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Ores and resources
Everything you build, cook, wear, and fight with in Starsand Island starts as a raw resource. The surface island provides wood, stone, fiber, clay, and crops, while the Moonlit Forest underground is the exclusive source of metal ores like Copper, Iron, Gold, and Diamond. Turning raw materials into useful items requires processing them at Crafting Stations -- Furnaces smelt ore into ingots, Cutters saw wood into planks, and Choppers break down fibers.
This article covers every resource type, where to find it, what tool tier you need to harvest it, and what it processes into.
Surface resources
Surface resources are found on the overworld island. They are available from the start of the game and do not require entering the Moonlit Forest.
Stone
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Found | Everywhere on the surface and throughout the Moonlit Forest |
Tool | Stone Pickaxe (Apprentice) |
Uses | Stone Brick (Furnace I), crafting stations, building materials, Simple Pellets (Ammo Maker), Stump Stools, basic tools |
Stone is the most abundant resource in the game. You will never run out of it, but you will go through large quantities for building and Stone Brick production.
Clay
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Found | Surface island deposits near rivers and ponds, also in early Moonlit Forest areas |
Tool | Stone Pickaxe (Apprentice) |
Uses | Furnace I construction (5 Clay), Furnace II upgrade, Clay Brick (Furnace I), pottery and decorations |
Fiber
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Found | Breaking shrubs and bushes with any axe. Also purchasable from Zerine's General Store for 5 Coins each (infinite stock) |
Tool | Any Axe or purchased from shop |
Uses | Charcoal (Kiln: 2 Fiber + 1 Softwood = 2 Charcoal), Fiber Rope (Chopper I), Bug Net, Slingshot, Cutter I construction |
Fiber is cheap and abundant, but you burn through it quickly making Charcoal for smelting. If you run low, buy it from Zerine rather than spending time bushwhacking.
Fiber Rope
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Station | Chopper I |
Made from | Fiber |
Uses | Spinning Wheel construction, Loom construction, various mid-game recipes |
Wood types
There are four main wood types, each from a different tree species and requiring a different axe tier. A fifth type (Meteor Wood) is found in the deep Moonlit Forest.
Softwood
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Trees | Palm trees, Coconut trees, Weeping Fig, small trees |
Tool | Basic Axe (Apprentice). Also drops from the ground near trees. |
Processes into | Softwood Plank (Cutter I: 4 Softwood), Charcoal (Kiln: 1 Softwood + 2 Fiber = 2 Charcoal) |
Used for | Nearly every early-game recipe, building materials, Stump Stools, basic tools, station construction |
Softwood is the bread and butter of the early game. You need hundreds of pieces for building, planks, and Charcoal production. Trees regrow every few in-game days.
Bamboo
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Trees | Bamboo groves (near the panda habitat area) |
Tool | Basic Axe (Apprentice) |
Processes into | Bamboo Board (Cutter I: 4 Bamboo) |
Used for | Bamboo furniture, Bamboo Raft, the Cloudrest Lake bus stop (10 Bamboo Board instead of Softwood Plank) |
Hardwood
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Trees | Banyan trees -- the large, dark-barked trees scattered across the island |
Tool | Impact Axe (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Hardwood Plank (Cutter II: 4 Hardwood) |
Used for | Worktable II upgrade, Furnace II upgrade, Spinning Wheel, Loom, Sewing Table, Impact Axe, Impact Hammer, Plume Bow, mid-game furniture |
Hardwood is a major bottleneck at the Junior tier. You need it for almost every mid-game upgrade. The Impact Axe blueprint is sold at Zerine's General Store once you reach Junior Crafter.
Premium Wood
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Trees | White Fig trees -- found near the shooting range area and around the Exploration Club |
Tool | Machete (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Premium Wood Plank (Cutter III: 4 Premium Wood) |
Used for | Worktable III upgrade (15 Premium Wood), Blast Hammer, Crossbow, advanced furniture and building |
The Machete is crafted at Worktable II and requires an Impact Axe as an ingredient. Plan accordingly -- build a spare Axe before upgrading to the Impact Axe if you know you will need the Machete soon.
Meteor Wood
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Source | Deep Moonlit Forest areas or special trees |
Tool | Sharp Machete or Chainsaw (Intermediate+) |
Processes into | Meteor Plank (Cutter III: 4 Meteor Wood) |
Used for | Electric Drill (6 Meteor Plank), Chainsaw (6 Meteor Plank), endgame tools and equipment |
Moonlit Forest ores
All metal ores are mined inside the Moonlit Forest -- the underground dungeon behind your house. Deeper areas contain rarer ores, and each ore type requires a specific pickaxe tier to mine. Lower-tier ores like Copper and Tin stop appearing roughly halfway through the forest and are replaced by higher-tier deposits.
Fluorite
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Evernight Forest, Gate of Life, and throughout the forest (yellow crystal veins) |
Tool | Stone Pickaxe (Apprentice) |
Processes into | Radiant Core (Furnace I: 4 Fluorite + 1 Charcoal), Radiant Crystal (Gear Smith) |
Also used for | Repairing Moonweaver camp crystals (5 Fluorite each), Impulse Pickaxe (10 Fluorite) |
Fluorite is the first ore you encounter. Bring at least 5 every time you enter the forest to repair camp crystals, which enable crafting and Fast Travel from rest points. It looks like glowing yellow rocks on cave walls.
Tin Ore
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Evernight Forest, Gate of Life (early Moonlit Forest) |
Tool | Stone Pickaxe (Apprentice) |
Processes into | Tin Ingot (Furnace I: 4 Tin + 1 Charcoal) |
Used for | Bronze Ingot (1 Copper Ingot + 1 Tin Ingot + 1 Charcoal), Gears (Gear Smith), Springs (Gear Smith) |
Tin is only found in the early forest sections. Collect extra while you are there -- you need it for Bronze, which is a key mid-game material.
Copper Ore
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Evernight Forest through Dreamfall Garden |
Tool | Impulse Pickaxe (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Copper Ingot (Furnace I: 4 Copper + 1 Charcoal), Copper Sheet (Cutter II: 1 Copper Ingot + 1 Copper) |
Used for | Bronze, Impulse Pickaxe, Ore Analyzer, station construction, dozens of Junior-tier recipes |
Copper is the first ore that requires an upgraded pickaxe. You cannot mine it with the Stone Pickaxe. This is what makes the Impulse Pickaxe the first critical tool upgrade.
Quartz
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Gate of Life area and nearby sections (green-tinted rock veins) |
Tool | Impulse Pickaxe (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Glass Brick (Furnace I: 4 Quartz + 1 Charcoal), then Glass Pane (Cutter I) |
Used for | Glass Pane for building and bus stops, Prism (Gear Smith), Impulse Pickaxe (5 Quartz) |
Quartz is less common than Copper. You need it for Glass Pane, which is required in large quantities for bus stop construction (50 Glass Pane total for all 10 stops).
Iron Ore
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Dreamfall Garden and deeper (abundant from this point onward) |
Tool | Impulse Pickaxe (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Iron Ingot (Furnace II: 4 Iron Ore + 1 Coal), Iron Sheet (Cutter II: 1 Iron Ingot) |
Used for | Worktable II upgrade, Impact Hammer, Impact Axe, bus stop construction, bag expansion, dozens of mid-game recipes |
Iron is one of the most important ores. Iron Sheet alone is needed for Worktable II, multiple tools, all 10 bus stops, and several bag expansions. Mine as much as you can on every forest trip.
Coal
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Mid-sections of the Moonlit Forest (Spiritshade River, Mural Valley) |
Tool | Impulse Pickaxe (Junior Crafter) |
Also made at | Charcoal Kiln (from Hardwood) |
Uses | Smelting fuel for Furnace II recipes (replaces Charcoal), Phosand ingredient (Coal + Sunveil Shrooms = Phosand for Bomb Arrows) |
Coal replaces Charcoal as the smelting fuel once you reach Furnace II. You can also produce it at the Charcoal Kiln from Hardwood if you run out. Every batch of Bomb Arrows needs Phosand, which needs Coal.
Salt
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Dreamfall Garden area (appears as salt brick deposits) |
Tool | Impulse Pickaxe (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Fine Salt (Charcoal Kiln) |
Used for | Cooking ingredient (Fine Salt used in Grilled Mushroom Skewers, Pickling Jar recipes, and many dishes) |
Fine Salt is a common cooking ingredient. Stock up on Salt whenever you pass through Dreamfall Garden.
Gold Ore
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Crystalith Hideout and deeper (large black rocks with gold veins) |
Tool | Impact Hammer (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Gold Ingot (Furnace II: 4 Gold Ore + 1 Coal), Gold Wire (Gear Smith), Gold Sheet (Cutter II) |
Used for | Alloy, Worktable III upgrade (5 Gold Ingot), Golden Slingshot (3 Gold Ore), Furnace III upgrade, Sprinkler III, advanced recipes |
Gold Ore first appears in the Crystalith Hideout, after defeating the Crystalith boss. You need the Impact Hammer to mine it -- the Impulse Pickaxe is not strong enough. Gold feeds into Alloy and Gold Wire, both critical for late-game crafting.
Primorite
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Azure Bay and deeper sections |
Tool | Impact Hammer (Junior Crafter) |
Processes into | Starflare Core (Furnace II: Primorite + Coal), Starflare Crystal (Gear Smith) |
Used for | Furnace III upgrade, Blast Hammer (5 Starflare Crystal), Sharp Machete, advanced equipment |
Oilstone
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Cave beneath the bubble bridge near Mural Valley, Waterwheel area (post-Glintortle boss) |
Tool | Blast Hammer (Intermediate Crafter) |
Processes into | Rubber (Charcoal Kiln) |
Used for | Gas Stove, Sharp Machete (5 Rubber), Blast Hammer (5 Rubber), advanced tools |
Flamecore
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Grain Haven and deep forest areas (lower wooden pathways) |
Tool | Blast Hammer (Intermediate Crafter) |
Processes into | Flamecore Ingot (Furnace III) |
Used for | Endgame equipment and tools |
Diamond
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Grain Haven and deep forest areas |
Tool | Blast Hammer (Intermediate Crafter) |
Uses | Perpetual Reactor (2 Diamonds), endgame construction. One of the rarest ores in the game. |
Moonstone
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Deep forest areas alongside Aurorite and Flamecore (lower wooden pathways) |
Tool | Blast Hammer (Intermediate Crafter) |
Processes into | Lunar Core (Furnace III), Lunar Crystal (Gear Smith) |
Used for | Perpetual Reactor, Teleporters, endgame items |
Aurorite
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Areas | Deepest sections of the Moonlit Forest |
Tool | Blast Hammer (Intermediate Crafter) |
Processes into | Aurorite Ingot (Furnace III), Eternal Alloy (Furnace III) |
Used for | Electric Drill (6 Eternal Alloy), Chainsaw (6 Eternal Alloy), endgame tools |
Magnetite
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Source | can be mined directly from translucent white deposits in the Mural Valley area (Glintortle boss arena). It can also be obtained from the Ore Analyzer by processing Uncommon Ore Chunks. Obtained from the Ore Analyzer by processing Uncommon Ore Chunks (found in soil mounds near Spiritshade River) |
Processes into | |
Used for | Energy Converter (3 Magnets), Mini Reactor, Perpetual Reactor |
Processed metals
Raw ores are smelted at the Furnace into ingots and other metals. Each Furnace tier adds new recipes while keeping all previous ones.
Furnace I products
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Copper Ingot | 4 Copper + 1 Charcoal. Used for Bronze, Copper Sheet, tools, station construction. |
Tin Ingot | 4 Tin + 1 Charcoal. Used for Bronze, Gears, Springs. |
Bronze | 1 Copper Ingot + 1 Tin Ingot + 1 Charcoal. Key mid-game metal for Impact Axe, Impact Hammer, Spirit Cube I, Furnace II upgrade. |
Radiant Core | 4 Fluorite + 1 Charcoal. Used for luminous items and Cutter II upgrade ingredient. |
Glass Brick | 4 Quartz + 1 Charcoal. Processed into Glass Pane (Cutter I), Prism (Gear Smith). |
Stone Brick | Stone + Charcoal. Building material, Furnace II upgrade, bus stop construction. |
Furnace II products
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Iron Ingot | 4 Iron Ore + 1 Coal. Processes into Iron Sheet. Used for Alloy, tools, station upgrades. |
Gold Ingot | 4 Gold Ore + 1 Coal. Used for Alloy, Gold Wire, Gold Sheet, Worktable III upgrade (5 Gold Ingot). |
Alloy | Gold Ingot + Iron Ingot + Copper Ingot + Coal. Key late-game metal for Worktable III, Blast Hammer, Energy Converter. |
Starflare Core | Primorite + Coal. Processes into Starflare Crystal (Gear Smith). Used for Furnace III upgrade. |
Magnet | Magnetite + Coal. Used for Energy Converter (3 needed), Mini Reactor, Perpetual Reactor. |
Furnace III products
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Aurorite Ingot | Aurorite + fuel. Used for Eternal Alloy. |
Flamecore Ingot | Flamecore + fuel. Endgame equipment. |
Lunar Core | Moonstone + fuel. Processes into Lunar Crystal (Gear Smith). |
Eternal Alloy | Aurorite-based advanced alloy. Used for Electric Drill (6), Chainsaw (6), endgame tools. |
Refined Alloy | Advanced alloy variant for Expert-tier equipment. |
Processed wood and sheets
The Cutter processes raw wood into planks and raw metals into sheets. It is a passive station -- load materials and return later.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Softwood Plank | Cutter I (4 Softwood). The most-used building material. |
Bamboo Board | |
Glass Pane | Cutter I (1 Glass Brick). Windows, bus stops, Jam Maker, Pickling Jar. |
Hardwood Plank | |
Iron Sheet | Cutter II (1 Iron Ingot). Worktable II, tools, bus stops, bag expansion. |
Copper Sheet | Cutter II (1 Copper Ingot + 1 Copper). Ore Analyzer construction. |
Gold Sheet | Cutter II (Gold Ingot). Advanced construction. |
Premium Wood Plank | Cutter III (4 Premium Wood). Advanced furniture and building. |
Meteor Plank | Cutter III (4 Meteor Wood). Electric Drill (6), Chainsaw (6). |
Gear Smith products
The Gear Smith produces mechanical components and refined crystals. It is unlocked at Intermediate Crafter.
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Gear | Tin Ingot. Energy Converter (3 needed), vehicles, machines. |
Spring | Tin Ingot. Mechanical components. |
Gold Wire | |
Prism | Glass Brick. Energy Converter (2 needed). |
Chip | Advanced materials. Electric Drill (5), Chainsaw (5), electronics. |
Radiant Crystal | Fluorite-based. Impact Axe (2), Impact Hammer (2), tools. |
Starflare Crystal | Primorite-based. Blast Hammer (5), Sharp Machete (5), Furnace III upgrade. |
Lunar Crystal | Moonstone-based. Perpetual Reactor, endgame items. |
High Performance Wire Set | Gold Wire + other materials. Electric Drill (8), Chainsaw (8), Mini Reactor, Perpetual Reactor. |
Other processed materials
Material | Details |
|---|---|
Charcoal | Charcoal Kiln (1 Softwood + 2 Fiber = 2 Charcoal). Smelting fuel for Furnace I recipes. |
Fine Salt | Charcoal Kiln (from Salt). Cooking ingredient. |
Rubber | Charcoal Kiln (from Oilstone). Gas Stove, Sharp Machete, Blast Hammer. |
Phosand | Coal + Sunveil Shrooms. Used for Bomb Arrows (Ammo Maker). |
Spinning Wheel (from Fiber). Plume Bow, bag expansion. | |
Fiber Rope | Chopper I (from Fiber). Spinning Wheel, Loom construction. |
Plant Paste | Chopper I (from plant materials). Organic crafting ingredient. |
Ore Chunks and the Ore Analyzer
Mining any ore vein in the Moonlit Forest has a random chance to drop Ore Chunks in addition to the expected ore. These chunks look like irregular stone lumps and come in three rarities.
Ore Chunk types
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Common Ore Chunk | Drops from early-area ore veins (Copper, Tin, Fluorite, Quartz). Analyzer outputs: Stone, Copper, Iron, Ancient Precision Parts (rare, exclusive to the Analyzer). |
Uncommon Ore Chunk | Drops from mid-area ore veins and soil mounds near Spiritshade River. Analyzer outputs: Iron, Magnetite (exclusive to Analyzer), Spirit Cube Fragment (chance). |
Rare Ore Chunk | Drops from deep-area ore veins (Aurorite, etc.) and dirt mounds in the deepest forest. Analyzer outputs: Spirit Cube Fragment (best chance), rare metals, advanced materials. |
How the Ore Analyzer works
The Ore Analyzer is a crafting station unlocked at Junior Crafter. Build it with 8 Hardwood + 2 Copper Sheet. Place Ore Chunks inside, wait for processing, and receive randomized outputs.
The Ore Analyzer is the only way to obtain Magnetite and Ancient Precision Parts. It also provides the best source of Spirit Cube Fragments, which are needed for the endgame Spirit Cube crafting chain.
Spirit Cubes
Spirit Cubes are the endgame crafting material. They are assembled from Spirit Cube Fragments (obtained from the Ore Analyzer) and power the most advanced items in the game.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Spirit Cube I | 4 Spirit Cube Fragments + 2 Bronze. Used for Realm Box (3 needed), Robot Terminal. |
Spirit Cube II | 2 Spirit Cube I + 1 Magnet. Used for Robot Terminal, Bug Traps. |
Spirit Cube III | 2 Spirit Cube II + 2 Alloy. Used for Teleporters, Robots, endgame automation. |
The Realm Box (3 Spirit Cube I) is a shared inventory accessible from anywhere on the island -- extremely useful for transferring items between your farm, the forest, and other locations.
Energy Converter products
The Energy Converter (Senior Crafter) converts crystals into power components for the most advanced items.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Solid-State Battery | Radiant Crystal + 2 Tin Ingots + Iron Sheet. Power supply for machines. |
Mini Reactor | Starflare Crystal + 2 Magnets + 2 High Performance Wire Sets. Required for upgrading stations from Tier II to Tier III. |
Perpetual Reactor | Lunar Crystal + 2 Diamonds + 2 High Performance Wire Sets + 2 Magnets. Used for Teleporters (1 needed) and Robot Terminals (2 needed). |
Moonlit Forest resource progression
Each area of the Moonlit Forest introduces new resources. Here is the progression from entrance to depths.
Evernight Forest (entrance)
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Fluorite, Tin, Stone |
Other | Copper (early nodes), mushrooms, Softwood, Hardwood |
Explorer tier | None required |
Gate of Life
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Fluorite, Copper, Tin, Quartz, Stone |
Other | Herbs, mushrooms, Gravecrystals (containing trapped Gravestars) |
Explorer tier | Apprentice |
Dreamfall Garden
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Iron Ore (abundant), Coal, Copper, Fluorite |
Other | Salt (salt brick deposits), mushrooms |
Explorer tier | Junior |
Note | First reliable Iron farming location |
Crystalith Hideout
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Gold Ore (first appearance), Fluorite |
Explorer tier | Junior (after defeating Crystalith boss) |
Note | Gold Ore mining begins here. Requires Impact Hammer. |
Azure Bay
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Primorite (first appearance), Gold Ore |
Other | Moonflower, Mirthshroom, rare plants |
Explorer tier | Intermediate |
Mural Valley
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Coal, various mid-tier ores |
Other | Sleep Lily varieties, Lotus Leaves, Oilstone cave nearby |
Explorer tier | Intermediate (after defeating Glintortle boss) |
Harvest Yard and Grain Haven
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Diamond, Flamecore, Oilstone |
Other | Fluffweave (first location), rare plants |
Explorer tier | Senior (requires Fire and Water Arrows) |
Note | High-tier ore nodes begin here |
Darkwater Shore and beyond
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Ores | Moonstone, Aurorite (deepest ore nodes) |
Other | Eldergrain, Midnight Herbs, Echo Bean seeds |
Explorer tier | Expert |
Note | Endgame ore mining |
Tips
Bring at least 5 Fluorite on every Moonlit Forest trip. Camp crystals cost 5 Fluorite each to repair, and they enable fast travel and crafting at rest points.
Build multiple Charcoal Kilns and Cutters. Processing is time-based, and running two or three in parallel saves hours of waiting.
Mine Iron aggressively once you reach Dreamfall Garden. Iron Sheet is the most-demanded processed material in the mid-game.
Do not sell raw ores. Always process them into ingots, sheets, or other products first -- the value increase is significant.
Save Ore Chunks for the Ore Analyzer rather than discarding them. Spirit Cube Fragments from Uncommon and Rare chunks are needed for Teleporters and Realm Boxes.
Pair the Crafting and Exploration professions. Crafting needs ores from the forest, and Exploration needs tools and weapons from crafting. They feed each other.
Trees regrow every few in-game days. You never permanently run out of wood -- just come back tomorrow.
Buy Fiber from Zerine's General Store (5 Coins each) when you need Charcoal in bulk. It is faster than breaking bushes.