Iron Ore might be one of the most crucial materials in My Time at Sandrock. Generally speaking, metals like copper and bronze are important at the beginning of the game, but there comes a point in the game’s story where iron and steel are suddenly much more relevant. To collect Iron Ore, you’ll need to explore brand-new ruins and interact with new gameplay features. When used in crafting, Iron Ore can be used to make everything from steel bars to magnets, sometimes literally building the backbone of the town of Sandrock.
Where To Find Iron Ore in Sandrock
Like most other ores in My Time at Sandrock, Iron Ore can be found underground in the Old World ruins around Sandrock. While Copper and Tin Ore can be found in the Eufaula Abandoned Ruins, Iron Ore can only be found in the Gecko Station Ruins and the Mole Mine Ruins. Thankfully, the ore in Pyrite deposits can be found on any level of the ruins, so you don’t have to delve that deep.
That being said, accessing these ruins at all will only be available once the Shonash Bridge is repaired in the main story mission “In Trusses We Trust.” Coincidentally, this is when Steel Bars start to become directly relevant to the game’s story.
If diving into ruins isn’t your speed, you can buy Iron Ore at the Eufaula Salvage Shop. The shop sells Iron Ore for 15 Gol, which isn’t outrageous, and stocks 40 pieces of ore. You can also commission Rocky and his salvage company to dig up Iron Scrap for you, resulting in Iron Ore once it’s recycled.
How to Use Iron Ore in My Time at Sandrock
Iron Ore has a variety of uses in My Time at Sandrock, and most of them have to do with the furnace. You’ll need to have a Civil Furnace or higher to use Iron Ore at all, so be sure to upgrade your machines before getting to work. After you’ve gotten a Civil Furnace, Iron Ore can be used in the following recipes:
- Steel Bar
Uses 3x Iron Ore, 1x Graphite, and 1x Dinas. Takes two in-game hours to complete, and is commonly used in construction. Can be sold for 22 Gol.
- Manganese Steel Bar
Uses 3x Iron Ore and 2x Manganese Ore. Takes two hours and fifteen in-game minutes to complete, and can be sold for 26 Gol. Less common than normal Steel Bars.
- Chromium Steel Bar
Uses 3x Iron Ore and 2x Chromium Ore, but can only be crafted once the recipe is bought from the Commerce Guild Store. Takes two hours and fifteen in-game minutes to complete, and is used to craft chromium tools at the Advanced Worktable.
If you’ve upgraded your furnace to an Industrial Furnace, you can also use Iron Ore to craft Magnets. Magnets require 2x Iron Ore and 1x Nickel Ore, take one hour and forty-five minutes to complete, and can be sold for 21 Gol. Putting Iron Ore in an Ore Refinery can also result in Quartz, Bloodstone, and Dregs.
For a guide on how to get a Civil Furnace, check out this video:
My Time at Sandrock is now available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
