The Ore Finder shows exactly where each ore generates by Y level for Java 1.18+, so you can pick the best mining layer for diamond, iron, coal, copper, gold, lapis, redstone, emerald and ancient debris — then plan your branch mine around the guaranteed peaks.
How to use
- Click an ore to see its Y-level distribution curve (relative frequency vs. height).
- Hover the chart to read the approximate frequency at any Y layer.
- The deepest shaded band is the deepslate layer (Y < 0) — many ores are densest there.
- Tick Show all ores to compare every peak at once.
Best Y levels (Java 1.21)
| Ore | Best Y | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | -59 | -64 to 16 | Triangular peak, densest at bedrock layer |
| Redstone | -59 | -64 to 16 | Same band as diamond — mine both together |
| Iron | 15 / 232 | -24 to 320 | Two peaks; 232 in mountains |
| Coal | 96 | 0 to 320 | More coal higher in mountains; none below 0 |
| Copper | 48 | 0 to 96 | Large veins in dripstone caves |
| Gold | -16 | -64 to 30 | Extra veins in badlands |
| Lapis Lazuli | 0 | -64 to 64 | Widest band of all |
| Emerald | 90 | 0 to 128 | Mountain biomes only |
| Ancient Debris | 15 | 8 to 22 | Nether-exclusive |
Common questions
Does Fortune work on deepslate ores? Yes — fortune multipliers apply identically; deepslate variants are simply denser and deeper (Y < 0).
Why Y = -59 for diamonds? Since 1.18 diamond veins are large (up to 10 ore) and most frequent between Y -32 and -64; -59 captures the deepest, densest layer above bedrock. Many players branch-mine at -54 to sit above the worst lava lakes.
Why do I see more diamonds in caves than digging straight? Air-exposed veins are only deleted near open air in some distributions — cave walls expose far more blocks per effort. Diamond still peaks in deepslate.