The recent release of Minecraft's Caves & Cliffs update has changed some fundamental aspects in regards to where Ores spawn. Prior to this update, Ores would spawn at a certain level, and continue to generate all the way down to the bottom.
With the most recent changes, however, each Ore has a certain level within which they will spawn. Some Ores will not generate below a certain level. In addition, specific biomes will increase the probability of finding certain Ores. This means players are in for quite some exploration in order to find every Ore.
Coal Ore
Coal is found between levels 95 to 136. This is the most common ore and can be found in abundance near regular stone caves and mountainous regions.
Copper Ore
Copper is mostly found in levels 48. This is the newest Ore, added in 1.17. Copper also tends to spawn in abundance in Dripstone Cave biomes.
Iron Ore
Iron is found between levels 15 to 232. Iron is important for crafting tools and armor during the mid-game. It is worth noting that Iron tends to spawn at a higher rate in lower mountains.
Lapis Lazuli Ore
Lapis Lazuli is found within levels 64, all the way down to bedrock. However, the best place to look for it is at level -1.
Redstone Ore
Redstone can be found from level 16, all the way down the Bedrock. However, Redstone is most commonly found in large amounts between the levels -32 to -59.
Gold Ore
Gold is found between the levels 32 to -64. It is usually most abundant in level -16. The interesting thing about Gold Ore, however, is that the spawn rate increases significantly when in a Badlands biome.
Emerald Ore
Generally speaking, the easiest way to get Emerald is by trading with villagers. The unique property of Emerald Ores is that they spawn exclusively in Mountain biomes. Owing to this, it will spawn anywhere between levels 320 to -16. The best place to find it would be level 236.
Diamond Ore
Diamonds Ore is the most precious and the one everyone is looking for. If a player is mining for Diamonds at level -63, they might find a lot of Bedrock. So, it is more advisable to mine at level -59, where it can be found quite commonly.
Looking for more caves and cliffs to explore in Minecraft? Check out the Best 1.18 Minecraft Lush Cave Seeds, here in Pro Game Guides.
Rajnil Bargi is a Journalism Graduate whose passion for gaming bloomed during the mid-2000s with titles like Age of Empires, I.G.I-2, and Half-Life 2. He has been publishing as a Contributing Writer at Pro Game Guides for over a year, primarily specializing in PC and mobile games. RPGS, Racing Sims, MOBAs and FPS are some of his favorite genres. When he's not completely enthralled in the world of gaming, he's usually playing music, going for hikes, or ordering pizza with way too much cheese.