Block

Every world and biome in *Craft the World* consists of **blocks**, and almost every block is diggable.

## Block space

A block space is the base spatial unit that forms the total space of a world.
Smaller worlds have less block spaces, while larger worlds have more block spaces.
See the details at World size § Dimensions in block spaces.

Each block space has three possible layers:
one that varies depending if the block space if above or below the "sea level", plus the background and foreground layers, that is where background and foreground blocks may exist respectively.

### Above the sea level

Above the sea level, each block space has the following layers:

* the empty or the sky
* a backround layer
* a foreground layer.

### Below the sea level

Below the sea level, each block space has the following layers:

* an unremovable dark rock**\***
* a backround layer
* a foreground layer.

**\*** There are few exceptions on rare underground caves that have no unremovable rock.
Those spaces act like the sky, where dwarfs and creatures cannot climb.

## Manipulable blocks

Manipulable blocks, or simply blocks, are spatial items that dwarfs and monsters can interact with.
These blocks can be:

* dug, removed, destroyed, and/or placed by dwarfs
* destroyed and/or burned by monsters.

## Types of blocks by layer

Manipulable blocks are spatial in the sense that they can occupy either the foreground or the background layer in a block space.

### Background block

Background blocks do not prevent dwarfs and creatures from traversing them.

All dwarfs and a few types of creatures (like the giant spider) can use background blocks to climb.

Background blocks can be placed on any empty block space, including spaces in the sky, with no connection between them.

### Foreground block

Most foreground blocks act as barriers.

Foreground blocks can only exist or be placed in front of a background block.
Placing, for example, an earth item in an empty block space, will create a background block of earth.
Placing earth again on the same spot will create the foreground block of earth.

# Types of blocks by material

Each block, depending on its material, has specific behavior, hardness and dropped items or minerals.

## Earth

Earth blocks may contain minerals, following this behavior for naturally generated foreground and background blocks at the same spot:

**THE MOST TYPICAL**: Foreground and background blocks with no minerals at all.

**VERY USUAL**: Foreground block contains a mineral and background block contains nothing.

**REGULAR**: Foreground and background blocks both containing the same mineral.

**RARE**: Foreground and background blocks containing different minerals.

**IMPOSSIBLE**: Foreground block contains no minerals at all, while background block contains some mineral.

There are 5 kind of earth blocks available in the game:

* The Soft Earth:

40 Strength

This kind of block produces earth but they have also a chance to produce grain (5% chance).

* The Rocky Earth Light:

70 Strength

This kind of block produces earth but they have also a chance to produce sand (30% chance).

* The Rocky Earth:

250 Strength

This kind of block produces earth but they have also a chance to produce coal (25% chance) or Stone (15% chance).

* The Volcanic Earth:

610 Strength

This kind of block produces earth but they have also a chance to produce iron ore (25% chance).

* The Deep Volcanic Earth:

1070 Strength

This kind of block produces earth but they have also a chance to produce gold ore (3.5% chance) or mithril ore (3% chance)

## Sand

20 Strength

This kind of block produces sand, but be careful! If you remove any kind of block under a sand block, the sand will fall down and will block your passage.

## Stone

70 Strength
This kind of block produces stone.
This kind of block allows water to stay much longer than the other kind of blocks, so it's perfect if you want to create a fishing pond or water reservoir.

## Other Resources

Each of the following materials can be found on any block that has the related image (which can be found as overlay on any earth block), and adds a certain extra durability to the block making it take longer to mine.

 = Coal 30 Strength

 = Iron Ore 110 Strength

 = Silver Ore 190 Strength

 = Gold Ore 230 Strength

 = Mithril Ore 530 Strength

 = Red Crystal or Green Crystal or Blue Crystal or Purple Crystal or Dark Crystal 530 Strength

 = Leaves 30 Strength

 = Roots 30 Strength

## Water

Each world has a lake with water that can be used for fishing as well as the ocean on each side of the map.

Every time it rains the water level will raise a bit (except for the ocean), so be careful when you dig, since you may accidentally create small ponds that could be dangerous for dwarfs. In order to make the dwarfs swim without risks, you should use the Diving Helmet or have them learn the swimming skill.

## Lava

When you reach the deepest underground level, you will find a river of lava that runs the length of the map. This river is lethal so you should prevent the dwarfs from falling in.