Iron Ore

Rough iron-bearing rock extracted from the mineral deposits of Rocky Ridges, Iron Ore is the raw form of Pokopia's most practically important metal. It must be smelted into Iron Ingot before it can be used in any recipe, which means building a smelting workflow is an early priority for players who want to reach mid-game construction. Iron Ore itself has no direct crafting use — its value is entirely in what it becomes — but in sufficient quantity it represents a significant upcoming capability.

Rocky Ridges' boulder clearing via Rock Smash is the primary source of Iron Ore, and players who work systematically through the biome tend to accumulate it faster than they can smelt it. Stockpiling Iron Ore early is one of the habits that experienced players develop: the material sits in storage without degrading, and having a large reserve ready to process means construction is never blocked by a smelting deficit.