Diamonds are the gems that are dropped when diamond ore is mined. Diamond is considered one of the most valuable items in the game due to their scarcity and use as a crafting material. Diamond can usually be found around 7 to 10 blocks above bedrock. Diamond tools and armor can be made from it, and are the most durable and efficient in the game. Diamonds can also be used to make jukeboxes, enchantment tables and solid diamond blocks. Diamond pickaxes are the only pickaxes that can be used to mine obsidian.
Diamond ore can be found in layers 1-16, in small veins of 1-10 ores, and can only be mined using an iron or diamond pickaxe. Outside of mining, diamonds can be rarely found in naturally generated chests, such as those found in a village or an abandoned mine shaft.
Diamond is the second rarest mineral in the game. The rarest is emerald ore. The texture is also one of the many symbols and icons used for Minecraft today.
Where to look for Diamonds
Diamond is only found in the lower 16 blocks above bedrock, though statistically (see diamond ore) the optimum level is at eye level 12. The best strategy to find diamonds is the branch mining method. The reason why branch mining is the best way to look for diamonds is because it exposes the most surface area, and is the method that requires the least amount of mining. You would want to be capable of seeing as many blocks as you can. There is a very good advantage since ores in Minecraft can be visible on all 6 faces. You would also want to find diamonds in the least amount time, that's why having sight of all blocks would save you time than mining every block you see. To branch mine, first dig stairs. Make sure that you are about 12 blocks above bedrock (eye level). Next, make a 1 block wide, and two block tall tunnel. you should make the tunnel at least 20 blocks long. Now, for every 4-6 blocks on either side of the tunnel, dig another tunnel 20 blocks long, 2 blocks tall, and 1 block wide. Repeat this process, and it is guaranteed that you will at least find 5 diamonds.
Crafting
| Ingredients | Input » Output |
|---|---|
| Block of Diamond | Template:Grid/Crafting Table |
Smelting
| Ingredients | Input » Output |
|---|---|
| Diamond (Ore)* | Template:Grid/Furnace |
* Ore can only be obtained by using the "Silk Touch" enchantment, by using inventory editors, or in creative mode.
As a crafting ingredient
In the Pocket Edition, the Nether Reactor Core is crafted with three diamonds and six iron ingots.
| Ingredients | Input » Output |
|---|---|
| Diamond, Sticks |
Template:Grid/Crafting Table |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Diamond Gems | Template:Grid/Crafting Table |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Template:Grid/Crafting Table | |
| Diamond Gem, Wooden Planks |
Template:Grid/Crafting Table |
| Diamond Gem, Obsidian, Book |
Template:Grid/Crafting Table |
Video
Diamond/video
Achievements
| Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Prerequisites | Actual requirements (if different) | Version restriction | Xbox achievement Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DIAMONDS! | Acquire diamonds with your iron tools | Acquire Hardware | Pick up a Diamond from a Crafting Table or the ground. | PC | N/A |
Trivia
- Diamond tools and armor are actually renewable since they can be bought from Villagers. However, diamonds themselves remain nonrenewable.
History
| indev | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.31 | On January 29th, 2010, diamonds were added. In the code, they were referred to as emeralds. The next day, this was corrected. | ||||
| beta | |||||
| 1.9pre2 | Diamond ore could still be smelted into diamond gems, even though there was no silk touch or any way to pick up the ore without mods. | ||||
| r | |||||
| 12w21b | Diamond was changed in the game code from emerald to diamond, due to actual Emeralds being added. Diamond's original name during Indev, as stated above, was emerald in the code, and was kept this way until this snapshot. | ||||
| 12w49a | Diamonds can be used to craft a Firework Star with a trail. | ||||
