Deepslate Iron Ore
Deepslate Iron Ore is the deep-cave version of iron ore — generates below y=0 with the same drops as the surface variant.
Description
A stone pickaxe is the minimum required tool — wooden tools drop nothing. Mining yields one piece of raw iron, with Fortune providing extra rolls. Raw iron smelts to iron ingots in any furnace, and once a player accumulates an iron pickaxe they can return for the deeper diamond layers without missing a tier. Silk Touch returns the ore as-is, useful for collectors building decorative ore-display rooms or for ferrying material between bases.
Guide
How to Find and Mine Deepslate Iron Ore in Minecraft
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1
Craft at least a stone pickaxe
Deepslate Iron Ore requires a stone pickaxe, iron pickaxe, diamond pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe to drop Raw Iron. Mining Deepslate Iron Ore with a wooden or golden pickaxe yields nothing.
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2
Descend below y=0
Deepslate Iron Ore only generates in the deepslate layer, which begins around y=0 and extends down to y=−64. Open the debug screen (F3 on Java Edition) to monitor your current Y coordinate.
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3
Target y=−24 for the highest density
Deepslate Iron Ore spawns throughout y=−64 to y=56, but the vein density peaks near y=−24. Strip mining or branch mining at this level maximises the number of Deepslate Iron Ore blocks you encounter per tunnel.
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4
Enchant your pickaxe with Fortune III for bonus drops
Each Deepslate Iron Ore block normally drops 1 Raw Iron. With Fortune III on your pickaxe, each block can drop up to 4 Raw Iron, making Fortune III highly recommended for efficient iron farming underground.
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5
Smelt Raw Iron into Iron Ingots
Collect the Raw Iron dropped by Deepslate Iron Ore and smelt it in a Furnace to produce Iron Ingots. Use a Blast Furnace to smelt twice as fast, saving fuel and time when processing large quantities.
Use Silk Touch on your pickaxe if you want to collect the Deepslate Iron Ore block itself for decoration or later smelting — Silk Touch drops the intact block instead of Raw Iron.
Used in crafts
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Deepslate Iron Ore and regular Iron Ore?
Deepslate Iron Ore is the deepslate-layer variant of Iron Ore that generates between y=−64 and y=56. Both blocks drop the same amount of Raw Iron, but Deepslate Iron Ore is embedded in deepslate rather than stone, making it about 1.5 times harder to mine and giving it a darker appearance.
What pickaxe do I need to mine Deepslate Iron Ore?
You need at least a stone pickaxe to mine Deepslate Iron Ore and receive Raw Iron as a drop. Mining Deepslate Iron Ore with a wooden or golden pickaxe destroys the block without any drop. Iron, diamond, and netherite pickaxes also work.
What does Deepslate Iron Ore drop?
Deepslate Iron Ore drops 1 Raw Iron when mined with a stone pickaxe or better. With Fortune III, a single block can drop up to 4 Raw Iron. Using Silk Touch causes Deepslate Iron Ore to drop its own block instead of Raw Iron.
Where does Deepslate Iron Ore generate in Minecraft?
Deepslate Iron Ore generates between y=−64 and y=56. Its density is highest near y=−24, making that level the most efficient for iron farming in the deepslate layer.
When was Deepslate Iron Ore added to Minecraft?
Deepslate Iron Ore was added in Minecraft Java Edition 1.18 (Caves & Cliffs Part II), which overhauled underground world generation and introduced the deepslate layer below y=0.
How do I turn Raw Iron from Deepslate Iron Ore into Iron Ingots?
Place Raw Iron obtained from Deepslate Iron Ore into a Furnace or Blast Furnace to smelt it into Iron Ingots. A Blast Furnace smelts twice as fast as a regular Furnace, making it the preferred choice when processing large quantities of Raw Iron.
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