Redstone Ore

Redstone Ore

Renewable	No
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool
Blast resistance	3
Hardness	Redstone Ore: 3 Deepslate Redstone Ore: 4.5
Luminous	Yes (9) (when lit)
Transparent	No
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No
Map color	11 STONE  59 DEEPSLATE
Note block instrument	Bass Drum
Sulfur cube archetype	Slow Bouncy

Redstone ore is the ore block from which redstone dust is obtained.

Deepslate redstone ore is a variant of redstone ore that can generate in deepslate and tuff blobs.

Obtaining

Breaking

Redstone ore must be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher to drop redstone dust. When mined, it drops 4–5 redstone dust. It is affected by the Fortune enchantment, dropping 4-6, 4-7, or 4-8 redstone respectively with Fortune I, II, and III (averaging at 6 redstone dust with Fortune level 3^[1][2]). If mined with Silk Touch, it drops itself instead of redstone dust.

Block	Redstone Ore	Deepslate Redstone Ore
Hardness	3	4.5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)[A]
Default	115 (JE) 15 (BE)	122.5 (JE) 22.5 (BE)
Wooden	17.5 (JE) 7.5 (BE)	111.25 (JE) 11.25 (BE)
Stone	13.75 (JE) 3.75 (BE)	15.65 (JE) 5.65 (BE)
Copper	13.05 (JE) 3 (BE)	14.5 (JE) 4.5 (BE)
Iron	10.75 (JE) 0.75 (BE)	11.15 (JE) 1.15 (BE)
Diamond	10.6 (JE) 0.6 (BE)	10.85 (JE) 0.85 (BE)
Netherite	10.5 (JE) 0.5 (BE)	10.75 (JE) 0.75 (BE)
Golden	11.3 (JE) 1.25 (BE)	11.9 (JE) 1.9 (BE)
Options
Efficiency	000
Haste	001 1JEBE

Legend

• incorrect tool, drops nothing
• correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
• correct tool, drops the block itself
• italicized can be instant mined

Natural generation

Redstone ore can generate in the Overworld in the form of ore features. Redstone ore generates in two batches per chunk. The first batch attempts to generate 4 times per chunk, in blobs of 0–10, evenly from levels -64 to 15. The second batch attempts to generate 8 times per chunk, in blobs of 0–10, from levels -63 to -32, being more common the lower the elevation.

Redstone ore can replace stone, andesite, diorite, granite, tuff, and deepslate. Any redstone ore that replaces tuff below Y=0 or deepslate becomes deepslate redstone ore.

Unlike most ores, redstone ore does not generate less when exposed to air.

Usage

The primary usage of redstone ore is to mine it for redstone dust.

Lit redstone ore

Lit redstone ore is a block state of redstone ore or deepslate redstone ore. It produces the light level of 9 and emits bright red powered redstone particles. Redstone ore enters this state instantly when a player interacts with it by pressing either the break or the use control, or when an entity touches it on the top side. There are some exceptions, including sneaking players, projectiles, shulkers, and the ender dragon. This effect continues until the redstone ore block receives a random tick (averaging 68.27 seconds). This effect does not actually produce redstone power, but the block changes can be detected with an observer.

Subsequent interactions on a redstone ore block causes it to emit an extra burst of particles per interaction.

Unlike most other interactable blocks, clicking on a redstone ore with a block, in addition to emitting particles and entering lit mode, also attempts place the block. In Java Edition if the block next to the ore in the clicked direction is replaceable (like air or water), but the placed block fails (because it needs some support, for example), the redstone ore enters lit mode, but the player's hand does not move.​

Smelting ingredient

Name	Ingredients	Smelting recipe
Redstone Dust	Redstone Ore or  Deepslate Redstone Ore + Any fuel	0.7

Sounds

Redstone ore

Java Edition:

stone sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.stone.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block placed​[until: JE 26.4]	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.stone.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.stone.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.stone.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.stone.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

stone sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	place.stone	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.37	0.5
	​Footsteps	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.4	1.0
	​Footsteps	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.3	1.0
	​Footsteps	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.12	1.0
	​Footsteps	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.22	1.0

Deepslate redstone ore

Java Edition:

deepslate sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.deepslate.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block placed​[until: JE 26.4]	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.deepslate.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.deepslate.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.deepslate.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.deepslate.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

deepslate sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch
	​ ?	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.deepslate	​ ?	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​ ?	Blocks	When the block is placed	place.deepslate	​ ?	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​ ?	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.deepslate	​ ?	0.3	0.5
	​ ?	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.deepslate	​ ?	0.4	1.0
	​ ?	Players	Walking on the block	step.deepslate	​ ?	0.3	1.0
	​ ?	Players	Jumping from the block	jump.deepslate	​ ?	0.12	1.0
	​ ?	Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.deepslate	​ ?	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Redstone Ore	redstone_ore	Block & Item	redstone_ores mineable/pickaxe needs_iron_tool	block.minecraft.redstone_ore
Deepslate Redstone Ore	deepslate_redstone_ore	Block & Item	redstone_ores mineable/pickaxe needs_iron_tool	block.minecraft.deepslate_redstone_ore

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID[i 1]	Translation key
Redstone Ore	redstone_ore	73	Block & Giveable Item[i 2]	Identical[i 3]	tile.redstone_ore.name
Lit Redstone Ore	lit_redstone_ore	74	Block & Ungiveable Item[i 4]	Identical[i 3]	tile.lit_redstone_ore.name
Deepslate Redstone Ore	deepslate_redstone_ore	658	Block & Giveable Item[i 2]	Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -403)	tile.deepslate_redstone_ore.name
Lit Deepslate Redstone Ore	lit_deepslate_redstone_ore	659	Block & Ungiveable Item[i 4]	Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -404)	tile.lit_deepslate_redstone_ore.name

Block states

Java Edition:

Videos

History

Java Edition

Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.1							Added redstone ore in Seecret Friday Update 3.
							The mining time of redstone ore takes far longer compared to other ores (4.5 seconds with iron pickaxe).
v1.0.2_01							Lit redstone ore now emits red dust particles.
July 7, 2010							Redstone ore now has a name (previously all redstone-related blocks had no official name).
Java Edition
1.0.0			Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4				Redstone ore and lit redstone ore can now be obtained by mining them using a tool enchanted with Silk Touch.
			Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6				The mining time of redstone ore has been significantly reduced - it now has the same mining time as other ores.
							Redstone ore can now be smelted in a furnace.
							Redstone ore is now affected by Fortune.
							Lit redstone ore can no longer be obtained when mined using a tool with Silk Touch.
1.3.1			12w22a				Mining redstone ore, along with other ores, now gives the player experience orbs. One stack of redstone ore gives roughly 10 levels of experience.
Texture Update			January 4, 2018				A new texture for redstone ore has been proposed.
1.14			18w43a				The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
1.17			21w06a				The height limit was expanded down to Y=-64. Redstone ores are now generating from Y=-64 instead of Y=0.
			21w07a				The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
							Redstone ore now attempts to generate evenly between an altitude of Y=15 and Y=-64.[3]
			February 17, 2021				Henrik Kniberg shows grimstone variant of redstone ore.
			February 18, 2021				JAPPA shows new texture grimstone variant of redstone ore.
			February 22, 2021				JAPPA shows updated redstone ore and grimstone variant of redstone ore.
			21w08a				Added deepslate redstone ore.
							The texture of redstone ore has been changed again.
							Added redstone_ores block tag.
			21w08b				Redstone ore now attempts to generate twice: once, evenly between an altitude of Y=15 and Y=-64; and as a triangle spread, peaking at an altitude of -64 and generating below an altitude of Y=-32.[3]
			21w10a				The texture of deepslate redstone ore has been changed.
							Decreased the amount of redstone ore blobs.
			21w15a				All the changes to redstone ore generation in the previous 1.17 snapshots have been reverted, but they can be re-enabled with the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack.
1.18			Experimental Snapshot 1				Redstone ore once again generates the way it did in the 1.17 snapshots without the use of a data pack.
26.2			snap1				Added sulfur cubes, which have the ability to absorb both redstone ore and deepslate redstone ore, providing the football/regular effect to the mob.
			snap6				Changed effect from football/regular to slow bouncy.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.0							Added redstone ore.
v0.4.0							Redstone ore added to creative mode.
v0.8.0			build 1				Redstone ore now drops redstone when mined.
v0.12.1			build 1				Redstone ore can now be obtained if mined with a pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch.
v0.13.0			build 1				Redstone ore now emits light and red particles when walked on.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
1.16.220 Experiment Caves and Cliffs			beta 1.16.220.50				The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
1.17.0 Experiment Caves and Cliffs			beta 1.16.230.52				Added deepslate redstone ore behind the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.
			beta 1.16.230.56				In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, redstone ore now attempts to generate twice: once, evenly between an altitude of Y=15 and Y=-64; and as a triangle spread, generating from Y=31 to Y=-31.
1.17.0			beta 1.17.0.52				Now deepslate redstone ore generates without the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.
1.18.0			beta 1.18.0.20				Removed “Caves and Cliffs” experimental toggle. New redstone ore generation are now available through normal gameplay.
							Redstone ore generation height has now been tweaked.
			beta 1.18.0.22				Redstone ore generation height has now been tweaked to be in parity with Java Edition.
1.20.30			Preview 1.20.20.21				Increased the blast resistance of deepslate redstone ore from 1.8 to 3.
26.20 Experiment Drop 2 of 2026			Preview 26.20.23				Added sulfur cubes, which have the ability to absorb both redstone ore and deepslate redstone ore, providing the football/regular effect to the mob.
26.30			Preview 26.30.20				Implemented all features from the "Drop 2 of 2026" experiment in vanilla gameplay.
			Preview 26.30.27				Redstone ore and deepslate redstone ore's sulfur cube archetype has been changed from regular to slow bouncy.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU1	CU1	1.00	1.00	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added redstone ore.
TU7							Mining redstone ore now drops experience orbs.
			1.90				The texture of redstone ore has been changed.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							Added redstone ore.

Data history

Issues

Issues relating to "Redstone Ore" or "Deepslate Redstone Ore" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Screenshots

• 
  Lots of ore
• 
  A blob of redstone ore next to some lava
• 
  Multiple natural blobs of redstone in to the cave
• 
  Redstone ore in a mine
• 
  4 blocks of redstone ore
• 
  Naturally generated diamond and redstone ores in a cave
• 
  Deepslate redstone ore and gold ore
• 
  Multiple ores, found in a big cave
• 
  Redstone ore next to lava and granite
• 
  Naturally generated diamond ore, redstone ore, and lapis lazuli ore found in a ravine
• 

In other media

• 
  Redstone ore as it appeared in Minecraft Earth
• 
  Redstone ore as it appears in Minecraft Legends
• 
  Redstone ore as it appears in A Minecraft Movie
• 
  Redstone ore light by ThinkGeek

See also

• Mechanisms
• Traps

References

External links

• "Block of the Month: Redstone Ore" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, November 17, 2023.