{{About||other iron-related blocks and items|Iron}}
{{Infobox block
|image=Iron Ore.png
|image2=Deepslate Iron Ore.png
|invimage=Iron Ore
|invimage2=Deepslate Iron Ore
|transparent=No
|light=No
|tool=stone pickaxe
|hardness=
'''Iron Ore''': {{Hardness values|Iron Ore}}<br>
'''Deepslate Iron Ore''': {{Hardness values|Deepslate Iron Ore}}
|renewable=No
|stackable=Yes (64)
|flammable=No
|lavasusceptible=No
}}
'''Iron ore''' is a [[mineral]] block typically found underground. It is a source of [[raw iron]], which can be smelted into [[iron ingot]]s. 

'''Deepslate iron ore''' is the [[deepslate]] variant of iron ore. It is found in deepslate layers.
== Obtaining ==
=== Breaking ===
Iron ore itself can be obtained by mining it with a [[stone pickaxe]] or higher enchanted with [[Silk Touch]]. When mined without Silk Touch, iron ore drops [[raw iron]]. It is affected by the [[Fortune]] enchantment, dropping 1–2, 1–3, or 1–4 raw iron respectively with Fortune I, II, and III.
{{Breaking row
|Iron Ore;Deepslate Iron Ore
|link=none; none
|Pickaxe; Pickaxe
|Stone; Stone
}}

=== Natural generation ===
{{see also|Ore (feature)}}

Iron ore generates in three batches. The first batch attempts to generate 90 times per chunk in blobs of 0-13{{only|je|short=1}} or 0-16{{only|be|short=1}}, from levels 80 to 384, being most common around level 232 and becoming less common toward either end of the range. The second batch attempts to generate 10 times per chunk in blobs of 0-13{{only|je|short=1}} or 0-16{{only|be|short=1}}, from levels -24 to 56, being most common around level 16 and becoming less common toward either end of the range. The third batch attempts to generate 10 times per chunk in blobs of 0-5, evenly from levels -64 to 72.

Iron ore can replace [[stone]], [[andesite]], [[diorite]], [[granite]], [[tuff]], and [[deepslate]]. Iron ore that replaces tuff or deepslate becomes deepslate iron ore.

Iron ore can generate as a large [[ore vein]] found in the deepslate layer, consisting of iron ore, [[blocks of raw iron]], and [[tuff]].

{{Block distribution}}

== Usage ==
The primary usage of iron ore is to obtain [[iron ingot]]s.

=== Smelting ingredient ===
{{Smelting
|showname=2
|Iron Ore; Deepslate Iron Ore
|Iron Ingot
|0.7
}}

=== Note blocks ===
Iron ore can be placed under [[note block]]s to produce "bass drum" sounds.

== Sounds ==
=== Iron ore ===
{{Sound table/Block/Stone}}

=== Deepslate iron ore ===
{{Sound table/Block/Deepslate}}

== Data values ==
=== ID ===
{{edition|java}}:
{{ID table
|edition=java
|showforms=y
|showblocktags=y
|showitemtags=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Iron Ore
|spritetype=block
|nameid=iron_ore
|blocktags=iron_ores, mineable/pickaxe, needs_stone_tool
|itemtags=iron_ores}}
{{ID table
|displayname=Deepslate Iron Ore
|spritetype=block
|nameid=deepslate_iron_ore
|blocktags=iron_ores, mineable/pickaxe, needs_stone_tool
|itemtags=iron_ores
|foot=1}}

{{edition|bedrock}}:
{{ID table
|edition=bedrock
|shownumericids=y
|showforms=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Iron Ore
|spritetype=block
|nameid=iron_ore
|id=15}}
{{ID table
|displayname=Deepslate Iron Ore
|spritetype=block
|nameid=deepslate_iron_ore
|id=656
|foot=1}}

== Video ==
{{yt|6epJB2Sh4mI}}

== History ==
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|java classic}}
|{{HistoryLine||May 21, 2009|link=wordofnotch:110762705|[[Notch]] shows interest in adding iron ore, saying that it could be combined with [[coal]] to make steel.}}
|{{HistoryLine||May 23, 2009|link=wordofnotch:111691116|Notch says he accomplished adding iron blobs in [[stone]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.14a|[[File:Iron Ore JE1.png|32px]] Added iron ore.
|Iron ore spawns in huge blobs, sometimes big enough to protrude into 3 caverns, and could be as big as 167 [[block]]s.}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.26 SURVIVAL TEST|Breaking iron ore now gives the [[player]] 1–3 [[blocks of iron]] when [[breaking|mined]].}}
|{{HistoryLine|java indev}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.31|dev=20100128|Iron ore now [[drops]] itself instead of [[blocks of iron]] when [[breaking|mined]].}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=20100129|Before the [[furnace]] was added, [[player]]s had to [[smelt]] ore by dropping ore [[block]]s onto [[fire]].}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=20100201-2227|Iron ore now requires a [[Stone Pickaxe|stone]], [[Iron Pickaxe|iron]], or [[diamond pickaxe]] to be successfully obtained.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java infdev}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100227-1414|Iron ore no longer generates.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100320|Iron ore blobs now generate, but differently.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100325|Ore blobs now appear more like they do today.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100327|Iron ore now regenerates after the world is reloaded, assuming that the positions of the ore blocks were replaced by [[stone]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100330|Iron ore no longer regenerates.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.3.1|dev=12w22a|[[Smelting]] iron ore, along with other [[ore]]s, [[block]]s and [[item]]s, gives the player [[experience]] orbs when taking the item out of the [[furnace]]. One stack of iron ore gives the [[player]] approximately 2 levels of experience.}}
|{{HistoryLine||Texture Update|link=Texture Update|dev=?|slink=none|[[File:Iron Ore Texture Update Revision 1.png|32px]] A new texture for iron ore has been proposed.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.14|dev=18w43a|[[File:Iron Ore JE2.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.14.1|dev=Pre-Release 1|[[File:Iron Ore JE3.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed again.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17|dev=21w06a|The height limit was expanded down to Y{{=}}-64. Iron ores are temporary generating from Y{{=}}-64 instead of Y{{=}}0.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w07a|[[File:Iron Ore JE4.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed, once again.
|Iron ore now attempts to generate twice: once as a triangle spread peaking at an altitude of Y{{=}}256, generating above Y{{=}}128; and another as a triangle spread peaking at Y{{=}}32 and generating with a minimum height of Y{{=}}-16 and a maximum height of Y{{=}}80.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=February 17, 2021|slink={{Tweet|HenrikKniberg|1362095363314876418}}|[[File:Deepslate Iron Ore (pre-release).png|32px]] [[Henrik Kniberg]] shows [[grimstone]] variant of iron ore.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=February 18, 2021|slink={{Tweet|JasperBoerstra|1362396465470005251}}|[[File:Iron Ore (pre-release).png|32px]] [[File:Deepslate Iron Ore (pre-release 2).png|32px]] [[JAPPA]] shows updated iron ore texture and [[grimstone]] variant of iron ore.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=February 22, 2021|slink={{Tweet|JasperBoerstra|1363828589708382210}}|[[File:Iron Ore (pre-release 2).png|32px]] [[File:Deepslate Iron Ore (pre-release 3).png|32px]] [[JAPPA]] shows another updated iron ore texture and [[grimstone]] variant of iron ore.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w08a|[[File:Deepslate Iron Ore JE1.png|32px]] Added deepslate iron ore.
|[[File:Iron Ore JE5.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed again.
|Iron ore now generates less frequently. However, a bug exists in this version where regular iron ore are generated way more infrequent.
|Iron ore can now generate in negative Y-levels in smaller blobs.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w08b|Regular iron ore now generates more frequently than in [[21w08a]].<ref>{{Cite bug|MC|216744|Iron ore doesn't generate (only iron ore in deepslate is generated)|date=February 24, 2021}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=March 2, 2021|slink={{Tweet|JasperBoerstra|1366733338023665665}}|[[File:Iron Ore JE6.png|32px]] [[JAPPA]] shows updated iron ore texture.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=March 4, 2021|slink={{Tweet|JasperBoerstra|1367460045903040517}}|[[File:Deepslate Iron Ore (pre-release 4).png|32px]] [[JAPPA]] shows updated [[deepslate]] variant of iron ore texture.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w10a|[[File:Iron Ore JE6 BE4.png|32px]] [[File:Deepslate Iron Ore JE2.png|32px]] The textures of iron ore and [[deepslate]] iron ore was updated.
|Now generates less iron ore, and it generates lower down.
*The deepest iron generation range: previously Y {{=}} -64 to -8, now Y {{=}} -64 to -32.
*The middle iron generation range: previously Y {{=}} -16 to 80(most at 32), now Y {{=}} -24 to 56(most at 16).}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w14a|It now drops [[raw iron]] when broken without [[Silk Touch]], instead of itself.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w15a|All changes to iron ore generation in the previous 1.17 snapshots have been reverted, but they can be re-enabled with the [[Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack]].}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w18a|Extended the vertical range of the smaller blobs of iron ore, to make it possible to find iron in caves near the surface, but only if the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack is applied to a world.
|Slightly reduced the amount of normal-sized iron ore blobs, to compensate for large [[ore vein]]s and the increased range of smaller blobs, but only if the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack is applied to a world.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.18|dev=Experimental Snapshot 1|All previous changes to ore distribution from the prototype data pack have been implemented into the base game.
|Expanded the generation vertical range.
*The highest iron generation range: previously Y {{=}} 128 to 384, now Y {{=}} 112 to 384.
*The middle iron generation range: previously Y {{=}} -64 to 64, now Y {{=}} -64 to 72.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=experimental snapshot 4|Normal-sized blob now generates more frequently.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=21w40a|Decreased minimum generation height of the upper range of Iron Ore from Y{{=}}112 to Y{{=}}80, and increased the number of blobs.}}

|{{HistoryLine|pocket alpha}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.1.0|[[File:Iron Ore BE1.png|32px]] Added iron ore.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.3.0|Iron ore is now obtainable in Survival mode.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.3.2|Iron ore is now available in the Creative inventory.
|With the addition of [[furnace]]s, iron ore is able to be [[smelt]]ed into iron ingots.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.12.1|dev=build 1|Iron ore now gives [[experience]] when [[smelt]]ed.}}
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.10.0|dev=beta 1.10.0.3|[[File:Iron Ore BE2.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.16.220|exp=Caves and Cliffs|dev=beta 1.16.220.50|[[File:Iron Ore JE5.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed.
|In the Caves and Cliffs [[experimental gameplay]], additional blobs of iron ore now generate in new [[mountain]] biomes between Y{{=}}129 and Y{{=}}256.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.0|exp=Caves and Cliffs|dev=beta 1.16.230.52|[[File:Deepslate Iron Ore JE2.png|32px]] Added deepslate iron ore behind the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.16.230.54|[[File:Iron Ore JE6.png|32px]] Iron ore texture was updated.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.16.230.56|In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, iron ore now attempts to generate four times: the first as a triangle spread peaking at an altitude of Y{{=}}256, generating above Y{{=}}129; the second as a triangle spread peaking at Y{{=}}16 and generating with a minimum height of Y{{=}}-23 and a maximum height of Y{{=}}55; the third generating in smaller blobs evenly from Y{{=}}-64 to Y{{=}}-32; and the forth as extra blobs introduced in beta 1.16.220.50, generating in new [[mountain]] biomes.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.17.0.50|It now drops [[raw iron]] when broken without [[Silk Touch]], instead of itself.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.0|dev=beta 1.17.0.52|Now deepslate iron ore generates without the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.30|exp=Caves and Cliffs|dev=beta 1.17.20.21|In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, extended the vertical range of the smaller blobs of iron ore, and slightly reduced the amount of normal-sized iron ore blobs.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.40|exp=Caves and Cliffs|dev=beta 1.17.40.20|In the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay, expanded the generation vertical range. And normal-sized blob now generates more frequently.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.18.0|dev=beta 1.18.0.20|Removed “Caves and Cliffs” experimental toggle. New granite generation are now available through normal gameplay.
|Iron ore generation height has been tweaked.
|Increased the spawn size of normal-sized iron ore blobs from 9 to 10.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.18.0.21|Decreased minimum generation height of the upper range of Iron Ore from Y{{=}}113 to Y{{=}}81, and increased the number of blobs.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.18.0.22|Iron ore generation height has been tweaked to be in parity with ''Java Edition''.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.18.0.24|Removed extra blobs generating in [[mountain]] biomes.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.20.30|dev=Preview 1.20.20.21|Increased the blast resistance of deepslate iron ore from 1.8 to 3.}}

|{{HistoryLine|console}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU1|xbone=CU1|ps3=1.00|psvita=1.00|ps4=1.00|wiiu=Patch 1|switch=1.0.1|[[File:Iron Ore JE1 BE1.png|32px]] Added iron ore.}}
|{{HistoryLine||?|[[Smelting]] iron ore now gives [[experience]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=none|xbone=none|ps3=none|psvita=none|ps4=1.90|wiiu=none|switch=none|[[File:Iron Ore JE2 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of iron ore has been changed.}}

|{{HistoryLine|3ds}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.1.0|[[File:Iron Ore JE1 BE1.png|32px]] Added iron ore.}}

}}

=== Data history ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.13|dev=17w47a|Prior to [[1.13/Flattening|''The Flattening'']], this block's numeral ID was 15.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17|dev=21w08a|Added <code>iron_ores</code> block [[tag]].}}
}}

== Issues ==
{{issue list|Iron Ore|Deepslate Iron Ore}}

== Gallery ==
=== Screenshots ===
<gallery>
GiantIronBlob.png|A total of 20 iron ore blocks were obtained from this blob, which was most likely composed of two smaller blobs.
IronOre.png|Iron ore blob.
Canyon intersecting a stronghold.png|Ravine with multiple ores, water and lava falls, and stronghold bridge over it.
LargeDeepslateIronOreVein.png|Vein of deepslate iron ore with some raw iron blocks.
Iron ore in cave hole.png|Iron ore in a cave.
</gallery>

=== In other media ===
<gallery>
Iron Ore (inventory) MCE.png|[[MCE:Iron ore|Iron ore]] as it appeared in ''[[Minecraft Earth]]''.
Iron Journal Icon MCL.png|[[MCL:Iron|Iron ore]] as it appears in ''[[Minecraft Legends]]''.
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/block-week-iron-ore Block of the Week: Iron Ore] – Minecraft.net on June 30, 2017

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox iron}}
{{Navbox ore}}
{{Navbox blocks|natural}}

[[Category:Ore]]
[[Category:Natural blocks]]

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[[de:Eisenerz]]
[[es:Mena de hierro]]
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[[hu:Vasérc]]
[[it:Minerale di ferro]]
[[ja:鉄鉱石]]
[[ko:철광석]]
[[nl:IJzererts]]
[[pl:Złoże żelaza]]
[[pt:Minério de Ferro]]
[[ru:Железная руда]]
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[[zh:铁矿石]]
