Minecraft Ore Distribution Guide (1.21+): Best Y-Levels for Every Ore
Stop strip mining at Y=11. Here is exactly where to find Diamonds, Iron, and Ancient Debris in 1.21.
If you are returning to Minecraft after a long break, your old mining strategies might be obsolete. Since the "Caves & Cliffs" update, ore generation has completely changed. Digging at Y=11 is no longer the meta for diamonds, and you’ll need to climb mountains to find coal.
Here is the definitive guide to ore distribution in Minecraft 1.21 so you don't waste your durability mining nothing but stone.
The New Ore Generation Logic
The world now stretches from Y=320 (sky) down to Y=-64 (bedrock). Ores effectively spawn in "triangular" patterns, meaning they are most common at a specific center Y-level and become rarer as you move away from it.
Quick Reference: Best Y-Levels
| Ore | Best Y-Level | Range | Tips |
| Diamond | Y = -58 | Y=16 to -64 | Mine just above Bedrock. Bring water buckets for lava! |
| Iron | Y = 16 or Y = 232 | Y=72 to -64 | huge veins spawn inside mountains (Y=232). |
| Gold | Y = -16 | Y=32 to -64 | In Badlands, gold spawns aggressively up to Y=250. |
| Lapis | Y = 0 | Y=64 to -64 | Best found in open caves; not strip mining. |
| Redstone | Y = -58 | Y=16 to -64 | Often found alongside diamonds. |
| Copper | Y = 48 | Y=112 to -16 | extremely common in Dripstone Caves. |
| Coal | Y = 96 | Y=256 to 0 | Look inside mountains; it rarely spawns deep underground now. |
Deepslate vs. Stone
Once you go below Y=0, normal Stone turns into Deepslate. Deepslate takes significantly longer to mine, so ensure you have at least an Iron Pickaxe (preferably Diamond with Efficiency) before committing to a deep strip mine.
Finding Netherite (Ancient Debris)
Netherite upgrades are essential for endgame survival. Ancient Debris does not spawn in the Overworld.
- Best Y-Level: Y = 15
- Technique: Bed mining or TNT mining is the most efficient way to clear out Netherrack and expose debris.
Optimizing Your Server for Mining
Mining generates new chunks, which can sometimes cause lag on lower-end hardware. If you are hosting a world for friends, you want to ensure your server can handle players flying with Elytras or speed-mining with beacons.
At berrybyte, we use high-clock speed Ryzen processors to ensure chunk loading keeps up with your pickaxe. If you’re ready to start a new world, you can grab a Minecraft server here.
Already running a server but on an older version? Check out our wiki guide on How to Change Your Minecraft Server Version to update to 1.21 today.