Where to Find Resources
Which biome holds each ore and material, how to gather it, and the building + job that automates the work — from starter copper to volcanic iron and marble.
Most resources in Romestead are tied to a biome: copper is the Plains metal, tin belongs to the Desert, iron to the Volcanic highlands, and clay forms wherever land meets water. You gather the raw form by hand at first, then build the matching station and assign a citizen to do it for you. Here's where everything comes from.
Resources by biome
- Plains
Copper ore (the starter metal), stone, coal, and farmland crops (wheat, olives, grapes, cabbage). Clay appears at the water's edge.
- Forest
Wood from trees (the Lumber Yard's home), plus foraged mushrooms, berries and herbs. Clay near any forest pools.
- Desert
Tin ore (combine with copper for bronze), sand, and desert crops. Clay still forms near the rare water spots.
- Volcanic
Iron ore, volcanic ash (for concrete), and marble from ancient ruins — the late-game material tier.
- Lakes & beaches
Clay (orange pools at the shoreline), fish, and sand. Found bordering every biome, not a region of its own.
Every resource — where & how to get it
| Resource | Found in | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Forest (trees everywhere) | Chop trees by hand, then let a Lumber Yard (Lumberjack) harvest them automatically. Sawn into Wood Planks at the Carpenter. |
| Stone | Plains & rocky ground | Break loose rocks with a pickaxe early on; a Quarry (Miner) automates stone once built. |
| Clay | Near water in any biome | Scoop the orange clay pools at the water's edge with a Bucket. A Clay Pit (Digger) automates it — placement near water speeds it up. |
| Copper | Plains (sandy/rocky nodes) | Mine copper-coloured ore nodes, then smelt into a Copper Bar at the Blacksmith furnace. |
| Coal | Plains mineral nodes / Quarry | Picked from mineral nodes or produced by the Quarry. The main fuel for the Blacksmith and Bakery. |
| Tin | Desert | Mine desert ore nodes and smelt into a Tin Bar. Tin is the desert's signature metal. |
| Bronze | Crafted (Blacksmith) | Smelt a Copper Bar + Tin Bar together at the Blacksmith — the mid-tier gear metal. |
| Iron | Volcanic | Mine iron ore in the volcano, then smelt into an Iron Bar at the Blacksmith. Needs volcano access first. |
| Volcanic ash | Volcanic | Scoop grey/white ash patches in volcanic areas with a Bucket. Feeds the concrete chain. |
| Concrete | Crafted (Concrete Mixer) | Mix Clay + Volcanic Ash + water in the Concrete Mixer, unlocked from the University for 20 Research Paper. |
| Gold & Silver | Rare mineral nodes (later areas) | Uncommon ore nodes; smelt into Gold/Silver Bars. Hold your first few — they gate later crafts and trades. |
| Ruby & gems | Rare gem nodes | Drop from scarce gem/mineral nodes. Save them for the late recipes that ask for gems. |
| Marble | Volcanic (ancient ruins) | Mined from ruins in the volcano. Note: marble is barely obtainable in the current Early Access build — don't plan a build around it yet. |
- WoodForest (trees everywhere)
Chop trees by hand, then let a Lumber Yard (Lumberjack) harvest them automatically. Sawn into Wood Planks at the Carpenter.
- StonePlains & rocky ground
Break loose rocks with a pickaxe early on; a Quarry (Miner) automates stone once built.
- ClayNear water in any biome
Scoop the orange clay pools at the water's edge with a Bucket. A Clay Pit (Digger) automates it — placement near water speeds it up.
- CopperPlains (sandy/rocky nodes)
Mine copper-coloured ore nodes, then smelt into a Copper Bar at the Blacksmith furnace.
- CoalPlains mineral nodes / Quarry
Picked from mineral nodes or produced by the Quarry. The main fuel for the Blacksmith and Bakery.
- TinDesert
Mine desert ore nodes and smelt into a Tin Bar. Tin is the desert's signature metal.
- BronzeCrafted (Blacksmith)
Smelt a Copper Bar + Tin Bar together at the Blacksmith — the mid-tier gear metal.
- IronVolcanic
Mine iron ore in the volcano, then smelt into an Iron Bar at the Blacksmith. Needs volcano access first.
- Volcanic ashVolcanic
Scoop grey/white ash patches in volcanic areas with a Bucket. Feeds the concrete chain.
- ConcreteCrafted (Concrete Mixer)
Mix Clay + Volcanic Ash + water in the Concrete Mixer, unlocked from the University for 20 Research Paper.
- Gold & SilverRare mineral nodes (later areas)
Uncommon ore nodes; smelt into Gold/Silver Bars. Hold your first few — they gate later crafts and trades.
- Ruby & gemsRare gem nodes
Drop from scarce gem/mineral nodes. Save them for the late recipes that ask for gems.
- MarbleVolcanic (ancient ruins)
Mined from ruins in the volcano. Note: marble is barely obtainable in the current Early Access build — don't plan a build around it yet.
Gathering buildings & jobs
Every raw resource has a station that gathers it for you once a citizen is assigned to the matching profession. Build these to retire the manual hauling — then chain them together on the carts & logistics page.
- Stone, copper and coal
- Clay (place near water)
- Wood from nearby trees
- Smelts ore into bars (copper, tin, bronze, iron)
- Tends and harvests planted crops
- Research Paper → unlocks the Concrete Mixer & upgrades
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find clay in Romestead?
Clay forms as orange pools at the water's edge in any biome — lakes, rivers and coastlines. Scoop it with a Bucket, then build a Clay Pit next to water to gather it automatically.
Which biome has copper, tin and iron?
Copper is the Plains metal (your starter ore), tin is found in the Desert (combine copper + tin for bronze), and iron comes from the Volcanic biome. Each is mined as ore and smelted into a bar at the Blacksmith.
Why can't I find marble?
Marble is a Volcanic-biome material mined from ancient ruins, but it is barely obtainable in the current Early Access build and has little use yet — so it's normal not to find or need it right now.
How do I stop gathering resources by hand?
Build the gathering station for each resource — Quarry for stone/ore, Clay Pit for clay, Lumber Yard for wood — and assign a citizen to the matching job. They generate that resource passively; the Logistics Tent then moves it where it's needed.