Iron ore

Iron ore is the starting mineral for metal production. Gather an initial supply from finite outcroppings, then rely on the northern deposit or a Zombie mine for ongoing production. All three furnaces turn the ore into Iron ingot.

Stack limit: 30
Sell to: Krezvold · Tier I
Base sale price: 10 copper coins

Obtaining

Early outcroppings

The earliest small outcroppings are north of home and in the Swamp. Mine each one with a pickaxe for 3–6 Iron ore. These outcroppings do not regenerate. Repair the stone bridge west of the Old graveyard before entering the swamp.

Northern deposit

The renewable manual source is the cliff deposit north of the Cabin in the woods. It produces large carried ore blocks. Place a block in an Iron ore stockpile, then process it at a Stone cutter or Stone cutter II. Each block yields 5 Iron ore and costs 10 energy to process.

Automation

After you unlock and build a Zombie mine, its worker alternates between coal and large ore blocks. Blocks go to the Iron ore stockpile near the Cabin in the woods; production stops when the stockpile is missing or full. Automated blocks still need processing at a Stone cutter before they can enter a furnace.

Smelting

Normal batches

Normal batches always convert Iron ore to Iron ingot at a 1:1 ratio. Higher-tier furnaces increase batch size, and the Furnace III cuts the normal batch time to 2:00.

Iron ore, ingots and technology points per batch
Workstation	Materials	Output	Reward
Furnace	1 × Iron ore	1 × Iron ingot Fuel units: 25 Processing time: 150 s	+1 Technology knowledge (red)
Furnace II	2 × Iron ore	2 × Iron ingot Fuel units: 25 Processing time: 150 s	+1 Technology knowledge (red)
Furnace III	3 × Iron ore	3 × Iron ingot Fuel units: 25 Processing time: 120 s	+1 Technology knowledge (red)

Workstation	Fuel used	Processing time
Furnace	25	2:30
Furnace II	25	2:30
Furnace III	25	2:00

Fireman batches

These batches require Fireman. Input and output both double from the normal batch, while fuel rises from 25 to 40. The perk increases batch size rather than creating free ingots.

Iron ore, ingots and technology points per batch
Workstation	Materials	Output	Reward
Furnace	2 × Iron ore	2 × Iron ingot Fuel units: 40 Processing time: 250 s	+1 Technology knowledge (red)
Furnace II	4 × Iron ore	4 × Iron ingot Fuel units: 40 Processing time: 250 s	+1 Technology knowledge (red)
Furnace III	6 × Iron ore	6 × Iron ingot Fuel units: 40 Processing time: 200 s	+1 Technology knowledge (red)