Stardew Rock Riches: The No-BS Guide to Farming, Using, and Selling Minerals

Stardew Rock Riches: The No-BS Guide to Farming, Using, and Selling Minerals

![Mineral collection showcase from Stardew Valley showing various colorful gems and minerals sorted in chests](mineral-collection-showcase.iny rocks to hoard and which to sell? This guide cuts through the confusion. Keep Earth Crystals, Quartz, Fire Quartz, Ruby, Jade, Prismatic Shards, and Diamonds for essential crafting, trading, and gifting. Most geode minerals can be sold after museum donation. For immediate help, jump to our Keep vs. Sell Checklist or check the Quick Reference Table for specific mineral uses.

The Mineral System Explained

Stardew Valley’s mineral system isn’t complicated once you understand it. The game divides these valuable resources into several distinct categories, each with different sources and uses.

Mineral Types: Foraged, Gems, and Geode Minerals

Stardew Valley has three main categories of minerals:

1. Foraged Minerals - These drop directly from rocks or nodes in mines and can be found without processing geodes:

   • Earth Crystal
   • Quartz
   • Fire Quartz
   • Frozen Tear

2. Gems - These valuable minerals have higher sell prices and are excellent gifts:

   • Diamond
   • Ruby
   • Emerald
   • Aquamarine
   • Amethyst
   • Topaz
   • Jade
   • Prismatic Shard (rarest and most valuable)

3. Geode Minerals - These can only be obtained by processing geodes at the blacksmith or with a Geode Crusher:

   • Over 40 different minerals including Aerinite, Alamite, Baryte, Basalt, and many others
   • Most are primarily for museum donation and selling

![Infographic showing all mineral types organized by category with to Find Each Mineral Type

Knowing where to look for specific minerals can save you hours of aimless mining:

Mine Levels 1-39 (Copper Area)

• Earth Crystal
• Quartz
• Topaz
• Amethyst

Mine Levels 40-79 (Iron Area)

• Quartz
• Frozen Tear
• Aquamarine
• Jade

Mine Levels 80-120 (Gold Area)

• Quartz
• Fire Quartz
• Ruby
• Emerald
• Diamond (rare)

Skull Cavern

• All gems (higher rates than regular mines)
• Diamond (common)
• Prismatic Shard (rare)

Ginger Island Volcano

• Ruby
• Emerald
• Diamond
• Prismatic Shard (rare)

The mining levels offer predictable mineral drops, while Skull Cavern provides the best variety and quantity. “Quarry is a good option, but they take a while to spawn and you don’t get a lot since the area is limited”.

For stone specifically, many players recommend this efficient method: “go to the mines, go to floor 1, break any of the big rocks that drop 10 stones or so, go back to the top of the mines, repeat. you’ll get hundreds of stone in a day”.

![Mine level map showing different minerals by section of the mines Work

Geodes are mysterious rock containers that hold minerals inside. There are four types:

• Regular Geode - Found in mines levels 1-39
• Frozen Geode - Found in mines levels 40-79
• Magma Geode - Found in mines levels 80-120
• Omni Geode - Found throughout all mines and Skull Cavern (can contain any mineral from other geodes)

To process geodes:

1. Take them to Clint the blacksmith (costs 25g each)
2. Build a Geode Crusher (requires 2 Gold Bars, 50 Stone, and 1 Coal)

Important geode mechanics to understand:

• Fixed sequence: “The way the RNG works when processing geodes is based on the game seed and is not geode specific”
• Pre-determined contents: What you get from each geode is determined when the game starts, not when you find or crack the geode
• Different pools: Each geode type has its own pool of possible minerals

“Because Omni Geodes have a much larger set of potential minerals, your chance of getting something specific is much lower. Additionally, because Omni Geodes are the easiest to farm, I’ll use them as examples of ‘filler’ geodes in the following examples”.

Some players use the Stardew Predictor tool to determine what’s in their geodes before cracking them: “you can use Stardew Predictor to know the exact contents of your geodes before you break them. So you can break them in a certain order to guarantee getting certain items from them”.

Must-Keep Minerals List

Not all minerals are created equal. Here’s what you should definitely hold onto:

Keep vs. Sell Checklist

✅ ALWAYS KEEP:

• Prismatic Shard - Used for Galaxy Sword, tool enchanting, and universally loved gift
• Diamond - Great gifts, used in crafting, high sale value
• Ruby - Used for Spicy Eel trade, forging, and gifts
• Jade - Used for Staircase trade and gifts
• Earth Crystal - Mayo machines and Earth Obelisk
• Quartz - Refined quartz crafting
• Fire Quartz - Refined quartz (more efficient than regular quartz)
• Marble - Crafting recipes

🤔 KEEP SOME (5-10):

• Frozen Tear - Gift for Sebastian, some crafting
• Emerald - Gifts and forging
• Amethyst - Gift for Abigail
• Aquamarine - Some crafting, gifts
• Topaz - Gifts

💰 SAFE TO SELL (after museum donation):

• Most geode minerals (Aerinite, Alamite, Calcite, etc.)
• Excess of any mineral once you have a sufficient stockpile

“Keep them all! Make more chests! Hoard everything you get! (That’s how I play, feel free to not if you’d prefer)… Foraged minerals are earth crystal, frozen tear, quartz, and fire quartz. These are used in crafting and fish ponds”.

![Keep vs Sell Checklist with icons for every mineral in the game](keep-sell-checklist.jpg Essentials

Some minerals are critical components for crafting useful items:

“Earth crystals for Mayonnaise Machine… Quartz for refined quartz”. The Mayonnaise Machine is vital for processing eggs into higher-value products, making Earth Crystals particularly valuable early in the game.

Fire Quartz is especially efficient for creating Refined Quartz, as “one Fire Quartz creates three Refined Quartz in a furnace, making it more valuable to process than sell”.

Top-Tier Gift Minerals

Minerals make excellent gifts for certain villagers:

Loved Gifts (💖):

• Abigail: Amethyst
• Clint: Emerald, Jade, Aquamarine, Ruby, Topaz, Amethyst
• Dwarf: Emerald, Jade, Aquamarine, Ruby, Topaz, Amethyst, Lemon Stone, Omni Geode
• Emily: Emerald, Jade, Aquamarine, Ruby, Topaz, Amethyst
• Sebastian: Frozen Tear, Obsidian
• Almost Everyone: Diamond, Prismatic Shard

“They can be used as gifts for specific people, with each person having their own likes. For example, Emily loves emeralds, Abigail loves amethyst, Sebastian loves frozen tears, and so on”.

Remember that “Sebastian loves obsidian” and “Dwarf loves lemon stone”, which are more specialized preferences. Prismatic Shards are “a loved gift almost universally”, making them extremely valuable for relationship building.

![Gift preference chart showing which villagers love which minerals](villager-mineral-gift-chart.jpgd Fish Ponds

Fish ponds occasionally request specific minerals to increase their capacity:

Common Fish Pond Requests:

• Basalt (Lava Eel)
• Ocean Stone
• Petrified Slime
• Granite
• Limestone
• Mudstone

“The only other mineral used in crafting is marble, but petrified slime, ocean stone, granite, basalt, limestone, and mudstone can be requested by fish ponds”.

Some players have encountered even more unusual requests: “I’ve needed Basalt (lava eel), mudstone, ocean stone, dried starfish and dwarf scroll III” for their fish ponds.

Special board quests sometimes ask for specific minerals, so keeping a small stock of each can help you complete these quests quickly.

Safe-to-Sell Mineral Guide

After you’ve donated to the museum and kept what you need for crafting, gifts, and quests, you can sell the rest for profit.

High-Value Minerals for Quick Profit

Most geode-only minerals have sell prices ranging from 20g to 300g, with a few exceptions being worth 400-500g.

“In general, I sell geode minerals once I’ve donated them, non geode minerals once I’ve maxed out friendship and forged my sword with 3 rubies, and diamonds once I’ve got my crystalarium empire going”.

With the Gemologist profession, you’ll get 30% more when selling minerals and gems, making them even more valuable as income sources.

![Bar chart comparing the sell values of different minerals](mineral-value-comparison.jpg a Crystal Farm Income Stream

For a reliable passive income, consider setting up crystallariums to duplicate your most valuable minerals:

1. Choose the right mineral:

   • Diamond (750g): Highest base value
   • Jade (200g): For trading for staircases (99 stone each)
   • Ruby (250g): For trading for Spicy Eel (combat/luck buff)

2. Build multiple crystallariums:

   • Recipe: 2 Gold Bars + 1 Iridium Bar + 1 Battery Pack + 50 Stone
   • Obtained from: Crafting (Mining level 9) or Community Center Vault
   • Processing time: Diamond takes 5 days; most other gems take 2-3 days

3. Arrange efficiently:

   • Place in sheds to maximize space (up to 67 per shed)
   • Use upgraded Big Sheds for even more capacity (up to 137 per shed)

“And keep all prismatic shards and diamonds once I’ve got my crystalarium empire going”. This approach allows for a steady income stream without daily effort.

Some players focus entirely on diamond farming: “I keep a stack of rubies for when I open the desert. After that, I sell them… I also get a crystallarium going with diamonds as soon as possible”.

![Blueprint of an efficient crystallarium farm

Once you understand the basics, you can employ advanced strategies to get exactly the minerals you need.

Predicting and Manipulating Geode Contents

For serious collectors seeking specific minerals, you can manipulate the geode opening sequence:

1. Using the Stardew Predictor tool:

   • An external web tool that can predict what minerals you’ll get from geodes
   • “You can use Stardew Predictor to know the exact contents of your geodes before you break them. So you can break them in a certain order to guarantee getting certain items”

2. The “Skip Ahead” technique:

   • If you’re looking for a specific mineral from Magma Geodes, but the next few won’t contain it:
   • Process some Omni Geodes first to skip ahead in the sequence
   • “Let’s say you’re looking for Bixite, which can be obtained from Omni Geodes and Magma Geodes. You have 10 Magma Geodes, but many more Omni Geodes. Start by processing your 10 Magma Geodes and if you don’t find Bixite, reload the game. This time process 10 Omni Geodes and then your 10 Magma Geodes”

3. Strategic geode opening:

   • “This also works if you’re looking for multiple minerals from a specific geode. Let’s say you have 20 Magma Geodes. You process all 20 and find that number 4, 7, and 15 have some of the minerals you’re looking for. Reload the game and now process Omni Geodes as fillers for 1-3, Magma Geode for 4, Omni Geodes for 5 & 6, Magma Geode for 7, Omni Geodes for 8-14, Magma Geode for 15, and Omni Geodes for 16-20”

This method is particularly valuable for completing the museum collection when you’re missing just a few specific minerals.

![Interactive geode contents prediction tool mockup](geode-contents-calculator Strategy

The Desert Trader offers valuable trades for certain minerals:

“Ruby for Spicy Eel trade with desert trader… Jade for Stair trade with desert trader”. These trades are especially valuable for Skull Cavern diving, as Staircases let you skip levels quickly, and Spicy Eel provides both a Speed and Luck buff.

Some players have optimized this system by creating “jade farms” with crystallariums specifically to generate staircases: “If you got spare crystalariums spitting out jades, trade those jades for staircases at the Desert trader on Sundays. Deconstruct staircases into stones. 1 staircase -> 99 stones, pretty nice for a passive stone generator”.

This creates a perpetual supply of stone and staircases, solving two resource problems at once.

![Desert Trader Exchange Calendar showing available trades byd Mineral Opportunities

The 1.5 update introduced Ginger Island, which offers new mining opportunities:

1. Volcano Dungeon:

   • Contains nodes with gems and Prismatic Shards
   • Good source of Cinder Shards (new material)
   • “1.5 added a whole new late game area called ginger island which includes loads of new items, new areas within the island, loads of quests, a few new crops and trees, etc”

2. Forging Enhancement:

   • “Prismatic shard is… used to get the galaxy sword and enchant tools and weapons at ginger island”
   • “Non-geode minerals (diamond, emerald, topaz, etc)… can be used for forging weapons on ginger island”

3. Island Mining Benefits:

   • Daily respawning nodes
   • Less dangerous than Skull Cavern
   • “Every rock spawn in the volcano will give you rocks, which is more consistent that the mines. If you’re lucky with the map spawn for the day, you can get 500-600+ rocks a day”

The volcano provides an excellent alternative mining location for late-game players who want a steady supply of minerals and stone without the extreme danger of Skull Cavern.

![Annotated map of Ginger Island mining

Efficient mineral farming requires knowing the best locations and having the right tools.

Best Mining Locations by Mineral Type

For targeted mineral farming, focus on these specific locations:

For Foraged Minerals:

• Earth Crystal: Mines floors 1-39, highest concentration on floors 15-25
• Quartz: All mine levels, found in all areas
• Fire Quartz: Mines floors 80-120, especially near lava
• Frozen Tear: Mines floors 40-79, ice-themed areas

For Gems:

• Topaz & Amethyst: Mines floors 1-39
• Jade & Aquamarine: Mines floors 40-79
• Ruby & Emerald: Mines floors 80-120
• Diamond: Mines floors 80+ and Skull Cavern
• Prismatic Shard: Skull Cavern (especially Iridium nodes), Mystic Stones (25% chance)

For Omni Geodes (best for mineral collection):

• Skull Cavern: “In skull cavern on the other hand I can get 15-20 Omni Geodes on a bad run and average 25-30”
• Hard Mode Mines: “Omni geodes are best farmed in the hard version of the caves on levels 31-39 from the upgraded ghosts (carbon ghosts, same monster as caverns)”

For stone specifically, which helps build staircases for deeper mining: “Volcano! Every rock spawn in the volcano will give you rocks, which is more consistent that the mines. If you’re lucky with the map spawn for the day, you can get 500-600+ rocks a day”.

![Visual breakdown of the mines showing what can be found at each level](mining-level-breakdown.

Several helpful apps can assist in tracking your mineral collection:

1. Assistant for Stardew Valley ($1.06)

   • “Basic Functions: calendar with custom notes and prepopulated reminders, villager info with loves/likes, in app schedule search for each NPC, bundle checklist, general checklist, mineral/artifact checklist and basic info on where to find”

2. StardewGuide - Tools for Stardew Valley ($1.59)

   • “This app has SO MUCH detail. Calendar, NPC locator, bundle tracker, info on crops and fish and minerals. This app is very comprehensive”
   • Particularly useful for mineral tracking

3. Unofficial SV Companion Guide (Free with ads, $3.49 premium)

   • “BASIC FUNCTIONS: villager gifting loves/likes, birthday calendar, searchable menus, crop information via customized search, fish information via customized search, mineral information, checklists for bundles, fishing, and museum”

These apps can help you track which minerals you’ve found, which you still need for the museum, and where to find specific ones you’re missing.

![Comparison of app interfaces showing mineral tracking features](app-interface to Minerals in Updates 1.5 and 1.6

Recent updates have brought significant changes to the mineral system:

Update 1.5:

• Added Ginger Island with the Volcano Dungeon (new mining area)
• Introduced weapon forging using certain gems
• Added the Geode Crusher that lets you process geodes without visiting Clint
• “It almost doubles the length of the game, +adds a machine to check how far you are for perfection”

Update 1.6:

• Added a “mastery” system with new perks related to mining
• “Added a ‘mastery’ system, accessed via a new area, which grants powerful perks and items…”
• Added a golden Joja parrot that can find remaining golden walnuts
• Visual improvements around the valley

Update 1.6.3:

• “Geodes can now be processed during tool upgrades”
• This quality-of-life improvement means you no longer have to wait for Clint to finish upgrading your tools before processing geodes

These updates have significantly enhanced the mining and mineral experience, making it more rewarding and less tedious.

Quick Reference Table

*Except those requested by fish ponds (basalt, ocean stone, petrified slime, granite, limestone, mudstone)

Mining and Collection Tips

1. Luck matters - Mine on high luck days for better geode and gem drops
2. Level 1 farming - “Go to the mines, go to floor 1, break any of the big rocks that drop 10 stones or so, go back to the top of the mines, repeat”
3. Volcano efficiency - “Every rock spawn in the volcano will give you rocks, which is more consistent than the mines”
4. Ghost targeting - “Omni geodes are best farmed in the hard version of the caves on levels 31-39 from the upgraded ghosts”
5. Crystallarium focus - Start with diamonds for value, then transition to jade for staircases
6. Museum strategy - Donate one of each mineral, then sell or use extras
7. Fish pond preparation - Keep 3-5 of each geode mineral for potential fish pond requests
8. Junimo coloring - “Any mineral placed inside a junimo hut changes the color of the junimos it spawns”
9. Bomb efficiency - “A dozen bombs will net me a bunch of rocks. Plus it’s quick”
10. Jade recycling - “Trade jades for staircases at the Desert trader on Sundays. Deconstruct staircases into stones. 1 staircase -> 99 stones”

Stardew Valley Player Stories: Mineral Adventures

Alex’s Diamond Empire

Alex started with a single diamond in a crystallarium, placing it in his farmhouse. After receiving the second crystallarium from the Community Center, he focused solely on diamonds. By Year 3, his upgraded shed housed 67 crystallariums producing diamonds every five days. His weekly income of 50,250g from diamonds alone funded his late-game projects with minimal daily effort.

Maya’s Skull Cavern Strategy

Maya struggled with reaching level 100 in Skull Cavern until she discovered the jade-for-staircases trade. She placed 20 crystallariums producing jade, trading them every Sunday at the Desert Trader. With 60+ staircases per week and Ruby-traded Spicy Eels for luck and speed, she regularly reached level 150+, bringing home stacks of iridium and prismatic shards.

Raj’s Museum Completion Challenge

Raj set out to complete the museum collection as quickly as possible. Using the Stardew Predictor tool, he mapped his geode contents in advance. By strategically processing geodes in the right order, he completed the mineral collection by Fall Year 2, earning Gunther’s rewards much earlier than expected. His advice: “Don’t just crack geodes randomly-be strategic!”

Action Steps Recap & Further Resources

Start by keeping all Earth Crystals, Quartz, Fire Quartz, Rubies, Jade, Diamonds, and Prismatic Shards while donating one of each mineral to the museum; then build crystallariums for passive income focusing first on diamonds, then jade and ruby for trading.

Further Resources:

• Stardew Valley Wiki Minerals Page
• Stardew Predictor Tool
• Official 1.6 Update Notes
• Assistant for Stardew Valley App

Mineral System Patch History