Minecraft Wiki
Advertisement
This article is about the ore. For the item, see Redstone Dust. For the powered mineral block, see Block of Redstone.

Redstone ore is the ore block from which redstone is obtained.

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

Obtaining[]

Natural generation[]

See also: Ore (feature)

Redstone ore can generate in the Overworld in the form of ore blobs. Redstone ore generates in two batches per chunk. The first batch attempts to generate 4 times per chunk, in blobs of 0–10, evenly from levels -64 to 15. The second batch attempts to generate 8 times per chunk, in blobs of 0–10, from levels -63 to -32, being more common the lower the elevation. Redstone ore can replace stone, andesite, diorite, granite, polished andesite‌‌[BE only], tuff[JE only], and deepslate. Any redstone ore that replaces tuff or deepslate becomes deepslate redstone ore.

Breaking[]

Redstone ore must be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher to drop redstone dust. When mined, it drops 4–5 redstone dust. It is affected by the Fortune enchantment, dropping 4-6, 4-7, or 4-8 redstone respectively with Fortune I, II, and III (averaging at 6 redstone dust with Fortune level 3[1][2]). If mined with Silk Touch, it drops itself instead of redstone dust.

Block Redstone Ore Deepslate Redstone Ore
Hardness 3 4.5
Tool
Breaking time[A]
Default 15 22.5
Wooden 7.5 11.25
Stone 3.75 5.65
Iron 0.75 1.15
Diamond 0.6 0.85
Netherite 0.5 0.75
Golden 1.25 1.9
  1. Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Usage[]

Light[]

Redstone ore produces the light level of 9 and emits bright red powered redstone particle when clicked, updated, or contacted by almost any entity (among some of the exceptions are a sneaking player, fired arrows, fired fire charges, shulkers, shulker bullets, and the ender dragon). This effect continues until the redstone ore block receives a random block tick (averaging 68.27 seconds). This effect does not actually produce redstone power, but the block changes can be detected with an observer or a block update detector.

Subsequent clickings on a redstone ore block causes it to emit an extra burst of particles per click.

Smelting ingredient[]

Name Ingredients Smelting recipe
Redstone Dust Redstone Ore or
Deepslate Redstone Ore +
Any fuel


0.7

Note Blocks[]

Redstone ore can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass drum" sounds.

Sounds[]

Redstone ore[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.stone.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.00.816
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.stone.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.00.816
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.stone.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.516
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.stone.fallNone[sound 1]0.50.7516
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.stone.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.370.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Deepslate redstone ore[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.deepslate.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.00.816
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.deepslate.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.00.816
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.deepslate.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.516
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.deepslate.fallNone[sound 1]0.50.7516
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.deepslate.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.deepslate1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placedplace.deepslate1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.deepslate0.30.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.deepslate0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.deepslate0.31.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.deepslate0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.deepslate0.221.0

Data values[]

Redstone Ore lit

A redstone ore that glows and emits particles in the dark.

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsTranslation key
Redstone Oreredstone_oreBlock & Itemredstone_ores
mineable/pickaxe
needs_iron_tool
block.minecraft.redstone_ore
Deepslate Redstone Oredeepslate_redstone_oreBlock & Itemredstone_ores
mineable/pickaxe
needs_iron_tool
block.minecraft.deepslate_redstone_ore

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Redstone Oreredstone_ore73Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.redstone_ore.name
Lit Redstone Orelit_redstone_ore74Block & Ungiveable Item[i 4]Identical[i 3]
Deepslate Redstone Oredeepslate_redstone_ore658Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.deepslate_redstone_ore.name
Lit Deepslate Redstone Orelit_deepslate_redstone_ore659Block & Ungiveable Item[i 4]Identical[i 3]
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. a b Available with /give command.
  3. a b c d The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.
  4. a b Unavailable with /give command

Block states[]

See also: Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
litfalsefalse
true
If the redstone ore is lit.

Video[]

History[]

Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.1Redstone Ore JE1 BE1 Added redstone ore in Seecret Friday Update 3.
The mining time of redstone ore takes far longer compared to other ores (4.5 seconds with iron pickaxe).
v1.0.2_01Lit redstone ore now emits red dust particles.
July 7, 2010Redstone ore now has a name (previously all redstone-related blocks had no official name).
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6The mining time of redstone ore has been significantly reduced - it now has the same mining time as other ores.
1.3.112w22aMining redstone ore, along with other ores, now gives the player experience orbs. One stack of redstone ore gives roughly 10 levels of experience.
1.1317w47aThe different block IDs for the redstone ore have been merged into 1 ID.
A lit block state has been added to redstone ore.
Prior to The Flattening, these blocks' numeral IDs were 73 and 74.
Texture UpdateJanuary 4, 2018Redstone Ore Texture Update Revision 1 A new texture for redstone ore has been proposed.
1.1418w43aRedstone Ore JE2 BE2 The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
1.1721w06aThe height limit was expanded down to Y=-64. Redstone ores are temporary generating from Y=-64 instead of Y=0.
21w07aRedstone Ore JE3 The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
Redstone ore now attempts to generate evenly between an altitude of Y=15 and Y=-64.[3]
February 17, 2021Deepslate Redstone Ore (pre-release) Henrik Kniberg shows grimstone variant of redstone ore.
February 18, 2021Deepslate Redstone Ore (pre-release 2) JAPPA shows new texture grimstone variant of redstone ore.
February 22, 2021Redstone Ore (pre-release) Deepslate Redstone Ore (pre-release 3) JAPPA shows updated redstone ore and grimstone variant of redstone ore.
21w08aDeepslate Redstone Ore JE1 Added deepslate redstone ore.
Redstone Ore JE4 The texture of redstone ore has been changed again.
Added redstone_ores block tag.
21w08bRedstone ore now attempts to generate twice: once, evenly between an altitude of Y=15 and Y=-64; and as a triangle spread, peaking at an altitude of -64 and generating below an altitude of Y=-32.[3]
21w10aDeepslate Redstone Ore JE2 The texture of deepslate redstone ore has been changed.
Decreased the amount of redstone ore blobs.
21w15aAll the changes to redstone ore generation in the previous 1.17 snapshots have been reverted, but they can be re-enabled with the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack.
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1Redstone ore once again generates the way it did in the 1.17 snapshots without the use of a data pack.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.0Redstone Ore JE1 BE1 Added redstone ore.
v0.4.0Redstone ore added to creative mode.
v0.8.0build 1Redstone ore now drops redstone when mined.
v0.12.1build 1Redstone ore can now be obtained if mined with a pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch.
v0.13.0build 1Redstone ore now emits light and red particles when walked on.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3Redstone Ore JE2 BE2 The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
1.16.220beta 1.16.220.50Redstone Ore JE4 BE3 The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
1.17.0beta 1.16.230.52Deepslate Redstone Ore JE2 Added deepslate redstone ore behind the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.
beta 1.16.230.56In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, redstone ore now attempts to generate twice: once, evenly between an altitude of Y=15 and Y=-64; and as a triangle spread, generating from Y=31 to Y=-31.
beta 1.17.0.52Now deepslate redstone ore generates without the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.
1.18.0beta 1.18.0.20Removed “Caves and Cliffs” experimental toggle. New redstone ore generation are now available through normal gameplay.
Redstone ore generation height has now been tweaked.
beta 1.18.0.22Redstone ore generation height has now been tweaked to be in parity with Java Edition.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1CU1 1.0 Patch 11.0.1Redstone Ore JE1 BE1 Added redstone ore.
1.90 Redstone Ore JE2 BE2 The texture of redstone ore has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Redstone Ore JE1 BE1 Added redstone ore.

Lit redstone ore "item"[]

The following content is transcluded from Technical blocks/Lit Redstone Ore.
This section is missing information about Pick Block functionality. 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.1Lit redstone ore has an unobtainable item form corresponding to its block ID. It can be obtained via inventory editors with numeric item ID 74.
Java Edition Beta
1.6Test Build 3Lit redstone ore items can be obtained from the newly added debug chests, mainly from the 16th slot of the 3rd chest from the left, and the 27th slot of the 5th chest from the left.
releaseDebug chests no longer spawn, preventing lit redstone ore items from being obtained this way.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4Lit redstone ore can be obtained with the Silk Touch enchantment by breaking a block with an appropriate tool enchanted with it.
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5Lit redstone ore can no longer be obtained via Silk Touch.
1.3.112w16aLit redstone ore can now be obtained as an item in singleplayer worlds via the /give command using the respective numeric ID.
1.7.213w37aThe direct item form of lit redstone ore has been removed from the game. It can no longer exist as an item in any way, only as a placed block.
Pocket Edition Alpha
?Lit redstone ore exists as an item.

Appearances[]

Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.1Lit Redstone Ore (inventory) JE1 The lit redstone ore item uses this model in inventories, when held in first person view or as a dropped item.
?The lit redstone ore item uses the aforementioned model when held in third person.
Java Edition Beta
1.6Test Build 3Lit Redstone Ore (inventory) JE2 The lit redstone ore item now uses this model in inventories, when held in first or third person view or as a dropped item.
This is a result of all 3D items having changed in this version to be brighter and rotated 90 degrees clockwise from their prior appearances.
1.8Pre-releaseLit Redstone Ore (inventory) JE3 The lit redstone ore item now uses this model in inventories, when held in first or third person view or as a dropped item.
This is a result of all 3D items having changed in this version to be even brighter than previously.
Cakes, among other irregular 3D items, no longer appear much larger than other blocks as dropped items.
Java Edition
1.0.0RC2Lit Redstone Ore (inventory) JE4 The lit redstone ore item now uses this model in inventories, when held in first or third person view or as a dropped item.
This is a result of all 3D items having changed in this version to be more shaded again.
1.3.112w22aLit Redstone Ore (inventory) JE5 The lit redstone ore item now uses this model in inventories, when held in first or third person view or as a dropped item.
This is a result of all 3D items being rotated 90 degrees anticlockwise from their prior appearances.
1.4.212w34aLit Redstone Ore (inventory) JE6 The lit redstone ore item now uses this model in inventories, when held in first or third person view, as a dropped item or when in an item frame.
This is a result of all 3D items being brightened to a miniscule degree.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.0Lit Redstone Ore (inventory) BE1 Interestingly, lit redstone ore has a distinct defined item sprite in gui_blocks.png, despite being unobtainable normally.
v0.2.0Lit redstone ore no longer has an item sprite.

Names[]

Java Edition

Item names did not exist prior to Beta 1.0.

  • Beta 1.0 - 13w36b: Redstone Ore

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Redstone Ore" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Gallery[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20210311215700/https://imgur.com/a/UnIGPKn
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509054859/https://imgur.com/a/GirweJL
  3. a b MC-216101 — "Redstone ore generates with a flat distribution below Y=12" — resolved as "Fixed".
Advertisement