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Editing v0.34:Stone layers

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{{Quality|Exceptional|18:30, 8 November 2010 (UTC)}}
 
 
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{{quality|Exceptional|18:30, 8 November 2010 (UTC)}}''(For layering armor, see [[Armor#Size, Permit, and layering armor|Armor:Size, Permit, and layering armor]])''
  
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There are four types of '''stone layers''' in Dwarf Fortress, very much based on real life geology. [[Stone]] layers are roughly homogeneous layers of rock that are composed of the same kind of stone, and usually contain different ores. Each stone layer has its distinct markers and qualities; sometimes a clear dividing line can be drawn between two [[biome]]s from the stone layers underneath, sometimes not. Digging deeper or digging into another local biome will reveal differences between contents and a progression from sedimentary down to igneous.
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These changes are usually quite sharp; fifteen layers may be mostly [[quartzite]], but the next thirty layers may be dominated by [[gabbro]]. Three dimensional variance is planned for the future, but for now, changes between stone layers also mark changes in [[ore]] and [[gem]] content.
 
  
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== Soil ==
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There are four types of '''stone layers''' in Dwarf Fortress. Each has different types of [[ore]] and [[gems]] available. Layers are extremely important in site selection because it determines what [[metal]]s there are to work with. Layers also help in determining where to begin [[exploratory mining]] depending on what is needed for the fortress.
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{{main|Soil}}
 
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Most maps have one or a few layers of [[soil]] at the very top, although this layer may be completely non-existent or ten or more layers deep as well. Note that on mountainous terrain, soil tends to accumulate near edges; thus you can have partial soil "layers" down the side of the mountain for quite a few z-levels.
 
  
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Soil is important for three reasons: it is easily [[farming|farmed]] (not requiring [[irrigation]] like stone does), it is easily [[miner|mined]] (taking less time than stone), and it does not leave any loose [[stone]] behind when mined. Soil layers can contain [[clay]] and [[sand]], if your biome has any, as well as a high chance of being an [[aquifer]], if your biome has one. Soil layers do not contain ores or gems. At least one layer of soil is necessary to easily establish farming. It is ''not'' recommended you establish your main fortress in soil, as it cannot be [[smoothing|smoothed]] or [[engraving|engraved]] to make it visually appealing/more valuable.
 
  
 
== Sedimentary ==
 
== Sedimentary ==
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{{main|Sedimentary layer}}
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{{main|Sedimentary layer|l1 = Sedimentary layer}}
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The [[sedimentary layer]] is the first stone layer that appears after any soil. It will include any [[lignite]] or [[bituminous coal]], if you are lucky enough to have some. [[Iron]] [[ore]] and all but one of the [[flux]]es is common here as well, making the sedimentary layer make-or-break for [[steel]] production. Note that this layer and the igneous extrusive are mutually exclusive, and will never be found in one place. Sedimentary layers are generally where the bulwark of the fortress will find itself, will contain most of the ores marked on the [[embark]] screen as "shallow metals", and is a good choice for [[exploratory mining]]. Note, however, that it is poor in [[gem]] content - those found in sedimentary layers are generally less valuable than those further down. Some types of sedimentary rock may contain an aquifer.
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Often includes [[bituminous coal|coal]], [[iron]] [[ore]], and all but one of the [[flux]] [[stone|stones]], all the components for making [[steel]]. Never found in the same [[biome]] as igneous extrusive. Full to the brim with valuable and useful deposits. Only place to find [[bituminous coal]] and [[lignite]], and [[iron]] [[ore]] in [[cluster|large clusters]] ([[magnetite]]). Good choice for [[exploratory mining]].
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== Metamorphic ==
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{{main|Metamorphic layer|l1 = Metamorphic layer}}
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Contains a small variety of ores, but tends to be rich in gems. Includes [[marble]], the only non-[[Sedimentary layer|sedimentary]] [[flux]]. If there are no [[flux]] [[sedimentary]] layers, metamorphic layers can be useful in the early stages, but the lack of weapon quality [[ore]] (besides [[copper]] and [[silver]]) make it a poor choice for full scale [[exploratory mining]] in the early game.
  
 
== Igneous extrusive ==
 
== Igneous extrusive ==
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{{main|Igneous extrusive layer}}
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{{main|Igneous extrusive layer|l1 = Igneous extrusive layer}}
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It is likely to include metal [[ore|ores]]. It also indicates a good chance of [[magma]] being present in some form or another above the [[magma sea]]. Never found in the same [[biome]] as sedimentary. Igneous extrusive layers can contain [[vein|veins]] of [[Hematite]], an ore of [[iron]].
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== Igneous intrusive ==
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{{main|Igneous intrusive layer|l1 = Igneous intrusive layer}}
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Like extrusive, also often contains [[magma]], but farther down typically.
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Often contains gold or copper ore.
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== Other layers ==
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=== Soil ===
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{{main|Soil|l1 = Soil}}
  
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In certain regions, igneous extrusive layers replace the sedimentary layers, but when present are not limited to the top-most layers and can appear anywhere except the bottom-most layer. Although being made of different rocks, they are similar to sedimentary layers, with the exception being that they often indicate the presence of [[magma]] above the [[magma sea]] itself. This is always the top-most layer near [[volcano]]es; the biggest stumbling block is that its presence means that the biome rarely contains any flux.
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When soil is present, it will always be the top layer or two, above any stone layers. Appears in brown on the embark menu. Useful for growing [[crops]] and storage, but provides no rock for building.  
  
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== Metamorphic ==
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=== Aquifer ===
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{{main|Metamorphic layer}}
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{{main|Aquifer|l1 = Aquifer}}
  
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Can appear at any level except the bottom-most layer or above any sedimentary layer. Contains a small variety of [[vein]] ores, moderately valuable gems, and possibly can be [[marble]], the one non-sedimentary flux stone. It does lack weapon-quality [[ore]]s (containing only [[copper]] and [[silver]]).
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An aquifer is not a separate layer, but overlaps one or more layers of stone or soil.  When viewing the layers on the embark menu, it is indicated by a line of blue tildes(~) next to the layer(s) involved. This layer of water-generating stone can be used as a water source, but also can be a potential barrier to all layers below it.  
  
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== Igneous intrusive ==
 
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{{main|Igneous intrusive layer}}
 
  
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Igneous intrusive layers can appear at any level except the top-most or above any sedimentary, and the deepest and often the thickest layer will always be igneous intrusive, just above the [[magma]] sea or [[semi-molten rock]]. Gems here are generally the most valuable, on average, with the most valuable of them all, colored diamonds, found in [[kimberlite]] in [[gabbro]] layers.
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'''See Also:''' [[Stone]]
  
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{{Category|Stone Layers|*}}
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{{Category|World}}
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{{Category|Stone Layers| }}

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