Aluminum Ore

Aluminum Ore is a metal ore used as both a construction material and as the raw input for producing refined Aluminum. It appears on certain Space Points of Interest (POIs) during rocket missions, and is commonly processed by on-base metal-refining machines or consumed by critters to yield other resources.

Aluminum Ore is available from renewable Space POIs: Frozen Ore Asteroid Fields yield 127.4–382.3 kg per cycle, while Forested Ore Fields yield 54–162 kg per cycle. On-base uses center on building construction and metal production; it can also be used as feed for certain Hatches.

Practical uses and interactions:

• Metal Refinery converts Aluminum Ore to Aluminum at 100% efficiency: 100 kg Aluminum Ore = 100 kg Aluminum.
• Rock Crusher can also process Aluminum Ore but at reduced efficiency, producing both Aluminum and Sand: 100 kg Aluminum Ore = 50 kg Aluminum + 50 kg Sand. Using the Rock Crusher for Aluminum is not recommended when a Metal Refinery is available.
• Aluminum Ore serves as feed for Stone Hatches and Smooth Hatches:
  • Feeding Stone Hatches causes them to excrete Coal and increases the chance they will lay Smooth Hatch eggs.
  • Feeding Smooth Hatches causes them to excrete Aluminum at 75% mass conversion.
• Aluminum Ore is a valid building material and can be used to construct various buildings and power wires where metal ores are accepted.

When planning resource flow, prefer refining Aluminum Ore in a Metal Refinery for full mass conversion. Use Space POI runs targeting Frozen Ore Asteroid Fields or Forested Ore Fields to acquire bulk Aluminum Ore; prioritize Metal Refinery production chains and consider Hatch feeding strategies only when you intend to convert ore into Coal or to breed Smooth Hatches for their Aluminum output. Avoid relying on Rock Crusher for primary Aluminum production due to its 50% conversion and byproduct Sand.