A non-renewable resource (as opposed to a renewable resource) is a resource that can be obtained in survival without exploiting glitches or using commands, but can't be recreated indefinitely without doing so. While running out of most resources isn't likely to be a factor due to massive size of an Minecraft map, this is a list of resources that can't be produced indefinitely without eventually having to explore more terrain.
Most non-renewable resources aren't renewable because they can be only obtained trough crafting recipe which consumes non-renewable items, others can only be obtained by finding them as naturally generated blocks, in structure loot chests or as a drop from certain enemies which don't respawn; Elder guardians Illagers and shulkers, which only spawn as a part of structure generation, the Wither, which can only be spawned by the player using non-renewable soulsand
Many normally renewable resources become non-renewable if playing on peaceful difficulty, as monsters do not spawn.
The degree of impact non-renewability has on normal game play largely depends on how limited the resource in question is.
Non-renewable, but extremely abundant
While technically not renewable, these resources or their non-renewable raw materials are so common in default world generation that they are unlikely to be used up in even small areas of the map.
| Resource | Non-renewable products | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Andesite, Diorite, And Granite |
Found in large veins in stone in overworld. Can be crafted using nether quartz and stone. | |
| Clay |
Clay (Block) | Obtained from breaking Clay Blocks, which are often found in small pockets in swamp biomes. |
| Coarse Dirt |
Found in all Mega Taiga variants, Mesa Plateau F (M), and Savanna (Plateau) M Biomes Can be crafted with dirt and gravel | |
| Concrete Powder |
Crafted from Gravel, Sand and a Dye | |
| Dirt |
Commonly found in most overworld biomes, under the layer of grass Can be made by tilling Coarse Dirt with a Hoe | |
| Flint and Steel |
Crafted with Iron and Flint Can be found in some Nether Fortress chests. | |
| Gravel |
Generates in large pockets underground, as a layer on the bottom of rivers and oceans, in the paths of some generated villages and in The Nether | |
| Lava Bucket |
Obtained by collecting lava with a Bucket, Lava generates in small lakes in The Overworld, in random pockets in The Nether, and in large amounts at low Y-levels in both dimensions | |
| Nether Star |
Dropped by The Wither, spawned using Soul Sand and Wither Skeleton Skulls |
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Non-renewable, less abundant
These resources are less common, and players may be forced to explore further out to find more, especially on servers involved in multiple large building projects using them. Often they don't really run out, but the remaining material is far harder to collect than it is to just explore more. For example nether quartz generates throughout netherrack, but most players only harvest the veins visible from on cavern surfaces.
| Resource | Non-renewable products | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Dirt |
Commonly found in most overworld biomes, under the grass |
Non-renewable, rare
These resources are limited enough to force players wander far and wide to find them in any significant quantity, especially on servers.
| Resource | Non-renewable products | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Dirt |
Commonly found in most overworld biomes, under the grass |