Astroneer is a space exploration and building game where you land on alien planets and build what you need from what you find there. Resources are the raw materials behind nearly everything you make: ore and soil dug from the ground, organic matter from plants, and gases pulled from the air. Knowing where each one comes from and what it turns into makes the rest of the game much easier to follow.
Resource Type
Natural
Soil
Stored soil lets the Terrain Tool build, smooth, and reshape terrain.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect terrain with a Terrain Tool or rover drill while a canister is available; it is found on every planet.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Terrain shaping with the Terrain Tool or Paver, Soil Centrifuge output, and Leveling Blocks.
Organic
This plant material can be refined into Carbon, combined into Rubber, or burned for power.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Harvest small flora on every planet; a Soil Centrifuge can also produce it from soil.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Carbon in a Smelting Furnace, Rubber in a Chemistry Lab, and fuel for a Small Generator.
Compound
This common resource supports early equipment and many printer recipes.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on every planet; a Soil Centrifuge can also produce it from soil.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Tethers, printers and platforms, and Plastic in a Chemistry Lab.
Resin
This common resource is used for canisters, platforms, and composite materials.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on every planet; a Soil Centrifuge can also produce it from soil.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Small Canisters and platforms, plus Rubber and Silicone in a Chemistry Lab.
Clay
Clay is smelted into Ceramic for sturdier equipment and structures.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on every planet or produce it from soil in a Soil Centrifuge.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Ceramic in a Smelting Furnace, then shuttle and module recipes.
Quartz
Quartz is a crystal resource used for Glass and several utility recipes.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine crystal deposits on every planet; a Soil Centrifuge can also produce it from soil.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Glass in a Smelting Furnace, Beacons, and Silicone in a Chemistry Lab.
Graphite
Graphite is a natural resource for packing items and making Graphene.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on every planet; a Soil Centrifuge can also produce it from soil.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Packagers and Graphene in a Chemistry Lab.
Ammonium
Ammonium is used in rocket fuel recipes and early shuttle propulsion.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on every planet or produce it from soil in a Soil Centrifuge.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Solid-Fuel Thrusters and Hydrazine in a Chemistry Lab.
Laterite
Laterite is the ore smelted into Aluminum.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine underground deposits on every planet.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Aluminum in a Smelting Furnace, which is used in vehicles and many modules.
Sphalerite
Sphalerite is the ore smelted into Zinc.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on Sylva, Desolo, or Aeoluz (Glitchwalkers).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Zinc in a Smelting Furnace, then batteries, sensors, and attachments.
Malachite
Malachite is the ore smelted into Copper.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on Sylva, Calidor, or Aeoluz (Glitchwalkers).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Copper in a Smelting Furnace, then solar panels and Aluminum Alloy.
Wolframite
Wolframite is the ore smelted into Tungsten.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on Desolo, Calidor, or Aeoluz (Glitchwalkers).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Tungsten in a Smelting Furnace, then the Chemistry Lab and Trade Platform.
Lithium
Lithium is a rare natural resource used in long-lasting power storage.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on Vesania, Novus, or Aeoluz (Glitchwalkers).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Batteries and RTGs.
Hematite
Hematite is the ore smelted into Iron.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on Novus, Glacio, or Aeoluz (Glitchwalkers).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Iron in a Smelting Furnace, then Steel, Shredders, and advanced modules.
Titanite
Titanite is the ore smelted into Titanium.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine deposits on Vesania, Glacio, or Aeoluz (Glitchwalkers).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Titanium in a Smelting Furnace and Titanium Alloy in a Chemistry Lab.
Astronium
Astronium is a rare core resource used for research and valuable trades.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Mine the outer core layers of every planet.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Trade Platform exchanges for items such as EXO Chips, and Research Chamber Bytes.
Resource Type
Refined
Carbon
Carbon is a refined fuel and a frequent ingredient in composite recipes.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Organic in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Small Generator fuel, Plastic, Tungsten Carbide, Explosive Powder, and Steel.
Ceramic
Ceramic is made from Clay and appears in many advanced printer recipes.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Clay in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Chemistry Labs, shuttle parts, and large structures.
Glass
Glass is made from Quartz and used in storage, power, and gas equipment.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Quartz in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Atmospheric Condensers, storage canisters, and solar or wind equipment.
Zinc
Zinc is made from Sphalerite and is used in several small attachments.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Sphalerite in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Small Batteries, sensors, and automation attachments.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a common refined metal for vehicles and base equipment.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Laterite in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Soil Centrifuges, rovers, shuttles, and platforms.
Copper
Copper is made from Malachite and used in power equipment and alloys.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Malachite in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Small Solar Panels, larger power equipment, and Aluminum Alloy.
Tungsten
Tungsten is made from Wolframite and unlocks several advanced recipes.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Wolframite in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Chemistry Labs, Trade Platforms, and Tungsten Carbide.
Titanium
Titanium is made from Titanite and is used for advanced alloys and storage.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Titanite in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Titanium Alloy and high-capacity storage recipes.
Iron
Iron is made from Hematite and supports trading, shredding, and fabrication.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Smelt Hematite in a Smelting Furnace.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Trade Platforms, Shredders, Steel, and Atmospheric Condensers.
Resource Type
Atmospheric
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a gas collected from several planets and used to make Hydrazine.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect with an Atmospheric Condenser on Sylva (75 PPU), Calidor (50), Vesania (100), Novus (25), or Aeoluz (100).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Hydrazine in a Chemistry Lab.
Argon
Argon is a gas ingredient for Steel.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect with an Atmospheric Condenser on Vesania (50 PPU), Glacio (100), or Aeoluz (100).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Steel in a Chemistry Lab.
Methane
Methane is a gas ingredient for Silicone.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect with an Atmospheric Condenser on Novus (75 PPU), Atrox (100), or Aeoluz (100).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Silicone in a Chemistry Lab.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a gas ingredient for Titanium Alloy.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect with an Atmospheric Condenser on Sylva (100 PPU), Vesania (75), Atrox (50), or Aeoluz (100).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Titanium Alloy in a Chemistry Lab.
Sulfur
Sulfur is a gas ingredient for Explosive Powder.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect with an Atmospheric Condenser on Calidor (100 PPU), Atrox (75), or Aeoluz (100).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Explosive Powder in a Chemistry Lab.
Helium
Helium is a rare gas needed for Nanocarbon Alloy.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Collect with an Atmospheric Condenser on Atrox (25 PPU) or Aeoluz (100).
- Main Recipe Uses
- Nanocarbon Alloy in a Chemistry Lab.
Resource Type
Composite
Rubber
Rubber is a composite material used in vehicles and base equipment.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Organic and 1 Resin in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Rovers, vehicle attachments, power equipment, and large structures.
Plastic
Plastic is a composite material used for storage, vehicles, and modules.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Carbon and 1 Compound in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Storage canisters, rovers, shelters, and the Atmospheric Condenser.
Aluminum Alloy
Aluminum Alloy is used for vehicles and large power equipment.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Aluminum and 1 Copper in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Rovers, solar arrays, large turbines, and other vehicle equipment.
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten Carbide is a hard composite used for drilling and automation.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Tungsten and 1 Carbon in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Drill Strength upgrades, Shredders, and the Auto Extractor.
Graphene
Graphene is an advanced material used in Diamond and metal alloys.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Graphite and 1 Hydrazine in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Diamond, Titanium Alloy, and advanced power equipment.
Diamond
Diamond is a high-tier composite for powerful drilling and storage.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 2 Graphene in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Drill Mod 3, Drill Strength 3, and the Extra Large Resource Canister.
Hydrazine
Hydrazine is a liquid fuel and a key ingredient in Graphene.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 2 Ammonium and 1 Hydrogen in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Shuttle fuel, Hydrazine Thrusters, and Graphene.
Silicone
Silicone is an advanced composite used in aircraft and mobility gear.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Resin, 1 Quartz, and 1 Methane in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- The VTOL, Hoverboard, and other advanced mobility equipment.
Explosive Powder
Explosive Powder is the recipe ingredient used to make Dynamite.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 2 Carbon and 1 Sulfur in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Dynamite.
Steel
Steel is an advanced alloy for large vehicles and automation.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Iron, 1 Carbon, and 1 Argon in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Probe Scanners, Hydrazine Thrusters, Cranes, Extra Large Shredders, Auto Extractors, and Nanocarbon Alloy.
Titanium Alloy
Titanium Alloy is a high-tier ingredient for advanced fabrication.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Titanium, 1 Graphene, and 1 Nitrogen in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Hydrazine Jet Packs, Drill Strength upgrades, Large Gas Canisters, Large Shuttles, and Nanocarbon Alloy.
Nanocarbon Alloy
Nanocarbon Alloy is an advanced composite used for RTGs, Portable Oxygenators, and large resource storage.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Combine 1 Titanium Alloy, 1 Steel, and 1 Helium in a Chemistry Lab.
- Main Recipe Uses
- RTGs, Portable Oxygenators, and large resource storage.
Resource Type
Other
Scrap
Scrap is a recyclable material exchanged for resources at a Trade Platform.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Shred scrapable items or debris in a Shredder; salvage is also found in wreckage.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Trade it at a Trade Platform for resources and other items.
EXO Chip
EXO Chips are rare components used to build advanced modules and vehicles.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Find them in secure EXO Caches opened with Dynamite, or trade 3 Astronium for 1 at a Trade Platform.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Trade Platforms, Auto Extractors, Large Shredders, and large shuttles.
Storm Data
Storm Data from base-game Glitched Storms can be scanned for Bytes.
- Edition
- Base game
- Found or Made
- Use RUBY at a hotspot in a Glitched Storm on an original planet other than Sylva.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Research Chamber scans it for Bytes.
Alpha Storm Data
Alpha Storm Data is collected on Aeoluz for Alpha storm protection.
- Edition
- Glitchwalkers
- Found or Made
- Use RUBY at a hotspot in an Alpha Storm on Aeoluz.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Use in the D-Cipher for Alpha storm protection and related counterhack progress.
Delta Storm Data
Delta Storm Data is collected on Aeoluz for Delta storm protection.
- Edition
- Glitchwalkers
- Found or Made
- Use RUBY at a hotspot in a Delta Storm on Aeoluz.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Use in the D-Cipher for Delta storm protection and related counterhack progress.
Zeta Storm Data
Zeta Storm Data is collected on Aeoluz for Zeta storm protection.
- Edition
- Glitchwalkers
- Found or Made
- Use RUBY at a hotspot in a Zeta Storm on Aeoluz.
- Main Recipe Uses
- Use in the D-Cipher for Zeta storm protection and related counterhack progress.
How to Get Resources in Astroneer
Most natural resources come from deposits buried in the ground. You break them open with the Terrain Tool or with drills, and they come out as nuggets, the smallest unit of any resource. Organic works differently, since you dig it straight from plant cover or tap certain plants for it.
Soil is the other route. You fill a small canister with it, then feed it into a Soil Centrifuge, which turns it into common materials like compound, resin, clay and quartz. That gives you a way to get the basics without relying only on finding deposits.
How to Collect Gases in Astroneer
Gases aren't dug up. An Atmospheric Condenser pulls them out of the air, and it needs power to run. Each gas has its own collection rate on each planet, and a higher rate means the gas fills faster, so the planet you choose matters.
The condenser fills gas canisters attached to its platform and stops when it runs out of open slots, so keep empty canisters ready. A Medium Gas Canister holds only one kind of gas at a time, so keep each gas in its own storage.
How Resources Are Refined and Crafted
Raw materials usually go through a Smelting Furnace first, which refines them into materials such as iron, copper, glass and carbon. From there, a Chemistry Lab combines materials into composite resources like steel, plastic and titanium alloy. Those composites are needed for more advanced items, such as automation parts and RTGs.
Half of the composite recipes also call for a gas. Hydrogen goes into hydrazine, methane into silicone, sulfur into explosive powder, argon into steel, nitrogen into titanium alloy and helium into nanocarbon alloy.
Printers handle the last step. They turn resources into finished items, with each printer size covering a different tier, and all of them need power to run.
Which Resources Matter Most in Astroneer
Carbon is the refined material that shows up most often in composite recipes. It goes into four of them, and it can also be converted into power in a generator.
Iron and titanium matter because they feed steel and titanium alloy, and both of those go into nanocarbon alloy. Steel needs iron, carbon and argon, while titanium alloy needs titanium, graphene and nitrogen.
Hydrazine is the fuel to know. It powers hydrazine thrusters, VTOLs and hydrazine jet packs, and it's made from ammonium and hydrogen.
What Scrap and EXO Chips Are Used For
Scrap is made by shredding items you've built and wreckage marked as debris. It is the currency of the Trade Platform, where you exchange it for other resources.
EXO Chips are rare, and they go into a long list of recipes, from printers and shredders to VTOLs and Trade Platforms. Several missions also require them, including the ones that unlock the VTOL and hoverboard.
How Research Turns Resources into Bytes
A Research Chamber turns resources into Bytes. Bytes are the currency for unlocking schematics, the blueprints that let you build new items, so research is how new items become available to you.
Most resources can be researched, and Scrap is one of them. Research items pay out well but are rare, so resources are the steady option.
Soil and hydrazine can't be researched. The chamber needs power to run at full speed, and with less power it still works, just more slowly.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to collect resources in Astroneer?
An Auto Extractor is the quickest option for deposits. It pulls at least 15 times as many nuggets from a deposit as digging it by hand. Soil and plant matter still come from the manual methods, since the extractor works on deposits.
Which planet has the most gases in Astroneer?
Aeoluz is the standout. It's the only planet with all six gases, and each one sits at the top collection rate of 100. It also has all six of the ores that appear on only some worlds, while Desolo has no gas at all and Glacio has just argon.
Where do you find titanium in Astroneer?
Titanium starts as titanite, which you can dig up on Vesania, Glacio and Aeoluz. Once you have it, a Smelting Furnace turns it into titanium.
How do you get EXO Chips in Astroneer?
EXO Caches and Vehicle Data Recorders hold them, but they only open when hit by an explosion, such as dynamite or the blasts from Volatile Cataplants on Glacio or Volatile Attacti on Atrox. Rarely, you'll also find them in certain wrecks. A Trade Platform will also exchange three Astronium for one chip.