wooden pickaxe. A wooden or stone pickaxe will mine Deepslate Coal Ore, but the extra toughness of deepslate makes the process noticeably slow. Iron, diamond, or netherite pickaxes with Efficiency enchantment are recommended for efficient large-scale mining.
How much coal does Deepslate Coal Ore drop?
Deepslate Coal Ore drops 1 coal when mined with a standard pickaxe. With Fortune I the drop can be 1–2 coal, with Fortune II up to 3 coal, and with Fortune III up to 4 coal per block. Using Silk Touch instead causes the block itself to drop, which can be smelted in a furnace for 1 coal.
Where does Deepslate Coal Ore generate in Minecraft?
Deepslate Coal Ore generates exclusively below y=0, in the deepslate zone of the Overworld — mainly in the y=0 to y=8 transition band, since coal is uncommon at greater depths. The block was introduced in Java Edition 1.17 / Bedrock Edition 1.17.0, and natural generation below y=0 returned with the 1.18 update.
Can Deepslate Coal Ore be used for decoration?
Yes. Mine Deepslate Coal Ore with a Silk Touch pickaxe to collect the intact block. Deepslate Coal Ore has a distinctive dark grey texture with black flecks that contrasts well with lighter building materials, making it popular for industrial or cave-themed builds.
Does Deepslate Coal Ore smelt into anything?
Deepslate Coal Ore can be smelted in a furnace or blast furnace to yield 1 coal and 0.1 experience. This is useful when you have collected Deepslate Coal Ore blocks with Silk Touch and want to convert them to coal fuel without a Fortune pickaxe on hand.
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