What ores are in Ore Factory Squad?
Confirmed metals are copper, iron, gold, and diamond, alongside supporting materials stone, coal, clay, limestone, and sandstone.
Ore Factory Squad Ores
Ore Factory Squad ores guide: copper, iron, gold, diamond, plus stone, coal, clay, limestone, sandstone spots, the ore detector, and property layers. Verified.
Mining copper, iron, and gold across property layers.
Ore Factory Squad ores hub
Ore Factory Squad ores are what every dig site, contract, and factory upgrade actually runs on. Every property generates its own voxel terrain, so copper, iron, gold, and diamond show up in different pockets each time — there is no fixed node map to memorize.
This hub tracks the confirmed ore types, how the in-game ore detector actually filters them, and where each material feeds into your production line once it is out of the ground. Pair it with the mining guide for digging mechanics and the machines hub for what happens after ore reaches the surface.
Scanning with the ore detector
Once you can dig, the ore detector is the tool that turns blind swinging into targeted mining. Hold it, press R to open Change Target, then pick a specific material or leave it on Detect All to scan for everything at once — press T to change the filter mode and Y to toggle back to All.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| R (while holding detector) | Open Change Target and pick an ore to scan for |
| T | Change Target filter mode |
| Y | Reset filter to Detect All |
| Tab | Open backpack to check what you have collected |
What the early scan list looks like
On a starter suburban lot, the detector's Change Target list shows Stone, Clay, Limestone, and Sandstone, alongside Coal — the everyday materials that fill your first stock sales and contracts before metal veins get common. Metal ores join that list once you have dug deep enough or moved to a richer property type.
The in-game tutorial spells out the loop directly: collect a set amount of ore, pack one into your backpack, then load the packed ore into the truck. Skipping the detector to save cash early on almost always costs more time than it saves once you are wandering tunnels blind.
Primary metal ores: copper, iron, gold, diamond
Confirmed headline metals across gameplay and store materials are Copper, Iron, Gold, and Diamond. These are the ores that unlock better contracts, gate licenses, and justify buying deeper or pricier properties.
| Ore | Typical tier | Where it leads |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Early | Machines hub |
| Iron | Mid | Automation guide |
| Gold | Mid-late | Contracts guide |
| Diamond | Late | Properties hub |
Supporting raw materials
Non-metal materials confirmed on early properties include Stone, Coal, Clay, Limestone, Sandstone. None of them make headlines, but they fill more stock-sale and contract requests than most new squads expect.
| Material | Common use |
|---|---|
| Stone | Feeds the Stone Crusher and early stock sales |
| Clay | Frequent early contract material |
| Limestone | Bulk contract deliveries, sold in blocks |
| Sandstone | Crushed into sand for processing chains |
| Coal | Stock-sale filler; possible smelting fuel in later builds |
- Do01Do not ignore stone and clay while chasing metal veins — they pay real contracts too
- Do02Sandstone must be crushed before it is useful in most recipes
- Do03Check the active contract list before hauling any raw material back to the surface
Property layers: why deeper ore is better ore
Properties are not one flat dig site — gameplay footage confirms each property is split into multiple depth layers, and each layer tends to expose its own mix of ore. Surface layers lean toward stone, clay, and sandstone; push down far enough and copper, iron, gold, and eventually diamond start showing up instead.
That is also why a cheap starter lot can feel "tapped out" fast: you have cleared the accessible layer, not the whole property. Either dig further down with better tools or move on to a pricier property type once your factory income supports it.
From raw ore to sellable goods
Raw ore is worth little on its own. The common early backbone is dig → Stone Crusher → Sorting Output → conveyor → next station, with the crusher breaking rock into processable chunks and the sorting output both feeding belts and giving instant access to packaged stock. See the machines hub for the full purchasable machine list and prices, and the automation guide for wiring conveyors between them.
Tool progression on the mining side runs Shovel → Pickaxe → Jackhammer → Dynamite, so your ability to reach deeper, richer ore layers scales alongside your processing chain rather than ahead of it.
Stock sale vs. contract for raw ore
Selling raw, unprocessed ore is almost always the worst payout in the game. Even a basic crush or sort pass before selling — or holding it for a contract that specifically wants that material — pays noticeably more than dumping raw stacks at the stock sale window.
Ores FAQ
Where do I find copper, iron, gold, or diamond?
They spawn in deeper property layers rather than near the surface — use the ore detector’s Change Target menu and dig down once your starter layer feels tapped out.
Do I really need the ore detector?
It is optional but pays for itself fast: it filters for a specific ore and signals density as you approach, cutting down on blind tunneling.
Is there a full recipe table for every ore?
Not yet published with confirmed numbers — exact processing ratios are marked needs-check until more patch data is verified. The machines hub tracks what is confirmed so far.
Should I sell raw ore or process it first?
Process it first when you can. Raw stock sales pay the least of any route in the game; a crush or sort pass (or matching it to a contract) pays more for the same material.
Related pages
Matched by build plan, shared topics, and guide progression — not random related links.