How to make Nether Quartz Ore in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft nether quartz ore with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, nether quartz ore is an item that you can not make with a crafting table or furnace. Instead, you need to find and gather this item in the game.

nether quartz

Let's explore how to add nether quartz to your inventory.

Supported Platforms

Nether quartz ore is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes (1.5)
Pocket Edition (PE)	Yes (0.12.1)
Xbox 360	Yes (TU14)
Xbox One	Yes
PS3	Yes (1.04)
PS4	Yes
Wii U	Yes
Nintendo Switch	Yes
Windows 10 Edition	Yes (0.12.1)
Education Edition	Yes

* The version that it was added or removed, if applicable.
NOTE: Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows 10 Edition are now called Bedrock Edition. We will continue to show them individually for version history.

Where to find Nether Quartz Ore in Creative Mode

Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.8 - 1.19	Building Blocks
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.19.3 - 1.20	Natural Blocks

Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Pocket Edition (PE)	0.14.1 - 1.1.3	Building Blocks
Pocket Edition (PE)	1.2 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Xbox Editions

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Xbox 360	TU35 - TU69	Building Blocks
Xbox One	CU23 - CU43	Building Blocks
Xbox One	1.2.5 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft PS Editions

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
PS3	1.26 - 1.76	Building Blocks
PS4	1.26 - 1.91	Building Blocks
PS4	1.14.0 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Nintendo

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Wii U	Patch 3 - Patch 38	Building Blocks
Nintendo Switch	1.04 - 1.11	Building Blocks
Nintendo Switch	1.5.0 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Windows 10 Edition	0.14.1 - 1.1.3	Building Blocks
Windows 10 Edition	1.2 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Education Edition

Here is where you can find nether quartz ore in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Education Edition	0.14.2 - 1.0.18	Building Blocks
Education Edition	1.0.21 - 1.17.30	Nature

Definitions

Platform is the platform that applies.
Version(s) is the Minecraft version numbers where the item can be found in the menu location listed (we have tested and confirmed this version number).
Creative Menu Location is the location of the item in the Creative Inventory menu.

How to get Nether Quartz Ore in Survival Mode

You can add nether quartz to your inventory in Survival mode by mining nether quartz ore with a tool that is enchanted with Silk Touch. So, let's get started!

1. Find a Block of Nether Quartz Ore

First, you need to find a block of nether quartz ore to dig up. You can find nether quartz ore in the Nether.

nether biome

This is what nether quartz ore looks like:

nether quartz ore and pickaxe

Nether quartz ore is easy to spot because it will appear as a group of lighter colored blocks.

TIP: If you are having trouble seeing in the Nether, try drinking a Potion of Night Vision.

2. Hold a Pickaxe

To mine for nether quartz ore, you need to dig up the block of nether quartz ore with a pickaxe that has been enchanted with Silk Touch. These are the pickaxes you can choose from:

How to make a Netherite Pickaxe

How to make a Diamond Pickaxe

How to make a Golden Pickaxe

How to make an Iron Pickaxe

How to make a Stone Pickaxe

How to make a Wooden Pickaxe

Other tools will not dig up the nether quartz ore and let you add it to your inventory.

In this example, we are going to use a diamond pickaxe with Silk Touch to dig up the nether quartz ore.

3. Mine the Nether Quartz Ore

The game control to mine the nether quartz ore depends on the version of Minecraft:

For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the nether quartz ore.
For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the nether quartz ore.
For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press and hold the RT button on the Xbox controller.
For PS3 and PS4, press and hold the R2 button on the PS controller.
For Wii U, press and hold the ZR button on the gamepad.
For Nintendo Switch, press and hold the ZR button on the controller.
For Windows 10 Edition, left click and hold on the nether quartz ore.
For Education Edition, left click and hold on the nether quartz ore.

nether quartz ore dropped

You will need to continue to mine until the block breaks and a smaller block of nether quartz ore finally appears. The nether quartz ore will float on the ground.

TIP: Normally when you mine nether quartz ore, you get a nether quartz as the drop. However, when you mine the nether quartz ore using a tool enchanted with Silk Touch, you will get the nether quartz ore itself as the drop.

4. Pick up the Nether Quartz Ore

Make sure you pick up the nether quartz ore before it disappears.

nether quartz ore gathered

Once you pick up the nether quartz ore, it will appear in your hotbar.

nether quartz ore