ore distribution

Iron is essential for crafting tools, armor, and various items in Minecraft. The ideal Y level for mining iron in Minecraft 1.20 is 16, where ore distribution is most favorable. Iron ore can be found at Y levels ranging from -24 to 256, with three primary zones of prevalence: -24 to 56, 0 to 128, and 80 to 256. For effective mining, focus on Y level 16 or Y level 232 in mountainous regions. Iron ore generation is very high at Y=16 and high at Y=232. Other Y levels have moderate to low iron availability. The 1.18 update introduced a triangular distribution for iron ore, making it more abundant in mid-range levels, particularly around Y 16. Mining techniques include strip mining at Y=16, cave exploration, and branch mining. Using a Fortune-enchanted pickaxe increases iron yield. Iron can be used to craft tools, armor, weapons, gadgets, and building materials. Iron farms can be constructed to spawn iron golems for automated collection of iron.