Caterium Ore

*Caterium Ore is smelted into Caterium Ingots. Caterium Ingots are mostly used for advanced electronics.*

### Blueprint path

`/Game/FactoryGame/Resource/RawResources/OreGold/Desc_OreGold.Desc_OreGold_C`

## Item

### Abbreviation

Cat

**Caterium Ore** is a semi-rare early-game ore found in the world. It is smelted into Caterium Ingots for further processing. It is analogous to real-life gold or silver.

## Obtaining

### Unlocking

****Caterium Ore**** is added to the Resource Scanner via the **Caterium Research chain** in the  MAM using:

Additionally, its resource scanner is unlocked in the Tier 6 milestone Expanded Power Infrastructure.

### Resource acquisition

Caterium Ore can be harvested by hand (default `E`) in trace amounts from resource deposits scattered across the world, or from inexhaustible resource nodes on which Miners can be constructed to extract automatically. Additionally, Lizard Doggos will occasionally bring it when tamed.

Items produced per minute
* 100% Clock Speed
* 250% Clock Speed

Number of Caterium Ore resource nodes is as follows:

\*Note: The extraction rate of a Miner Mk.3 at 250 % is 1,200/min, but a Mk.5 Conveyor can only carry 780/min, therefore the maximum mined amount cannot be transported.

### Extraction energy

It takes about 8.49  MJ to extract 1 Caterium Ore. *Further reading: Extraction energy*

## Usage

### Research

****Caterium Ore**** reveals the **Caterium Research chain** in the  MAM when picked up.

### AWESOME Sink

****Caterium Ore**** can be sunk into the  AWESOME Sink to yield **7 points**.
## Tips

* Caterium nodes are usually found on their own, rather than in proximity of other Caterium nodes, but are fairly evenly distributed around the world. This can make the usage of Alternate Recipes that introduce Caterium to a production line more practical than it may initially seem.
* Caterium is frequently found in locations that aren't immediately obvious, such as up cliffs, or behind rocky outcroppings. The usage of Radar Towers can help locate nodes such as these without the need to constantly scan for Caterium Ore.
* Certain Caterium Ore nodes are blocked by cracked boulders that need to be detonated with a Nobelisk or Explosive Rebar before a Miner can be placed on them. However, it is still possible to mine blocked nodes by hand, and Portable Miners can be placed between and around those boulders.

## Trivia

* Caterium is named after Caterina Parks, the CEO of FICSIT Inc.
* It very likely replaced gold before the game entered closed alpha, as gold was mentioned in a dev highlight but was never seen in-game.
	+ It is named OreGold internally, Caterium Ingots GoldIngot, which, in addition, used to have gold purity markings on them, until an Update 3 patch.
* Stockpiling ~500 Caterium Ore is highly recommended at the beginning of the game, which is enough to unlock Zipline, Blade Runners, and +6 Pocket Dimension for early exploration.

## Gallery

* A caterium node
* A caterium deposit
* A caterium node obstructed by Cracked boulders
* Unused menu icon introduced in Patch 0.3.4.7

## History

* Patch 0.3.4.9: Reverted to the old mesh as of 0.3.4.7, improved icon readability
* Patch 0.3.4.7: New mesh and icon introduced
* Patch 0.2.1.19: New mesh and icon introduced

## References

1. ↑ https://crowdin.com/translate/factorygame/80/en-xx#107122
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUW3pockA5Y&t=177