Diamond Ore

Diamond ore is a rare ore that generates deep underground, and is the only reliable source of diamonds.

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

Natural generation


In Java Edition, Diamond ore can generate in the Overworld in the form of blobs. Diamond ore attempts to generate in two batches. The first batch generates 6 times per chunk in blobs of 0-5 ores, from Y=14 to Y=-63, being more common as the y-level decreases. The second batch generates in $1/9$ chunks in blobs of 0-23 ores, from Y=14 to Y=-63, being more common as the y-level decreases. Diamond ore is also less likely to be exposed to air: 50% of ore blocks from the first batch and 70% from the second batch will not generate. Diamond ore can replace stone, granite, diorite, andesite, tuff, and deepslate. Diamond ore that replaces tuff or deepslate will become deepslate diamond ore. Diamond ore generating under Y=0 or in a deepslate blob will be replaced by its deepslate variant.

$$, Diamond ore attempts to generate in three batches. The first batch generates 7 times per chunk in blobs of 0-5 ores, from Y=14 to Y=-63, being more common as the y-level decreases. The second batch generates in $1/9$ chunks in blobs of 0-23 ores, from Y=14 to Y=-63, being more common as the y-level decreases. The third batch generates 4 times per chunk in blobs of 0-10 ores, from Y=14 to Y=-63, being more common as the y-level decreases. Diamond ore is also less likely to be exposed to air: 50% of ore blocks from the first batch and 70% from the second batch will not generate. The third batch requires 100% no air exposure to generate. Diamond ore can replace stone, granite, diorite, andesite, and deepslate. Diamond ore that replaces deepslate will become deepslate diamond ore.

Breaking
The diamond ore block itself (rather than its diamond drops) can be obtained by mining it with an iron, diamond, or netherite pickaxe with the Silk Touch enchantment. When mined without Silk Touch, diamond ore drops a single diamond. The maximum amount of diamonds dropped can be increased with Fortune. Fortune I gives a $1/3$ chance for 2 diamonds, averaging 1.33 diamonds, Fortune II gives a 25% chance (each) to give 2 or 3 diamonds, averaging 1.75 diamonds, and Fortune III gives a 20% chance (each) to give 2, 3, or 4 diamonds, averaging 2.2 diamonds.

Note Blocks
Diamond ore can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass drum" sounds.

ID




Trivia

 * In some blob formations, ores connect diagonally.
 * After the Caves & Cliffs update, diamond ore is the only type of Overworld ore that largely keeps the classic ore texture, with only some minor tweaks to coloration.