Basalt Columns

Basalt columns

Biomes	Basalt Deltas
Generates in existing chunks	No
Consists of	Basalt

Basalt columns are vertical clusters of basalt blocks found within basalt delta biomes. They may also contain lava and magma in the many gaps between the towers.

Generation

Basalt columns generate as part of the surface structure generation in the Basalt Deltas biome. They appear in two variations: small basalt columns and large basalt columns. These formations are placed during the Surface Structures decoration step and contribute to the biome's rugged, volcanic terrain.

The game defines their generation using the following features:

• Small Basalt Columns – Controlled by NetherPlacements.SMALL_BASALT_COLUMNS
• Large Basalt Columns – Controlled by NetherPlacements.LARGE_BASALT_COLUMNS

Basalt columns are defined as Placed Features, which determine their spawning frequency and location. The generation process follows these steps:

1. Configured Features:
   • The game references pre-defined basalt column structures from NetherFeatures.SMALL_BASALT_COLUMNS and NetherFeatures.LARGE_BASALT_COLUMNS.
   • These features define the basic shape and formation of the columns.
2. Placement Registration (NetherPlacements.bootstrap()):
   • The basalt column features are registered with specific placement rules:
     • Small Basalt Columns spawn 4 times per chunk (CountOnEveryLayerPlacement.of(4)).
     • Large Basalt Columns spawn 2 times per chunk (CountOnEveryLayerPlacement.of(2)).
   • The placement occurs using the BiomeFilter.biome() rule, ensuring they only appear in the Basalt Deltas biome.
3. World Generation Step (GenerationStep.Decoration.SURFACE_STRUCTURES):
   • During terrain decoration, the game places basalt columns in randomized locations.
   • Their height, clustering, and spread are determined by internal noise functions and world height layers.

Interaction with other features

• Basalt columns often generate alongside Basalt Blobs (NetherPlacements.BASALT_BLOBS), which contribute to the rugged terrain.
• The presence of Blackstone Blobs (NetherPlacements.BLACKSTONE_BLOBS) adds variation to the biome’s rocky surface.

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Feature type	Identifier
[No displayed name]	stepped_column_cluster

Configured feature	Identifier
[No displayed name]	large_basalt_columns
[No displayed name]	small_basalt_columns

Bedrock Edition:

Feature	Identifier
[No displayed name]	basalt_columns_feature

Config

Java Edition:

{
  "type": "minecraft:basalt_columns",
  "config": {
    "height": {
      "type": "minecraft:uniform",
      "value": {
        "max_inclusive": 4,
        "min_inclusive": 1
      }
    },
    "reach": 1
  }
}

History

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition

Issues

Issues relating to "Basalt Columns" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

• In real life, columnar jointing is the phenomenon that causes rocks to form arrays of columns. Other rocks featured in Minecraft that can be subject to columnar jointing include andesite, tuff, and quartz.

Gallery

Screenshots

• 
  Basalt columns in a lava sea
• 
  These basalt columns generated on a floating blackstone island.