seedlookoutOVERWORLD · SMALLER FEATURES
Fossil
Page updated
Buried skulls and spines made of bone blocks, with ore mixed in. Players dig them up for displays and bone meal, and the deeper ones can hold diamonds.
This guide follows vanilla Java 26.3. Historical changes retain their own edition and version. Bedrock generation and loot can differ. Screenshots and verified seeds below retain their own game versions.
28462718234064871 · Java 26.3 · overworldReference capture · Naturally generated fossil; surrounding terrain was excavated to expose the bones.Game data and source research
Where it generates in Java 26.3
Desert, Swamp and Mangrove Swamp include both fossil placement passes in Java 26.3. These are separate from the Nether fossil structure. [1][3][4]
Placement and frequency
The upper and lower passes each have a one-in-64 rarity filter. The upper pass samples from Y=0 toward the world top; the lower pass samples from the world bottom through Y=-8. These sampled origins do not directly specify the final fossil height. [1][2][4]
Conditions and limits
The fossil algorithm takes the lower of the sampled origin and the ocean-floor heights across the template footprint, moves another 15–24 blocks downward, and clamps the target to at least ten blocks above the world bottom. It rejects a template when more than four bounding-box corners are air, water or lava. [1][2][4]
Skulls and spines embedded in the ground
Overworld fossils use four skull shapes and four spine shapes, each paired with an ore-overlay template. They form bone-block remains embedded in terrain rather than a room or loot container. Their visible outline depends on which parts are exposed and which blocks survive processing. [5]
Representative saved bounds are 6 × 5 × 7 for skull_1 and 9 × 5 × 13 for spine_4. These include template air and do not promise that every block of the original shape survives. [5]
Excavate the whole outline
The coal and diamond feature configurations use the same base shapes. The diamond processor converts coal-ore overlay blocks into deepslate diamond ore, while block-rot processing removes many overlay candidates. A file named _coal can therefore participate in the diamond variant; it is not proof that a found fossil contains only coal. [5]
The audited templates contain no entities, chest or spawner. Bone and surviving ore blocks are the finds. Trace the buried outline if collecting the formation, while treating nearby caves as a separate source of danger. [5]
Loot and rewards in Java 26.3
The buried Overworld fossil is a placed bone formation with a separately processed ore overlay, not a chest-bearing dungeon. Collectible bone and surviving ore blocks follow their own block-breaking rules. [6][7]
The coal and diamond feature variants use the same base fossil shapes. The diamond processor converts coal-ore overlay candidates to deepslate diamond ore, while block-rot processing removes many candidates. A template filename ending in _coal is therefore not proof that the final fossil contains only coal. [6][7]
The bone-block loot table names a bone-block item and requires survives_explosion. Neither the original template dimensions nor its unprocessed palette establishes a fixed quantity of remaining bone, coal or diamonds in the generated formation. [6][7]
| Item | Where the rule applies | What the data establishes |
|---|---|---|
 Bone block | A surviving fossil bone block | A placed resource collected under block-breaking rules; no per-fossil chest probability. [6] |
Version history and release dates
These milestones retain their edition and exact build labels. Snapshot, beta and preview dates belong to those development builds; full releases and staggered Pocket platform releases are dated separately. Historical introduction claims come from the cited Wiki history. [8]
| Version | Released | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Java 1.10 | June 8, 2016 | Introduced fossils in snapshot 16w20a. [8][10] |
| Pocket 1.1.3 | July 6, 2017 | Added fossils to Pocket Edition. [8][11] |
| Java 1.16 | June 23, 2020 | Prevented fossils from overwriting desert pyramids and stronghold End portal rooms. [8][12] |
| Java 1.17 (21w10a) | March 10, 2021 | Experimentally added diamond overlays below Y=0 and fixed floating fossils, before those generation changes were reverted. [8][13] |
| Java 1.18 | November 30, 2021 | Restored deeper fossil generation and restricted diamond-bearing fossils to the deepslate region. [8][14] |
| Bedrock 1.18.10 | February 8, 2022 | Added diamond-ore overlays to fossils generating below Y=0. [8][15] |
SeedLookout in-game verification
Screenshots
28462718234064871 · Java 26.3 · overworldReference capture · Naturally generated fossil; surrounding terrain was excavated to expose the bones.Our screenshots of naturally generated structures in Minecraft. Each caption gives the seed, coordinates and version. Select one to open it at full size.
Seeds with this fossil
None of our verified seeds includes this structure yet. The guide cites game data, code analysis and other references; it does not verify a seed.
Sources
References identify the edition, version and evidence behind the guide. Game code and data describe generation rules; the seed table records locations checked in game. Research reviewed 2026-10-02.
- Mojang Java 26.3: feature configuration ↗
Inner archive META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar: data/minecraft/dimension_type/overworld.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_coal.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_diamonds.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/noise_settings/overworld.json
Evidence details
Official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c. SHA-256 by archive member: data/minecraft/dimension_type/overworld.json = d1fc489f93934f77d855e721bd822595aa1e44460342f0e5ce9de7e2dfc9e10e; data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_coal.json = e88c4c52b25847be5a80b7251e0a28e098559ddd82c68eb9dfd2e866c0ef0f6f; data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_diamonds.json = c711529888500044c3a2a1f69f55d8eda6118898e8c795533618f42592f42478; data/minecraft/worldgen/noise_settings/overworld.json = d093895d50edd79d53555b33b62d767115399764e32a4f9ae2687739f785d4b9
- Mojang Java 26.3: feature placement inputs ↗
Inner archive META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar: data/minecraft/worldgen/placed_feature/fossil_lower.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/placed_feature/fossil_upper.json
Evidence details
Official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c. SHA-256 by archive member: data/minecraft/worldgen/placed_feature/fossil_lower.json = bd0b190a07e40e97c8071609bb946f3af70d92af012d4bddafd081b9ed7d5bff; data/minecraft/worldgen/placed_feature/fossil_upper.json = 3d0017c7f3d60495331bf1a41c2cdb809343591b2732b7105c23f238aef0018f
- Mojang Java 26.3: biome feature lists ↗
Inner archive META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar: data/minecraft/worldgen/biome/desert.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/biome/mangrove_swamp.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/biome/swamp.json
Evidence details
Official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c. SHA-256 by archive member: data/minecraft/worldgen/biome/desert.json = f06ac77d35a883a6ad4470f4588a63a51b304e544f37a47e82cb7b1bdbd0d752; data/minecraft/worldgen/biome/mangrove_swamp.json = c78bb5b8bb3bd35e1ff494ae1191933fbe5ce03fa5578a3c53116251fa56add6; data/minecraft/worldgen/biome/swamp.json = 5fa92e5d6758895a806166342dbea7b50a5e4e31818224106b3bea1b840fbda1
- Mojang Java 26.3: feature execution and rejection checks ↗
Inner archive META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar: net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$AboveBottom.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$Absolute.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$BelowTop.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$RelativeToSeaLevel.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/feature/FossilFeature.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/heightproviders/UniformHeight.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/BiomeFilter.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/CountPlacement.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/FeaturePlacer.class; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/RarityFilter.class. Methods: FossilFeature.place / countEmptyCorners; FeaturePlacer.place; RarityFilter.shouldPlace; BiomeFilter.shouldPlace; UniformHeight.sample; VerticalAnchor.resolveY; CountPlacement.count
Evidence details
Official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c. Implementation inspected using CFR 0.152; reconstructed Java is not an original Mojang source publication. SHA-256 by archive member: net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$AboveBottom.class = 65e8d275fecd2bc76618395521925e51defa7db48cb4fa2c006118ff4a8471b3; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$Absolute.class = ae4092473cdf6800c40e38d887fa79d3c555212ab875cae87e66f323891fb733; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$BelowTop.class = 028e41d89c42f9d1b15aea47b6125dc6019e996b97d4dd9e31b399e5bba9907d; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor$RelativeToSeaLevel.class = dac20a9a8a5d24b1b6f0fc273bd619df71982745ea6dab06723f170afa6f63eb; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/VerticalAnchor.class = bd6f44d0714b54bfe084c570d169084e7794a66f8f8283f7f3abbc3d1ff44011; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/feature/FossilFeature.class = d23a8ff950f2aff4bd81633ac83b683d004a04ac7b81eccffaf6feee208d85ad; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/heightproviders/UniformHeight.class = 8f157810ef32e632ddf06276eb4874714079c9d8aec7bac11515321a4272570b; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/BiomeFilter.class = 9af5f023e371c8541e5a6086e5c01693735e39d10ee918adfea4761fc231e38a; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/CountPlacement.class = e2fa737411edc1547e7e9f29d108298fb87b6b03709a6b56fcfa9df1cd30d987; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/FeaturePlacer.class = 1d3e9c087bf63463503ba2fb55893053a3e0da6cd38fd3d6302afb02d9be437f; net/minecraft/world/level/levelgen/placement/RarityFilter.class = 816b014fad3a867c2fe487ccb417dc2e347dc8bcba773b4413fc843985dbecc6
- Mojang Java 26.3: fossil templates and data ↗
data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_coal.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_diamonds.json; data/minecraft/structure/fossil/**/*.nbt; data/minecraft/worldgen/processor_list/fossil_coal.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/processor_list/fossil_diamonds.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/processor_list/fossil_rot.json
Evidence details
Official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c; inner META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar SHA-256 a362163eec5d1612d520772bc16e5b39c09e3b234fdc045f56bf544284ee8ae6. NBT dimensions are unrotated saved template bounds (X × Y × Z), including air and connectors, not usable interior dimensions.
- Mojang Java 26.3: fossil loot data ↗
Inner META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar: data/minecraft/loot_table/blocks/bone_block.json
Evidence details
Verified official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c. File SHA-256s: bone_block.json: c2074bdfed77cf70593533b0454ece9ea139e0b0e98d1a572949f34d3ba6935a. Table identity and conditional item rules are distinct from any particular generated container.
- Mojang Java 26.3: fossil templates and data ↗
data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_coal.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/feature/fossil_diamonds.json; data/minecraft/structure/fossil/**/*.nbt; data/minecraft/worldgen/processor_list/fossil_coal.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/processor_list/fossil_diamonds.json; data/minecraft/worldgen/processor_list/fossil_rot.json
Evidence details
Official server SHA-1 33680f5f2ac32864d6d7cf5e56a705fdb3e05f4c; inner META-INF/versions/26.3/server-26.3.jar SHA-256 a362163eec5d1612d520772bc16e5b39c09e3b234fdc045f56bf544284ee8ae6. NBT dimensions are unrotated saved template bounds (X × Y × Z), including air and connectors, not usable interior dimensions.
- Minecraft Wiki: Fossil — pinned history ↗
History section, retaining edition, release grouping, development-version and experimental-toggle qualifiers.
Evidence details
Pinned article revision 3787527 from 2026-09-21T15:07:38Z. Historical claims only; not an audited game build or release-date source.
- Minecraft Wiki: Fossil description ↗
Opening description and History
Evidence details
Pinned article revision 3787527; retrieved October 1, 2026. Article history supports historical introductions; current generation and loot are audited separately from game data.
- Java 1.10: release date ↗
/id; /releaseTime
Evidence details
Release metadata establishes its date, not feature introduction. Original Wiki history must support introduction separately.
- Pocket 1.1.3: release date ↗
Version infobox release date
Evidence details
Historical date from the pinned Minecraft Wiki version article; introduction is separately attributed to each structure article history.
- Java 1.16: release date ↗
/id; /releaseTime
Evidence details
Release metadata establishes its date, not feature introduction. Original Wiki history must support introduction separately.
- Java 1.17 (21w10a): release date ↗
/id; /releaseTime
Evidence details
Date belongs to the exact 21w10a build. Snapshot and prerelease dates are separate from the later full release; metadata does not prove the feature introduction.
- Java 1.18: release date ↗
/id; /releaseTime
Evidence details
Date belongs to the exact 1.18 build. Snapshot and prerelease dates are separate from the later full release; metadata does not prove the feature introduction.
- Bedrock 1.18.10: release date ↗
Version infobox release date
Evidence details
Pinned community version article date; snapshots, betas and previews have their own release dates, separately from the full version.
Item art uses vanilla Java 26.3 assets from the official client release. Icons retain their game version alongside the guide.
Descriptions adapted from the Minecraft Wiki retain its attribution under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Calculations and code analysis are SeedLookout research. Screenshot captions identify each capture. The seed table contains our published verified seeds; checking a location does not establish particular room contents or chest loot.