v0.31:Magma-safe

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47 · v0.34 · v0.31.25 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

Magma-safe materials are materials which will not melt, burn or evaporate when in close contact with Template:L. Most frequently, this comes into play when using Template:Ls operated by Template:Ls.

In order to construct mechanisms from a magma-safe stone, simply ensure that they are the closest available stone to your Template:L, ideally by placing a restricted Template:L around your Template:L. Template:Ls can also be of assistance here, as dwarves will not attempt to pick up stone out side of their burrow assignments. However, if you have an active metalworking industry and have access to Template:L or Template:L, constructing Template:L mechanisms is much more straightforward.

When linking a trigger to an object, the first mechanism selected is attached to the object, and the second is attached to the trigger. Unless the trigger itself will be submerged in magma (as could be the case with a Template:L), only the first mechanism (attached to the object that will be submerged) need be magma-safe. If you do not have any magma-safe stones available, you can also work around floodgate-based flow control by using Template:Ls to pump the magma over Template:L-barriers, or using water to form Template:L to plug flows and channel through them to reopen them (necessity and invention and all that).

Constructions that resist magma are:

• Constructions (Template:L, Template:L, Template:L, and Template:L) of any material can never melt or burn - there is nothing wrong with a Template:Len magma reservoir. Natural (but not constructed) Template:L walls/floors/ramps/stairs may melt however.
• Template:Ls will allow the passage of Template:L, but not the assorted magma creatures. Fire snakes are vermin, so they can spawn anywhere near the magma. They are not affected by fortifications, grates, or even solid walls. Also, there is a bug with fluids which may sometimes let magma (and water) push living things through barriers such as fortifications, bars and grates. Template:Ls are a positive defense, but can change the dynamics of fluid Template:L.
• If not submerged (that is, not opened to let magma flow over/past/around them), Template:Ls, Template:Ls, and raised Template:Ls (provided that there is no magma on the space the bridge would occupy when lowered) of non-magma-safe stone or metal are safe. So long as they are just in contact with magma, only acting as a passive "wall", they are fine. If opened, they will melt.
  • Raised drawbridges have a notable exception, in that allowing magma to flow over the center of the area that the bridge would normally occupy when lowered will cause the bridge's components to heat up and potentially melt.
• A Template:L made with magma-safe metal pipes and screws and with magma-safe metal or stone blocks is fully magma-safe.
• A Template:L made with pipes and screws that are glass or any type of metal^[Verify], and blocks that are glass, or any type of metal^[Verify], is safe as long as no magma ever occupies the passable tile of the pump.
• Template:Ls made with Template:Len components will burst into flames the instant they are turned on.
• Template:Ls made with non-magma-safe stone blocks have been reported to melt after prolonged operation.

Glass

Template:L behaves oddly in regards to magma. All types of glass are technically magma safe, based on a melting point of 13600 (the same as that of bauxite); however, small glass objects (such as Template:Ls) seem to be instantly destroyed if dropped in magma^[Verify]. So glass Template:Ls, Template:Ls, and Template:Ls are all fine when submerged in magma.

Glass barriers still require magma-proof mechanisms to operate without deconstructing.

Game calculations

In the game, magma's temperature is exactly 12,000 °Template:L, which is equivalent to 2,032°F, or about 1,111°C.

The chance of striking a magma-safe stone is roughly around 32%, not including the natural abundance of certain stone. It is important to note whether or not your fortress may already have access to magma-safe resources before attempting to deliberately find some.

Magma-safe material

The following materials will not melt when submerged in magma. Although true for any item/construction, it's worth specifically mentioning that this includes Template:Ls, Template:Les, Template:Ls, Template:Ls, Template:Ls, and Template:Ls.

Type	Material	Appearance1	Melting Temperature °U (°F, °C)2	Found in	Uses / Notes
Stone	Template:L	` •	13,690°U (3722°F/2051°C)	All Template:L(L), Template:L(L)	White
Stone	Template:L	v •	12,610°U (2642°F/1450°C)	Template:L(S), Template:L(1), Template:L(1), Template:L(1)	White
Stone	Template:L	# •	12,160°U (2192°F/1200°C)	Template:L layer stone	Dark Grey
Stone	Template:L	+ •	13,600°U (3632°F/2000°C)	All Template:L(L)	Dark Red
Stone	Template:L	" •	12,902°U (2934°F/1613°C)	Template:L(S), Template:L(S)	White, Template:L stone
Stone	Template:L	= •	13,101°U (3133°F/1723°C)	Template:L layer stone	Brown
Stone	Template:L	= •	13,645°U (3677°F/2026°C)	Template:L(V)
Stone	Template:L	` •	16,507°U (6539°F/3619°C)	Template:L layer stone	Template:L
Stone	Template:L	¦ •	12,160°U (2192°F/1200°C)	Template:L layer stone
Stone	Template:L	. •	12,457°U (2489°F/1365°C)	Template:L(S)
Stone	Template:L	= •	13,150°U (3182°F/1751°C)	All Template:L(L)	Dark Red
Stone	Template:L	v •	12,295°U (2327°F/1275°C)	All Template:L(L), Template:L(L)
Stone	Template:L	¦ •	13,600°U (3632°F/2001°C)	Template:L layer stone	Dark Grey, value 3, can be "Template:L"
Stone	Template:L	% •	13,168°U (3200°F/1761°C)	Template:L(L)	green
Stone	Template:L	% •	12,250°U (2282°F/1250°C)	All Template:L(L), All Template:L(L)	yellow
Stone	Template:L	, •	15,040°U (5072°F/2803°C)	Template:L(S)
Stone	Template:L	% •	12,970°U (3002°F/1650°C)	All Template:L(S)	bright red
Stone	Template:L	* •	12,070°U (2102°F/1149°C)	Template:L(S)	purple
Stone	Template:L	- •	12,970°U (3002°F/1650°C)	Template:L layer stone
Stone	Template:L	` •	13,285°U (3214°F/1826°C)	All Template:L(S), Template:L(S)	purple
Stone	Template:L	# •	12,070°U (2102°F/1149°C)	Template:L layer stone
Stone	Template:L	| •	12,700°U (2732°F/1500°C)	Template:L(L)	White
Metal	Template:L	+ =	25,000°U (15,032°F/8333°C)		Highest value/utility material in game
Metal	Template:L	+ =	12,768°U (2800°F/1538°C)
Metal	Template:L	+ =	12,619°U (2651°F/1455°C)
Metal	Template:L	+ =	12,106°U (2138°F/1170°C)		used in steel making process
Metal	Template:L	+ =	13,182°U (3214°F/1768°C)		High value metal
Metal	Template:L	+ =	12,718°U (2750°F/1510°C)		Armor/weapons
Ore	Template:L	£ *	12,025°U (2057°F/1124°C)	Template:L(V)	Ore of Template:L
Ore	Template:L	£ *	12,005°U (2037°F/1113°C)	All Template:L(V), All Template:L(V), Template:L(V), Template:L(V)	Ore of Template:L and Template:L
Ore	Template:L3	£ *	12,736°U (2768°F/1520°C)	All Template:L(V), All Template:L(V)	Ore of Template:L3
Ore	Template:L3	~ *	12,768°U (2800°F/1538°C)	All Template:L(L)	Ore of Template:L3
Ore	Template:L	£ *	13,182°U (3214°F/1768°C)	Template:L(V)2, Template:L(V), Template:L(S)	Ore of Template:L
Ore	Template:L4	£ *	12,133°U (2165°F/1185°C)	All Template:L(V)	Ore of Template:L4
Wood	Template:L5	? ?	N/A	Template:L (depth 3)	Naturally cold5
Special	Template:L	£ *	25,000°U (15,032°F/8333°C)	The depths	Ore of Template:L
Leather	Template:L		15,000°U (5032°F/2780°C)
Leather	Template:L		55,000°U (45032°F/25,044°C)
Bone	Template:L		15,000°U (5032°F/2780°C)
Bone	Template:L		55,000°U (45032°F/25,044°C)
Glass	Green glass	= ¦	13,600°U (3632°F/2001°C)
Glass	Clear glass	= ¦	13,600°U (3632°F/2001°C)
Glass	Crystal glass	= ¦	13,600°U (3632°F/2001°C)

Notes:

1. Each stone is one of 16 Template:L in the game. Different un-mined stone of the same color have a different symbol to distinguish between them. Once mined, the individual stones themselves can sometimes look identical if the color is the same. Use k to look at items or the terrain for specific information.

2. °U = degrees in Urist, the measure of temperature within the Dwarf Fortress world. As far as is known, there is no functional difference between a material that melts at 12,005°U or 55,000°U - they are both equally "magma safe".

3. There are three iron ores in the game (four if you count Template:L). Of these, only Template:L and Template:L are magma safe.

4. Sphalerite has no melting point, but boils at 12,133°U - further research is necessary in this context - use at your own risk for the time being. This is accurate for the actual mineral, which sublimes at this temperature rather than having a liquid state, but how it behaves in Dwarf Fortress may be unclear.

5. Nether-cap logs are naturally cold at 10000°U or 0°C, so it isn't affected by magma's heat. Full magma-safety still has to be confirmed.

Magma FAQ
Practically everything Magma related
What can I use to make magma-proof items?
How do I channel magma?
Digging designation canceled: Warm stone located
Where can I find magma?
Can magma cremate dead dwarves instead of burying them?
Add a question to this FAQ
Back to the Main FAQ