Java Edition 21w08a

21w08a is the eleventh snapshot for Java Edition 1.17, released on February 24, 2021, which adds deepslate ores among other changes to cave generation.

Blocks

 * Smooth Basalt
 * Generates in place of the tuff layer on amethyst geodes.
 * Can be obtained by smelting basalt.
 * Deepslate Ore
 * Added deepslate variants of diamond, iron, gold, lapis lazuli, and redstone ores.
 * Takes twice as long to mine as normal ores.
 * Has the texture of deepslate replacing the normal stone texture.
 * Takes place of ores that generate in deepslate.
 * Normal stone ores may still generate deep underground if they replace a different block, such as tuff.
 * Can be used in blasting and smelting recipes like normal ores.
 * These recipes can be unlocked in the recipe book with deepslate ores as well.
 * Cobbled Deepslate
 * Drops from deepslate when mined with a pickaxe.
 * Functions identical to cobblestone and blackstone in that it can be used to craft basic tools, furnaces, and brewing stands.
 * Is used to craft all the deepslate variant blocks instead of regular deepslate.
 * Has wall, stair, and slab variants as well.

World generation

 * Crack carvers
 * Deep, long cracks in the ground that are thinner and straighter than canyons.
 * Can reach over 90 blocks in depth.

General

 * Tags
 * Added the block tag.
 * Contains deepslate.
 * Added the block and item tags.
 * Contain the normal and deepslate variants of each ore type.
 * Added the block tag.
 * Contains stone, granite, diorite, andesite, and tuff.

Blocks

 * Blackstone
 * Texture has been tweaked slightly.
 * Grimstone
 * Has been renamed to "Deepslate".
 * Is no longer used to craft or repair any blocks or items.
 * Coal ore, Copper Ore, Emerald Ore, Gold Ore, Iron Ore, Lapis Lazuli Ore, Redstone Ore
 * Have had their textures tweaked.
 * Copper ore has oxidized areas.
 * Gold ore is once again unique from nether gold ore.
 * Spore blossoms
 * Particles now appear in the air around the block.

World generation

 * Mineral distribution
 * Ore distribution has been changed again.
 * Tuff
 * Now generates in mineral veins below Y = 0.
 * Andesite
 * No longer generates below Y = 0.
 * Lava
 * Once again generates at the bottom of the world starting at Y = -54.

General

 * Creative inventory
 * Slime blocks and honey blocks have been moved to the Redstone tab.
 * The category for the recipe book advancements for these recipes have moved as well.


 * Tags
 * Added tuff to the block tag.
 * Added deepslate gold ore to the block and item tags.

Video
Video made by slicedlime: