Build With It: Quartz

Welcome to our brand new series called Build With It! Every week we’ll be recommending a brilliant block to build with, showcasing some of the best community builds that have been crafted with it and offering tips and suggestions for how you can use that block in your builds. 

Most importantly of all, we want YOUR builds. Keep reading to see how you can submit them to us and get them featured on Minecraft.net!

We’re kicking things off with quartz. We’ve talked about this before in our Block of the Week series. Can you blame us? It’s beautiful, bright, and versatile. You’ve likely seen it in some of your favorite community builds. Here it is in some of our favorites!

You’ve probably used quartz yourself because while abundant, it definitely doesn’t look cheap! 

Saying that, just because there’s a lot of it, doesn’t mean it’s easy to get. Blocks of quartz are created from four Nether quartz (or as we like to call it, just ‘quartz’), a smooth, white mineral found in the Nether. Nether quartz ore can be mined using any pickaxe. If Nether quartz ore is mined without a pickaxe, it will drop nothing, so we don’t recommend that. If a trip to the Nether isn’t on your agenda right now, you can also find a stone mason villager and see if they will sell you some blocks of quartz. Don’t forget to bring those emeralds!

 Quartz is an unusual block in that you can only use it for decoration. In fact, all the things you can make with quartz are just used for decoration: the chiseled quartz block, two types of quartz stairs, quartz pillars, and smooth quartz.

But what’s wrong with that? Decoration is great! Why not craft an outdoor pool to hang out in? Or fill your garden with elegant statues? You could even construct a pretty fountain and benches for your visitors, so they have somewhere to sit comfortably (wait… is sitting on quartz comfortable?) and admire your quartz builds. The most glamorous building block in Minecraft? Quite possibly...

But what about some everyday uses? Bring your quartz back inside by taking a bit of real-world inspiration. Lots of real-life kitchen counters and bathrooms incorporate quartz in their designs. Get fancy! Or you could find yourself aiming even higher. Why not take those pretty quartz pillars and craft a temple? Next thing you know, you’ll be making houses like this!

Of course, what new Community Page column would be complete without you? We’re looking forward to showing off your new creations with not just quartz but also some of our upcoming December building materials like spruce wood, acacia, cobblestone, and terracotta! Have you built anything impressive that uses these? Large or small, we want to see them all! 

Just email us at FeatureMe@minecraft.net with screenshots of your build, what it is, and how you built it. They have to be your creations (but if you have a friend whose build you think would be perfect, encourage them to email it to us). Next week we're talking about terracotta so send us your terracotta builds for a chance to be featured in the article. Built something lovely that doesn't use terracotta? Send that instead! We’re looking for all skill levels, so don’t be shy about showing off what you’ve crafted. You may just see your build on minecraft.net in an upcoming article.