Gravel

For other uses, see Gravel (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Grave.
Gravel
Gravel.png: Infobox image for Gravel the block in Minecraft
Invicon Gravel.png: Inventory sprite for Gravel in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Gravel
Renewable

Yes

Stackable

Yes (64)

Tool
Blast resistance

0.6

Hardness

0.6

Luminous

No

Transparent

No

Flammable

No

Catches fire
from lava

No

Map color (JE)


 11 STONE

Gravel is a gravity-affected block found in the Overworld and the Nether. It is a source of flint, which has a chance to drop when gravel is broken.

Obtaining

Breaking

The suitable tool to break gravel is shovel.

Block Gravel
Hardness 0.6
Tool
Breaking time (sec)[A]
Default 0.9
BlockSprite oak-planks.png: Sprite image for oak-planks in MinecraftWooden 0.45
BlockSprite cobblestone.png: Sprite image for cobblestone in MinecraftStone 0.25
ItemSprite copper-ingot.png: Sprite image for copper-ingot in MinecraftCopper 0.2
ItemSprite iron-ingot.png: Sprite image for iron-ingot in MinecraftIron 0.15
ItemSprite diamond.png: Sprite image for diamond in MinecraftDiamond 0.15
ItemSprite netherite-ingot.png: Sprite image for netherite-ingot in MinecraftNetherite 0.1
ItemSprite gold-ingot.png: Sprite image for gold-ingot in MinecraftGolden 0.1
Legend
  • incorrect tool, drops nothing
  • correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
  • correct tool, drops the block itself
  • italicized can be instant mined
  1. These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g., Mining Fatigue) and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

When destroyed using a tool without Silk Touch, gravel has a 10% chance to drop flint if this tool isn't enchanted with Fortune; It has a 14.2857……% (17) to drop flint if the tool is enchanted with Fortune I, 25% for Fortune II, and 100% for Fortune III. If the flint is not dropped, gravel drops itself instead. [1][2]
Gravel drops itself when destroyed using a tool with Silk Touch.

Natural generation

Gravel is generated in disks in rivers, shallow oceans and small pools of water; in windswept gravelly hills biomes covering most of the surface; underwater covering the bottom of sufficiently deep rivers and normal, cold, and frozen ocean biomes, as well as their deep variants; and in the form of strips in stony shores.

Gravel can generate in the Overworld in the form of ore features. Gravel attempts to generate 14 times per chunk in ore features of size 0-160, at all levels and in all biomes. It can replace stone, granite, andesite, diorite, polished granite‌[BE only], polished andesite‌[BE only], polished diorite‌[BE only], tuff[JE only], and deepslate[JE only].

Gravel can also generate as part of cold ocean ruins, some warm ocean ruins, and in trail ruins.

In the Nether, gravel generates naturally in layers along the shores of the lava sea, in all biomes except crimson and warped forests. The layers are one block deep in Nether wastes, and 3-5 blocks deep in soul sand valley and basalt deltas.

Ore features of gravel in the Nether attempt to replace netherrack 2 times per chunk in blobs of size 0-160, from levels 5 to 41‌[JE only] or 36‌[BE only], in all Nether biomes except basalt deltas.

Mob loot

An enderman holding gravel always drops the block upon death.

Bartering

Piglins may barter 8-16 gravel when given a gold ingot.

Usage

Falling Block

Main article: Falling Block

If the supporting block below a block of gravel is removed, it falls until it lands on the next available block. More specifically, the gravel block turns into a "falling block" entity, which is affected by gravity; when the falling block lands on a block with a solid top surface, it becomes a block again. More information about the falling block entity is available in the main article listed above.

When gravel falls on a player or mob, it can result in suffocation inside gravel until the destruction of the block, or moving out of it, or dying. If falling gravel lands in a space occupied by a non-solid block (such as torches, rails, or redstone dust) or non-full block (such as slabs or soul sand[3]), it breaks, then drops itself and never drops flint.[4][5]

Gravel can be placed on a non-solid block without falling.

Bamboo

Bamboo can be placed and grown on gravel.

Crafting ingredient

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe Description
Coarse Dirt Dirt +
Gravel
Concrete Powder Matching Dye +
Sand +
Gravel
Red sand cannot be used in place of sand.
White Concrete Powder or 
Blue Concrete Powder or 
Brown Concrete Powder or 
Black Concrete Powder
Bone Meal or 
Lapis Lazuli or 
Cocoa Beans or 
Ink Sac +
Sand +
Gravel
[Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Education only]

Trading

VillagerProbabilityVillager wantsPlayer receivesTrades in
stock
Villager
experience
JEBE
Fletcher Novice67%50%10 × Gravel
+ Emerald
10 × Flint121

Note blocks

Gravel can be placed under note blocks to produce snare drum sounds.

Sounds

Java Edition:

BlockSprite gravel.png: Sprite image for gravel in Minecraft gravel sound type
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.gravel.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.00.816
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.gravel.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.00.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.gravel.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.gravel.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.gravel.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

BlockSprite gravel.png: Sprite image for gravel in Minecraft gravel sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.gravel1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.gravel1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.gravel0.170.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.gravel0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.gravel0.31.0
BlocksJumping from the blockjump.gravel0.11.0
BlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.gravel0.171.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsTranslation key
BlockSprite gravel.png: Sprite image for gravel in Minecraft GravelgravelBlock & Itembamboo_plantable_on
enderman_holdable
lush_ground_replaceable
mineable/shovel
block.minecraft.gravel

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite gravel.png: Sprite image for gravel in Minecraft Gravelgravel13Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.gravel.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Available with /give command.
  3. The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Falling block entity

Falling Block
Hitbox size

Height: 0.98 blocks
Width: 0.98 blocks

Main article: Falling Block
  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Dynamic block entity data
    • Tags common to all entities see Template:Nbt inherit/entity/template
    • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] BlockState: The falling block represented by this entity.
      • [String] Name: The resource location of the block.
      • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Properties: Optional. The block states of the block.
        • [String] Name: The block state name and its value.
    • [Byte] CancelDrop: 1 or 0 (true/false) - true if the block should be destroyed instead of placed after landing on a solid block. When true, the block is not dropped as an item, even if the DropItem tag is set to true. However, if the entity is deleted due to its Time value being too high, this tag is ignored and an item is dropped depending on the DropItem tag. CancelDrop defaults to 1 for falling suspicious sand and suspicious gravel, and 0 for the other vanilla falling blocks and any summoned falling block.
    • [Byte] DropItem: 1 or 0 (true/false) – true if the block should drop as an item when it breaks. Any block that does not have an item form with the same ID as the block does not drop even if this is set.
    • [Float] FallHurtAmount: Multiplied by the FallDistance to calculate the amount of damage to inflict. By default this value is 2HP❤️ for anvils, and 6HP❤️❤️❤️ for pointed dripstone.
    • [Int] FallHurtMax: The maximum hit points of damage to inflict on entities that intersect this falling block. For vanilla falling blocks, always 40HP❤️ × 20.
    • [Byte] HurtEntities: 1 or 0 (true/false) – true if the block should hurt entities it falls on. Defaults to 1 for anvils and pointed dripstone and to 0 for the other vanilla falling blocks and any summoned falling block.
    • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] TileEntityData: Optional. The tags of the block entity for this block.
    • [Int] Time: The number of ticks the entity has existed. When Time goes above 600, or above 100 while the block is at Y=-64 or is outside building height, the entity is deleted.

History

Development

May 21, 2009Notch shows interest in adding gravel.
May 23, 2009Notch says he accomplished adding sand. This claim may also extend to gravel.

Java Edition

Java Edition Classic
0.0.14a Added gravel.
Gravel behaves similarly to sand, which was also added during this update.
Rather than falling by turning into a falling block entity, gravel instantly appears at the lowest point it can go when placed above an air block, without any sort of falling animation. This behavior that lasted until the Seecret Friday 1 update, in Infdev.
Map editors can now be used to create floating gravel, although the server crashes if the gravel is affected from its state.
0.0.15a (Multiplayer Test 1) The texture of gravel has been changed.
0.0.23aA glitch occurring at this time allows players to raise the height of a fluid block by placing gravel over it. The gravel stays suspended in mid-air until it is broken. When broken, a fluid block corresponding to the type below the gravel appears where the block was. The suspended fluid block remains immobile until a block was placed next to it, causing a flood.
Java Edition Indev
0.3120100124-2119Gravel now generates in indev house chests.
20100129-1447Gravel no longer generates in indev house chests.
20100219Gravel now has a 10% chance of dropping flint.
Java Edition Infdev
20100227-1414Gravel has been removed during map tests.[6]
20100413-1949Gravel has been re-added.
20100617-1531Gravel now generates as ore features underground, along with dirt, for more varied caves.
20100618The gravel now turns into an entity while falling, which makes them fall more smoothly and realistically.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.0_01Some soul sand is replaced by gravel in the Nether.
Java Edition Beta
1.2FallingSand entities now behave better in multiplayer.
1.8Pre-releaseTerrain generation has been changed, removing gravel beaches.
Gravel now generates as disks near water.
Gravel now appears in villages as the only part of their generated paths.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5 The texture of gravel has been changed.
1.3.112w21a The texture of gravel has been changed again.
12w22aGravel is now able to be used in the trading system: buying flint costs 1 emerald and 10 gravel.
1.4.212w38aGravel now has new sounds when being walked on.
1.7.213w36aOcean floors are now made completely of gravel, instead of a mixture of dirt, sand and clay.
Added extreme hills M, where the surface is covered in several-block-deep layers of gravel.
1.814w25aGravel can now be used to craft coarse dirt.
1.1016w20aFalling dust particles for unsupported gravel have been added.
1.1217w06aGravel is now used to craft concrete powder.
1.1318w09aGravel now generates in ocean ruins.
1.1418w43a The texture of gravel has been changed.
18w50aGravel no longer generates as a village path in any type of village.[7]
19w14aSoul sand and gravel now generate around lava sea level instead of between y level 60 and 65.[8]
1.1620w07aGravel now has a 5109 (~4.59%) chance of being given by the new piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 4–12, making it renewable.
20w09aGravel now has a 10113 (~8.82%) chance of being given by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1–5.
1.1620w20aGravel now has a 40423 (~9.46%) chance of being given by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 8–16.
1.16.220w28aGravel now has a 40459 (~8.71%) chance of being given by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 8–16.
1.1721w06aThe height limit was expanded down to Y=-64. Gravel blobs are temporary generating from Y=-64 instead of Y=0.
21w07aGravel ore features no longer generate below Y=0, but more common than in pre 21w06a versions.
21w15aAll the changes to gravel blob generation in the previous 1.17 snapshots have been reverted, but they can be re-enabled with the Caves & Cliffs Prototype Data Pack.
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1Gravel blob once again generates the way it did in the 1.17 snapshots without the use of a data pack.
experimental snapshot 4Strips of gravel sometimes generate in stone shores and stony peaks.
21w37aStrips of Gravel no longer generate in stony peaks.
Strips of Gravel in stone shores are now larger.
21w40aBlobs of gravel are once again able to generate below Y=0.
Increased the number of gravel blobs.
1.2023w12aGravel can now be created after brushing a suspicious gravel block.
Gravel now generates in trail ruins.
23w16aThe amount of gravel in trail ruins has been tweaked.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
Pre-release Added gravel. It is currently unobtainable.
v0.1.0 The texture of gravel icon in the inventory has been added.
v0.2.0 The textures of gravel and icon in the inventory have been changed.
Gravel is now obtainable in both Survival and Creative mode.
v0.4.0 The texture of gravel icon in the inventory has been changed.
v0.5.0 The texture of gravel icon in the inventory has been changed, once again.
v0.6.0 The texture of gravel icon in the inventory has been changed, once again.
Gravel is now affected by gravity.
v0.8.0build 1 The texture of gravel has been changed.
The inventory icon of gravel is now rendered block instead of texture.
build 8Falling gravel now drops a resource when landing on a non-solid block.
v0.9.0build 1Terrain generation has been changed, removing gravel beaches.
Gravel now generates as disks in or near water, and also completely comprises ocean floors.
Gravel no longer falls when generated.
Gravel now appears in villages.
v0.10.0build 1Falling dust particles for unsupported gravel have been added.
v0.11.0build 1Gravel no longer generates as a village path.
Added the gravelly mountains biome (then known as mutated extreme hills), where the surface is covered in several-block-deep layers of gravel.
v0.12.1build 1Gravel now generates in the Nether.
Pocket Edition
1.0.4alpha 1.0.4.010 gravel can now be used to trade with fletcher villagers for 6-10 flint.
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0Gravel is now used to craft concrete powder.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0beta 1.2.0.2Gravel can now be used to craft coarse dirt.
1.4.0beta 1.2.20.1Gravel now generates in ocean ruins.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The texture of gravel has been changed.
1.11.0beta 1.11.0.4Trading has been changed, fletcher villagers now have a 50% chance to buy 10 gravel and one emerald for 10 flint as part of their first tier trade.
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.57Gravel now has a 10106 (9.43%) chance of being given by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 8–16, making it renewable.
Gravel now generates below lava sea layer in the Nether.
1.18.0beta 1.18.0.21Gravel now generates as expected.
Blobs of gravel are now expected to be once again able to generate below Y=0., but they don't.
Increased the number of gravel blobs.
beta 1.18.0.24Gravel ore features are now able to generate below Y=0.[9]

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU1CU11.001.001.00Patch 11.0.1 Added gravel.
TU3 The texture of gravel has been changed.
TU9 The texture of gravel has been changed, again.
TU141.04Gravel is now able to be used in the trading system: buying flint costs 1 emerald and 10 gravel.
TU31CU191.221.221.22Patch 3Gravel can now be used to craft coarse dirt.
TU46CU361.381.381.38Patch 15Falling dust particles for unsupported gravel have been added.
TU53CU431.491.501.49Patch 231.0.3Gravel is now used to craft concrete powder.
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Gravel now generates in ocean ruins.
1.90 The texture of gravel has been changed, once again.
1.91Trading has been changed, fletcher villagers now have a chance to buy 10 gravel and one emerald for 10 flint as part of their first tier trade.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0 Added gravel.

Data history

Java Edition
1.814w06aGravel now uses the newly-implemented model json file models/block/cube.json; previously the geometry was defined in the game code itself.
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 13.

Issues

Issues relating to "Gravel" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • Explosions launch falling gravel.
  • If a player stands on a stack of sand or gravel and the stack falls onto a non-solid block, the player can fall fast enough to take damage or even die.
  • Gravel often falls into caves, making a mock dead end. If a player encounters a gravel dead-end while mining, removing the gravel may reveal additional passageways.

Gallery

Screenshots

References

  1. MC-94860 — Fortune 3 shovel does not drop gravel — resolved as "Duplicate".
  2. MCPE-44744 — Fortune 3 in a pickaxe on gravel only drops flint — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  3. MC-77079 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  4. MC-118095 — Dropping gravel on a torch never yields flint
  5. MCPE-120366 — Gravel never drops flint when falling on a non-solid block. (such as a torch)
  6. "Minecraft InfDev. Huge Temple Of Brick!" – DRMB on YouTube, February 27, 2010
  7. MC-147895
  8. "[MC-152207] Almost no naturally generating soul sand in nether wastes; changed soul sand generation after 1.13.2 - Jira"Mojira, May 18, 2019.
  9. "[MCPE-144080] Gravel doesn't generate below Y=0 - Jira"Mojira, October 8, 2021.

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