The 1.18 update of Minecraft saw a massive rework to how ores were generated in your Minecraft world. 1.19 continued this with some mild changes to ore distribution. With the 1.20 update recently released, Trails and Tales, many wonder how this update further impacted ore distributions.
Gone are the days when you could find and stack a ton of diamonds by split mining at Y level 12. The newer updates introduced the possibility of negative Y levels in the Overworld and significantly changed the generation mechanics of ores.
Find an in-depth guide regarding the Ore Distribution system in 1.20 of the game and the best levels for each.
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Minecraft 1.20 Ore Distribution and Chart Map
Each Ore in Minecraft 1.20 has a distribution level connected to it, which is a range of levels between a minimum and maximum number. Within this distribution, there are ore generation patterns; triangular, rectangular, and veins.
- Triangular (Redstone, Copper, Iron, Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Coal, Gold) – The probability of obtaining the ore increases near the triangle’s peak, which is the largest surface area throughout the distribution.
- Rectangular (Redstone, Iron, Lapis Lazuli, Gold) – The probability of obtaining the ore is the same throughout all levels in the distribution.
- Veins (Iron and Copper only) – There is no optimal level for obtaining ore. They usually generate near mineshafts, and are spread out in irregular and ‘veiny’ patterns, making them difficult to find.Large blocks of Granite or Tuff are good indicators of ore veins.
Note that oftentimes, generation patterns overlap (Iron, Coal, Redstone, Lapis Lazuli, Copper), which increases the probability of obtaining that ore. When this occurs, we’ve detailed the optimal mining level below.
Best Ore Levels Minecraft 1.20
The following table gives a detailed analysis of the distribution ranges and best levels for all Ores in Minecraft version 1.20. These ranges are the same for Bedrock and Java game versions. Below the table, we explain why the levels listed are optimal.
| Ore | Generation Range | Best Level |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | Y 256 to 136 / 192 to 0 | Y 136 |
| Redstone | Y 15 to -64 / -32 to -64 | Y -59 |
| Iron | Y 56 to -24 / 72 to -64 / 80 to 256 | Y 16 |
| Lapis Lazuli | Y 64 to -64 / 32 to -32 | Y -1 |
| Copper | Y 112 to -16 | Y 48 |
| Gold | Y 32 to -64 / -48 to -64 / 256 to 32 | Y -16 |
| Diamond | Y 14 to -64 | Y -59 |
| Emerald | Y 320 to -16 | Y 236 |
| Nether Quartz | Y 10 to 117 | N/A |
| Nether Gold | Y 10 to 117 | Y 15 |
| Ancient Debris | Y 8 to 119 | Y 15 |
Also read: 100 Coolest Building Ideas in Minecraft 1.20
Coal Distribution (Very Common)
| Distribution Range | Y 256 to 136 / 192 to 0 |
| Best Level | Y 136 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Wooden Pickaxe |
Coal has two distribution ranges in Minecraft 1.20. Y level 256 to 136 (constant generation) and Y 192 to 0 (highest generation in the midpoint). Therefore, the best level for mining Coal is Y 136, where the two distributions overlap.
Coal first generates in mountain tops starting from Y level 256 and ending on 136.This distribution does not follow the triangular pattern and instead has a constant generation rate. Your chances of finding Coal between these levels will remain the same throughout.
Coal follows the same triangular pattern as other ores in the second distribution possibility.It starts to generate at Y level 192 and goes all the way down to Y level 0. In this range, Coal is most commonly found on Y levels 96 and 95, but the overlapping point between the distributions at Y 136 is the optimal level.
The level range from 80 to 112 has the highest chance of containing this Ore in the second distribution possibility, with level 96 being its optimal location. Split Mining here is an efficient option.
Fun fact: Coal is very common and has the greatest distribution range in the entire game.
Redstone Distribution (Uncommon)
| Distribution Range | Y 15 to -64 / -32 to -64 |
| Best Level | Y -59 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Iron Pickaxe |
Redstone has two distribution ranges in Minecraft 1.20. Y level 15 to -64 (constant generation) and Y -32 to -64 (highest generation at -64). Although Y level -64 has the highest probability, the Bedrock contained there makes mining inefficient, so the best level for Redstone is Y -59.
Redstone is found between Y levels 15 to -64, and generation chances increase as you move deeper underground.You can see in the Redstone distribution image above that bedrocks are present until Y -59.
Bedrocks are unbreakable and will make your mining expedition highly inefficient. Due to that, to avoid Bedrocks and still have a good chance of obtaining Redstone, you should mine at Y level -59.
Iron Distribution (Common)
| Distribution Range | Y 56 to -24 / 72 to -64 / 80 to 256 |
| Best Level | Y 16 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Stone Pickaxe |
Iron has three distribution ranges in Minecraft 1.20. Y level 72 to -64 (constant generation), Y 56 to -24 and Y 256 to 80 (triangular generation). The best and most efficient level to mine Iron is Y 16. Y level 232 has the highest Iron probability, but this will only occur in huge mountains and mountain tops.
Large veins of Iron are produced below Y level 0, all the way down to Y level -48. These can also be an excellent source for finding this Ore.
As the chart indicates, Iron is distributed in three different systems. It is found evenly spread out from Y level 72 to -64. In the second case, it follows the triangular spread starting from Y level 56 and ending at -24.
Here, Y level 16 is the most probable level for Iron to generate and the most efficient one in finding Iron among all three distributions.
Iron is contained within Y levels 80 to 256 in the last spread. This also follows the triangle geometry, with Y level 232 being the optimal location for finding this Ore.
This level, however, is exceptionally high. That means that you’ll only find Iron here if you come across huge mountain tops and peaks.
These aren’t the most common thing to locate, and for that reason, Y level 16 turns out to be the best level to farm Iron Ore efficiently.
Lapis Lazuli (Uncommon)
| Distribution Range | Y 64 to -64 / 32 to -32 |
| Best Level | Y -1 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Stone Pickaxe |
Lapis Lazuli has two distribution ranges in Minecraft 1.20. Y level 64 to -64 (constant generation) and Y 32 to -32 (highest generation in the midpoint). Therefore, the best level for mining Lapis is Y -1, where the two distributions overlap.
Lapis ore has no air exposure within the second distribution (Y 32 to -32), so it must be mined between layers.
Copper Distribution (Common)
| Distribution Range | Y 112 to -16 |
| Best Level | Y 48 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Stone Pickaxe |
The most optimal location for finding Copper Ore in Minecraft 1.20 is the Y level 48. Copper Ore has a significantly greater generation rate in Dripstone Caves.
As such, Dripstone Caves occurring at Y level 48 have the highest probability of containing Copper Ore.
It can also be found in Copper veins generated above Y level 0.
Unlike the previously mentioned Ores, Copper only has 1 system according to which it generates in Minecraft Trails and Tales version 1.20.
It first starts to appear at Y level 112 and is last generated at level -16. It also follows the triangular shape of probability and peaks out at level 48.
This makes Y level 48 the best place to look for Copper Ore.
Similar to Iron Veins, a large quantity of Copper can be found in veins. Unlike Iron, however, Copper Veins generate above Y level 0 up till Y Level 48. These are usually quite huge in size and can contain tons of this resource!
Lastly, for some reason, Copper Ore is very common in Dripstone Caves. These caves significantly increase the generation rate of this Ore.
Combining all of this together, the most efficient method of farming Copper Ore is to search in Dripstone Caves in Y level 48.
(Although these Caves can be rare to find so, locating one shouldn’t be your top priority).
Gold Distribution (Uncommon)
| Distribution Range | Y 32 to -64 / -48 to -64 / 256 to 32 |
| Best Level | Y -16 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Iron Pickaxe |
Gold generates in 3 different batches spread across various levels. Overall, Gold is most efficiently found on the Y level -16 under ordinary conditions.
It’s even more abundant in Y levels 256 to 32; however, this is only limited to the Badlands biome.
Similar to Iron, Gold Ore has three distribution systems associated with it. Two of these are even distribution ones, whereas one is a triangular pattern.
In the case of the triangular pattern, Gold is found between Y levels 32 to -64.
The midpoint here comes out to be -16. Thus, this level has the highest probability of generating Gold Ore.
However, Gold has one more generation condition in this range which is that it only spawns in areas with reduced air exposure.
This means that it’ll only be found in constricted areas and will be rare to see in massive hollow caves.
In the case of the even systems, the first one spreads Gold out from Y levels -48 to -64.
It has a moderate chance of containing Gold Ore and should be least prioritized among all three distributions.
The second even system has the highest probability of containing Gold Ore. It generates the resource between Y levels 256 to 32.
The only problem here is that this is only applicable to the Badlands biome and does not generate in any other terrains.
Without this condition, this system would have been the best one to search for Gold.
Keeping all this in view, Y level -16 comes out to be the most reliable source of Gold Ore, even though the second even distribution has a much higher probability of containing the resource.
Diamond Distribution (Rare)
| Distribution Range | Y 14 to -64 |
| Best Level | Y -59 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Iron Pickaxe |
The best area to mine for Diamonds in Minecraft 1.20 is Y level -59. Diamond is one of the rarest resources in the game, and it exclusively spawns in one distribution.
As such, there are no other level ranges except -14 to -64 for mining Diamonds. The highest probability of generation in the range is seen on Y level -59.
Diamonds tend to follow the triangular pattern of distribution in Minecraft version 1.20 Trails and Tales. They’re first found at Y level -14 and are last seen on level -64.
Like Redstone, Diamond Ore’s generation probability increases the deeper you go underground.
Technically the highest chance of finding this Ore occurs at the bottom-most layer. However, the same logic applies in this case as it did with Redstone. (The Bedrocks there make mining difficult)
Among this range, the best possible level to find Diamonds comes out to be -59.
Update 1.20.2 of Minecraft introduced slight changes to Diamond generation. Firstly, the Ore will generate more frequently in Deepslate areas. The exact frequency of this remains undisclosed.
Secondly, Diamond Ore has an additional blob placement now – being uniformly distributed between Y levels -4 to -64. This generation has a spawn frequency of 2 and a maximum blob size of 8. Ore generated in this pattern also has a 50% chance of being discarded due to air exposure.
Even then, Diamonds are extremely rare, and unless you follow the right strategies, you might never find them!
Emerald Distribution (Very Rare)
| Distribution Range | Y 320 to -16 |
| Best Level | Y 236 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Iron Pickaxe |
The optimal location to mine for Emeralds in Minecraft 1.20 is Y level 236. Emerald is the rarest naturally occurring resource in the game.
It generates between Y levels 320 and -16 and has the highest probability of being generated on Y level 236.
Due to these peculiar circ*mstances, Emeralds can be very difficult to find. They only have a real chance of generating in large mountains.
Note that this is only true for naturally generated ones. You can find a fair bit of them through other means such as trading with Villagers.
Nether Quartz Distribution (Very Common)
| Distribution Range | Y 10 to 117 |
| Best Level | N/A |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Any Tool |
Nether Quartz Ore is commonly found between Y Levels 10 to 117. Since it is a common resource, there is no ‘optimal’ level to find it. It can easily be seen in its normal Y-range.
Nether Quartz Ore spawns in the Nether in large quantities, typically in veins similar to other ores. These veins can be found in Minecraft version 1.20 Trails and Tales, scattered throughout the Nether, often embedded within Netherrack.
In fact, Nether Quartz Ore attempts to replace Netherrack by 16 times per chunk! Safe to say, you can easily find a ton of it in the Y-ranges we have indicated above.
Nether Gold Distribution (Uncommon)
| Distribution Range | Y 10 to 117 |
| Best Level | Y 15 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Iron Pickaxe |
Nether Gold Ore most commonly generates on Y level 15. The resource is not too difficult to come across. Its spawn area generally ranges from Y level 10 to 117 with the optimal location being Y 15.
Nether Gold Ore is a variant of gold ore that can only be found in the Nether dimension. It generates in rather small quantities in the Nether, typically in clusters or veins scattered throughout the landscape.
Similar to Nether Quartz, this one also attempts to replace Netherrack. It does so 10 times per chunk, and can spawn in sizes of up to 16!
Ancient Debris Distribution (Rare / Very Rare)
| Distribution Range | Y 8 to 119 |
| Best Level | Y 15 |
| Mining Requirements (Minimum) | Diamond Pickaxe |
The best location to find Ancient Debris is Y level 15. The ore starts spawning at Y level 8 and continues till level 119. Within this range, there is an approximately 0.004% chance of a randomly selected block to be an Ancient Debris.
Ancient Debris is considered to be pretty rare and is the primary source of Netherite. Ancient Debris generates in small veins or clusters deep within the Nether. It is typically found in the lower layers of the Nether, between Y-levels 8 and 22 but continues to produce till level 119.
Also, remember that you need a Diamond or Netherite pickaxe to mine Ancient Debris blocks. Anything below these two qualities will not be sufficient to mine the resource!
Read more: Best Methods to Get Netherite in Minecraft
