Simple Ore Detector
by Wikos
Simple Ore Detector lets a player with a tiered set of detector tools locate valuable ores within a set radius, rather than digging blindly through stone.
What it does
Players craft a set of detector tools that scan for ores in a tiered range. The available radii are 4, 8, 12 and 14 blocks, so a higher tier reaches further beyond the face of a clicked block. A detector wand covers ores beyond that clicked face and depends on the tier of the tools in use.
The mod checks each block against the ores tag, so any ore added by other mods that uses that tag can be found too. A Prospector Block Scan reads one chunk and produces a report listing the ores it contains. Players who prospect a chunk before digging know what to dig for.
Simple Ore Detector is released under the MIT License and is not open source. Fabric API is required on Fabric, and the mod is published for Fabric and NeoForge across seven game versions, 1.21.1 – 1.21.8, with 1.2 for 1.21.1 as the latest Fabric file and 1.1-1.21.6 for 1.21.8 as the latest NeoForge file. It runs on client and server.
Key features
Tiered detector tools
A set of tools in tiers, each with a larger scan radius, so players can pick the reach they need.
Four scan ranges
Scan radii of 4, 8, 12 and 14 blocks separate the tiers and set how far a single scan reaches.
Detector wand
A wand detects ores beyond the face of the block the player clicks, with the range set by its tier.
Ores tag matching
Blocks are matched against the ores tag, so ores from other mods that use the tag are detected as well.
Chunk prospector report
The Prospector Block Scan writes a report of the ores found in a chunk, so players can plan a dig before starting it.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Finding ores before digging
Players who would otherwise dig aimlessly through stone can scan an area first and dig only where the detector reports ore.
Who it’s for: Players who dig through modded worlds with many ore types, and server owners who want ore discovery without changing the world generation.
How it compares
Em's Metal Detectors is a Fabric mod for 1.21 – 1.21.7, released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license and not open source. Balanced Ore Detector is open source under the MIT License, runs on both Fabric and NeoForge, and covers 1.20.2 – 26.2, so it reaches a wider version span.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Ore Detector | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21.1 – 1.21.8 | Client and server | 2025-08-09 |
| Em's Metal Detectors | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.7 | Client and server | 2025-08-08 |
| Balanced Ore Detector | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.20.2 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-08-03 |
Questions
Does Simple Ore Detector need Fabric API?
Does the server need the mod?
Which loaders and versions are available?
In the catalog
Simple Ore Detector is one of 17,631 Equipment mods on ModsFinder, and one of 8,894 Equipment mods for Fabric. 17,695 mods support Minecraft 1.21.8.
More from Wikos
Similar mods
What the author says
Tired of digging aimlessly? The Simple Ore Detector mod introduces a tiered set of tools designed to help you locate valuable ores. Prospector Block Scan the chunk and create a report containing the info about the ores in the chunk.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/simple-ore-detector
- Owner
- Wikos
- Published
- 2025-07-26
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-08-09
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15