Dripstone Block

The dripstone block is a rock block that allows pointed dripstone to grow beneath it.

Breaking
Dripstone blocks require a pickaxe to be mined, in which case it drops itself. When mined without a pickaxe, it drops nothing. It can be blown up by TNT, in which case it also drops itself.

Natural generation
Dripstone blocks can be found in dripstone caves. Clusters of dripstone blocks can also rarely generate in other cave types.

Dripstone clusters can generate with stalactites, stalagmites, or stalagnates (joined stalactite and stalagmite). These may be bordered by similar dripstone blocks. These tend to generate in more open sections of the new caves, regardless of biome.

Trading
$$, journeyman-level stone mason villagers have a $2/7$ chance to sell 4 dripstone blocks for one emerald as part of their trades.

$$, journeyman-level stone mason villagers have a $1/4$ chance to sell 4 dripstone blocks for one emerald as part of their trades.‌

Usage
Dripstone blocks can be used to accelerate the growth rate of pointed dripstone, taking the length of the growing process from roughly five days to just over an hour. (on average)

Natural growth
If a stalactite is hanging from a dripstone block with a water source above, it will slowly grow both the stalactite from above and a stalagmite from below.

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