Block of Redstone

Blocks of Redstone (also known as Redstone Blocks) are mineral blocks and act as piston-movable redstone power sources which cannot be turned off. When power is applied to the block, it is unaffected and will still output a redstone signal regardless. However, because of the way blocks act, it cannot power blocks adjacent to it.

Usage
The block of redstone was introduced to provide a solid block to act as a power source. A block of redstone will power adjacent redstone wire (including above and below), correctly-facing redstone repeaters and redstone comparators, and adjacent mechanisms (pistons, redstone lamps, etc.). It will not power adjacent opaque blocks. Redstone wire will configure itself to point towards an adjacent block of redstone.

The block of redstone serves as compact storage for redstone, like other blocks of minerals (block of iron, block of gold, etc.).

The block can also act as a movable power source, such as being pushed by a piston, and generally makes circuits that use pistons more compact. A block of redstone can be used like a redstone repeater, requiring more space but without the 1-tick delay, by having a Sticky Piston push the block into powering other parts of the circuit.

Blocks of Redstone can also be used in conjunction with sticky pistons to create piston clocks that don't require the use of iron or a redstone torch.

Trivia

 * Even though redstone ore must be mined with iron or diamond pickaxes, blocks of redstone can be mined with any pickaxe.

Gallery
Redstone (Block) Bloque de redstone Redstone (bloc) 红石块 Красный камень (блок)