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Balanced Ore Detector project artwork

CurseForge · Minecraft mod

Balanced Ore Detector

Fully configurable Ore Detectors that do not break the balance of the game, and still make prospecting a challenge, without forcing you to hollow out the entire world.

Choose a version Pick your version below, then grab the matching file.

Quick answer

Which Balanced Ore Detector release should I use?

Updated 2 days ago
Latest stable file oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar
Game version 26.2
Loader Fabric

Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar targets 26.2 with Fabric. The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both. 1 required mod needs a matching file.

Where it goes

Is Balanced Ore Detector required on the client, server, or both?

The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.

Client Source doesn’t say
Dedicated server Source doesn’t say
Loader for this release Fabric
Required install it here Optional supported, not mandatory Not supported do not install here Source doesn’t say do not assume

The source does not explicitly classify this release as client-only or server-only.

What else does Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar need?

oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar. Change the file and its required mods may change too.

1 required mod needs a matching file

Install Fabric API, Cloth API (Fabric), Cloth Config API first, but 1 required mod has no matching file for this setup. Do not mix loader builds to force a match. 2 come through another mod in the chain.

5 listed on this file 2 pulled in by those mods
Mod Menu Optional for Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar
optional
Matching file found Matched file: v20.0.1 for 26.2
Fabric API Needed by Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar
required
Matching file found Matched file: [26.2] Fabric API 0.156.0+26.2
Cloth API (Fabric) Needed by Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar
required
No matching file
Mod Menu Optional for Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar
optional
Matching file found Matched file: 20.0.1
Cloth Config API Needed by Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar
required
Matching file found Matched file: 26.2.155+fabric
Text Placeholder API Needed by Mod Menu
pulled in
Matching file found Matched file: placeholder-api-3.1.0-beta.1+26.2.jar
Text Placeholder API Needed by Mod Menu
pulled in
Matching file found Matched file: 3.1.0-beta.1+26.2

2 extra mods were pulled in by other dependencies. Indented rows show who needs each one. We only count dependency files that match this setup. A file for another loader does not fill the gap.

Before you install it

Add Balanced Ore Detector without breaking your instance.

Built for Balanced Ore Detector oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar. Pick another file and the loader, install side or required mods may change.

  1. 01

    Stick to this file

    Use oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar. It targets 26.2 with Fabric; another release may have different loader, side or dependency requirements.

  2. 02

    Bring the mods it needs

    Install Fabric API, Cloth API (Fabric), Cloth Config API first, but 1 required mod has no matching file for this setup. Do not mix loader builds to force a match. 2 come through another mod in the chain.

  3. 03

    Put it on the correct side

    The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.

  4. 04

    Pick the file you checked

    Use the “Get this file” button beside oredetector-1.4.2+fabric+mc26.2.jar. It opens that exact file at the source.

About this project

What does Balanced Ore Detector add?

Balanced Ore Detector (Fabric and NeoForge)

Old Minecraft worlds look like swiss cheese. The underground, especially around level 10, is hollow and ugly.
I have never liked it, and I decided to design various detectors to find ores without hollowing out the entire world.
These ore detectors do not print out the type and coordinates of the found ores, and they do not scan the entire world.
That would be cheating.
But they do help finding ores a little faster than mining.

They all operate by echo location. When they are used on a solid surface, they emit three loud bangs, which get reflected from certain blocks. Each detector emits different sounds which get reflected differently. The volume of the echo, and the time till it returns, depend on the distance of the block. The pitch and the particles that may appear help to identify the block.

There are two variants of each detector: basic and focused. The focused ones use a narrower beam, therefore they are better for deceting ores, but they are more expensive.

The Void Detector emits a sound that is reflected from non-solid blocks, like air, water, lava and some other partly transparent blocks.

Crafting a Void Detector Crafting a Focused Void Detector

The Coal Detector emits a sound that is reflected best from coal, copper, iron and quartz ores and from a few other things that are made of these materials.

Crafting a Coal Detector Crafting a Focused Coal Detector

The Iron Detector does not detect coal, but, in addition to copper, iron and quartz, it detects gold, redstone and lapis.

Crafting an Iron Detector Crafting a Focused Iron Detector

The Gold Detector is the most universal. It detects iron, gold, redstone, lapis, diamonds and emeralds, but unfortunately it is insensitive to coal and copper.

Crafting a Gold Detector Crafting a Focused Gold Detector

And the Diamond Detector is the best to find the most precious ores, diamonds, emeralds and ancient debris in the nether.

Crafting a Diamond Detector Crafting a Focused Diamond Detector

All detectors have long, but limited usability.

Screenshot

Every major feature of the mod is configurable in the Mod Menu.

Screenshot

Requires (Fabric)

Compatibility

Tech Reborn

Since 1.1.0

  • the Coal Detector detects galena, tin, lead, ruby and sapphire,
  • the Iron Detector detects galena, tin, lead, ruby, sapphire, silver and bauxite,
  • the Gold Detector detects silver and iridium,
  • and the Diamond Detector detects iridium, pyrite, cinnabar, sphalerite, tungsten, sheldonite, peridot and sodalite.

Applied energistics 2

Since 1.1.0

  • Coal and Iron Detectors detect certus quartz too.

License

Standard MIT license. Feel free to learn from it and incorporate it in your own projects.

Source code

Available on GitLab or on GitHub.
The source code has lots of comments to help learning Minecraft modding.

Thanks

Thanks to Kaupenjoe for his excellent Modding By Kaupenjoe: Minecraft Modding 1.20.X for Fabric course.

See also

My other mods on Modrinth and on CurseForge.

Project description from CurseForge.

Pick your setup

Balanced Ore Detector by Minecraft version and loader

Choose the version and loader you play, then open the matching release.

30 available setups

Showing the newest 12 of 20 game versions. Older files are in the list below.

Check the dependencies, then try the file in a copied instance before changing a world you care about.

Recent files

Balanced Ore Detector versions and loaders

48 of 48 releases match

Looking for an older file? The official CurseForge project page is in Resources.