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PC versionConsole versionMobile versionOld Chinese versiontModLoader versiontModLoader 1
PC/Console/Mobile/Old Chinese/tModLoader/tModLoader 1.3-Legacy-Only Content: This information applies only to the PC, Console, Mobile, Old Chinese, tModLoader, and tModLoader Legacy versions of Terraria.
Desert Fossil
  • Desert Fossil item sprite
  • Desert Fossil placed
Auto-use
Stack digit 9Stack digit 9Stack digit 9Stack digit 9
Statistics
Type
Placeable✔️ (1 wide × 1 high)
Use time15 (Very fast)
RarityRarity level: 0
Research200 required
This article is about the naturally occurring block. For the crafting material, see Sturdy Fossil.

Desert Fossil is a type of block found in the Underground Desert biome in medium to large veins. Desert Fossils can be used with an Extractinator to produce Sturdy Fossils, along with regular Extractinator drops.

On the PC version PC version, Console version Console version, Mobile version Mobile version, and tModLoader version tModLoader version, Desert Fossil can be mined with a Copper Pickaxe or equivalent/higher mining level, or with explosives. When mined, adjacent fossil blocks have a chance to crumble away and drop nothing. On the Old Chinese version Old Chinese version and tModLoader 1 tModLoader 1.3-Legacy version, mining it requires either a Nightmare/Deathbringer Pickaxe or higher.

Breaking []

  • On the PC version PC version, Console version Console version, Mobile version Mobile version, and tModLoader version tModLoader version, Desert Fossils will occasionally break adjacent tiles when they are mined (either while being broken, or once broken).[1]
  • By default, there is a 6.67*1/15 (6.67%) chance for a block in any of the 8 surrounding tiles to be destroyed. Of these 8 tiles, if any of them has no block below, they will have a 25*1/4 (25%) chance to be destroyed. The tick the original fossil is broken, the block above also has a 25*1/4 (25%) chance to break.
  • To get as many fossils as possible, players should try to mine horizontally from top to bottom and avoid creating holes, which can otherwise spread quickly. Explosives and especially Scarab Bombs can harvest whole swathes of the vein with minimum breakage.

Crafting[]

Recipes[]

ResultIngredientsCrafting station
PC versionConsole versionMobile versiontModLoader version only:
Desert FossilDesert Fossil
Work BenchWork Bench

Used in[]

ResultIngredientsCrafting station
PC versionConsole versionMobile versiontModLoader version only:
Desert Fossil WallDesert Fossil Wall
4
  • Desert FossilDesert Fossil
Work BenchWork Bench and Ecto Mist

Extractinator items[]

With Desert FossilDesert Fossil
Item Chance Quantity Average Yield/1000
Sturdy FossilSturdy Fossil 10% 1–7 1.3 130
Platinum CoinPlatinum Coin 0.0066% 1–11 1.2758 0.08 (8)
Gold CoinGold Coin 0.0915% 1–100 10.3345 9.46 (946)
Silver CoinSilver Coin 1.2178% 1–100 17.7839 216.57 (217)
Copper CoinCopper Coin 57.7876% 1–100 26.892 15540.24 (155)
Amber MosquitoAmber Mosquito 0.027% 1 1 0.27
AmethystAmethyst 0.15% 1–16 1.1775 1.77
TopazTopaz 0.15% 1–16 1.1775 1.77
SapphireSapphire 0.15% 1–16 1.1775 1.77
EmeraldEmerald 0.15% 1–16 1.1775 1.77
RubyRuby 0.15% 1–16 1.1775 1.77
DiamondDiamond 0.15% 1–16 1.1775 1.77
AmberAmber 1.7629% 1–16 1.1775 20.76
Copper OreCopper Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Tin OreTin Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Iron OreIron Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Lead OreLead Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Silver OreSilver Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Tungsten OreTungsten Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Gold OreGold Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09
Platinum OrePlatinum Ore 3.4892% 1–16 1.1775 41.09

Notes[]

Tips[]

  • As explosives break Desert Fossil instantly, early-game players may want to use them instead, to prevent weaker pickaxes from damaging the surrounding Desert Fossil during mining.

History[]

  • Desktop 1.4.0.1:
    • Can now be mined with any pickaxe.
    • Can now be destroyed and collected using explosives.
    • Adjacent Desert Fossil blocks now have a chance to break when one is mined.
    • Now drops Amber more commonly when put through Extractinator
    • Added crafting recipes for Desert Fossil Walls.

References[]

  1. Information taken from the PC version PC 1.4.0.1 source code, method AttemptFossilShattering() in Terraria.WorldGen.cs. There may be inaccuracies, as the current PC version PC version is 1.4.4.9.
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