Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Fossils in Minecraft: Bone Blocks Underground
Fossils are skeletons of bone blocks buried in deserts, swamps and mangrove swamps. There are 4 skull shapes and 4 spine shapes. Shallow fossils are mixed with coal ore; deep ones below Y=-8 are mixed with diamond ore. Each chunk gets two tries at a 1 in 64 chance, and they appear even with structures turned off.
Where are fossils?
Underground in deserts, swamps and mangrove swamps, either near the surface or deep down between Y=-63 and Y=-8. They are often found by digging, caving or with X-ray-like luck when a cave cuts through one. Biomes: deserts and swamps.
What do fossils give?
- Bone blocks: about 90% of each fossil's shape is bone blocks; each crafts into 9 bone meal; see bone meal.
- Coal ore in shallow fossils, or diamond ore (deepslate diamond ore) in deep ones.
- No chests or mobs: the fossil itself is the reward.
Can fossils have diamonds?
Yes, deep fossils replace some of their ore layer with diamond ore. It is still rare, so do not plan on it; normal diamond mining is better. See best Y level for diamonds.
Are there Nether fossils?
Yes, separate bone-block fossils sit on the ground in soul sand valleys; see soul sand valleys. Both kinds are features, not structures, so /locate cannot find them.
What are bone blocks good for?
They are a quick source of bone meal for crops, trees and flowers, and they also make a pale, striped building block that fits desert and spooky builds. Bone blocks can be crafted back from 9 bone meal, so you can store bone meal in them.
Frequently asked questions
Do fossils have diamonds?
Deep fossils below Y=-8 can include diamond ore.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.