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I've heard on the minecraft forums that the best ores are located near lava. Is that true?

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2 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

This is a rumor and the reason it exists is this:

Lava tends to spawn at the same level that diamond spawns, and it also spawns in caverns. Since opening up a cavern (where lava is) reveals a lot more blocks than just mining one block, people have come to believe that it's lava that causes ores to spawn, whereas it's really just you being able to see more blocks, which means you're bound to see more ores.

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Any reason someone downvoted this? – Mr Smooth Sep 19 '11 at 9:18
tactical downvoting? – Joe the Person Oct 11 '11 at 23:44
1  
@fireDude67 Potentially. I wasn't too fussed, I would have just liked whoever did it to give a reason so I could have fixed it. It's what I do. – Mr Smooth Oct 12 '11 at 1:43
Oh my. I just noticed an accusation of tactical downvoting (late, I know) that was likely directed at me as I'm the only other answerer. I didn't do it. – John the Green Mar 14 '12 at 3:58
Perhaps the downvoter strongly believes that the best ores are located near lava, and nothing you or anyone else says will change that fact? – Robotnik Sep 7 '12 at 23:47
up vote 8 down vote

Not always, no. You can find any ore anywhere so long as you're at the right height for it. It just so happens that the level where lava spawns is also the level where diamonds do.
Nonetheless, you can find diamonds that aren't near lava.

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