ARK Resource Locations Guide (ASA)
Find key resources like metal, crystal, obsidian, and oil across ASA maps. Use the map tabs below and the coordinates/landmarks to plan efficient farm routes.
On this page
Pro Farming Tip
About Coordinates in ASA
Choose a map
The Island
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Community guides commonly use these landmarks as safe base anchors with quick access to early metal routes:
- Hidden Lake (70, 40): Central hub near mountain metal runs
- Herbivore Island (85, 85): Safe shoreline base with nearby metal
- Redwood Plateau (50, 50): Central travel routes and river access
- Western Coast (15, 65): Easy water access and early resource loops
- Footpaw (40, 80): Beginner-friendly beaches and short metal trips
Coordinates are approximate; use interactive maps to pin exact nodes.
Metal is found throughout The Island, with highest concentrations in mountainous regions.
⭐ Best Location
Volcano (42.0, 38.8)
Massive amounts of Rich Metal nodes. Ideal for industrial-scale farming.
❄️ Alternative
Northwest Snow Biome (25.2, 27.3)
High metal density but extreme cold. Bring fur armor!
Other Notable Locations:
- Herbivore Island (84.7, 85.5): Safe farming spot with decent metal
- Crystal Hill (76.8, 47.3): Metal with small amounts of crystal
- Redwood Mountain (56.5, 48.0): Good amounts at mountain top
- Southern Coast (80.8, 63.7): Small amounts, beginner-friendly
Crystal is primarily found in caves and mountain peaks across The Island.
🏔️ Prime Locations
- Central Volcano (42, 39): Massive crystal deposits in crater
- Northern Snow Biome (15, 15): Largest deposits but very dangerous
- Northwest Coast (10, 40): Good amounts near frozen waterfalls
Cave Locations with Crystal:
- Lower South Cave (68, 56): Easy cave with crystal clusters
- Central Cave (41, 47): Moderate difficulty, good crystal yield
- Upper South Cave (70, 86): Challenging but crystal-rich
Obsidian spawns on mountain peaks and in several caves on The Island. It is rarer than metal but not limited to the highest peaks.
Obsidian Farming Locations:
- Whitesky Peak (35, 55): Second-best location, slightly safer
- Frozen Tooth (35, 15): Good amounts but extreme cold
- Far's Peak (55, 45): Small amounts, easier access
- Blue Obelisk Mountain (29, 25): Limited but accessible
The Center
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Community anchors that keep you near metal and safe shoreline routes:
- Floating Island (50, 10): High ground with nearby metal veins
- Center Lake (50, 50): Central travel hub with water access
- Skull Island (70, 40): Remote island with safer building space
- Underworld Entrance (40, 40): Access point to rich underground routes
- Arctic Peninsula (20, 20): Northern metal routes with fewer predators
Coordinates are approximate; verify with interactive maps before building.
🌋 Ultimate Metal Farm
Lava Island metal band (≈ 12–16 lat, 48–52 lon)
Farm the lava puddles; rich metal surrounds them. Sample pins players use: ~14.5, 48.4 and ~10.5, 58.2.
⚠️ Extreme heat - bring Desert/Ghillie armor and plenty of water. Note: ASA mini‑map vs GPS can differ slightly here.
Other Excellent Locations:
- Snowy Mountains (55, 20): Closest to spawn, good for early game
- Center Island: Scattered throughout, especially near cliffs
- Floating Island (37, 32): Decent metal with crystal bonus
- Underground World: Hidden metal veins in cave systems
Top Crystal Spots:
- Floating Island (37.2, 31.5): Best early‑game crystal location
- Lava Island: Ground‑level crystal, easy pickings
- Cliffside Cavern (Ice Palace): Massive crystal formations
- Underworld: Crystal caverns with high yield
💀 Best Obsidian Farm
Skull Island (65, 69)
Small island packed with obsidian. Watch for aggressive creatures!
Note: The Center has more obsidian nodes than The Island, making it easier to farm polymer materials.
Aberration
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Zone & Hazard Notes
- Surface runs are safest at night; daylight is lethal without protection.
- Radiation and spore zones require hazard gear before harvesting.
- Harvestable plants provide organic polymer; black clams yield black pearls.
Popular community anchors that keep you close to early metal while avoiding the deepest hazards:
- Portal (45, 30): Early spawn hub with quick access to Green Zone resources
- Mushroom Forest (40, 48): Safer mid-map zone with water access
- Lake (42, 46): Central water and travel routes
- Edge of Radiation (51, 75): Staging point before deeper zones
- Blue Zone Waterfall (44, 31): High reward area with nearby metal
Coordinates are approximate; confirm with interactive maps and your server settings.
Zone Distribution:
- Green Zone: River rocks only (limited metal)
- Blue Zone: Abundant craggy rocks with metal
- Purple Zone: Highest concentration but dangerous
- Surface: Rich metal during nighttime only
Aberration features unique gems alongside regular crystal:
Green Gems
Green Zone edges
Blue Gems
Blue Zone (38.5, 56.5)
Red Gems
Deep Purple Zone
Regular crystal is found throughout all zones. Harvesting gems also yields crystal!
Obsidian in Aberration appears as shiny black rocks throughout most zones.
- Found everywhere except Mushroom Forest interior
- Available on Mushroom Forest outskirts
- Most abundant in Blue and Purple zones
- Surface has high concentrations during night
Scorched Earth
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Water & Weather Mechanics
- Water is scarce-plan around cactus sap, water wells, Jugbugs, or a water-carrying Morellatops.
- Sandstorms cut visibility and slow movement; electrical storms can disrupt electronics.
- Superheat drains water fast, so bring backup canteens on farm routes.
Common community anchors that balance water access with early metal routes:
- Green Obelisk (25, 25): Reliable early spawn with nearby routes
- Central Oasis (40, 45): Water hub for mid-map travel
- Mountain Plateau (80, 45): High ground and metal access
- Western Highlands (20, 60): Safer early loops and water access
- Southern Canyons (70, 70): Canyon farms with nearby metal
Coordinates are approximate; verify with interactive maps before building.
Metal is abundant in Scorched Earth's canyons and mountains.
- Canyon Areas: Scattered throughout canyon walls
- Mountain Peaks: High concentrations on mountaintops
- Desert Edges: Near rock formations
- Oasis Surroundings: Moderate amounts near water sources
Unique Resources:
- Crystal: Mountain peaks and caves
- Salt (Raw/Preserving): Salt flats and dried lake beds
- Sulfur: Near volcanic zones and yellow rock deposits
- Silk: From Joshua trees, purple/white flowers, or Lymantria
- Sand & Clay: Abundant desert sand; clay crafted from sand + cactus sap
- Propellant: Crafted from sulfur + cactus sap (plan extra harvest runs)
Extinction
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
OSDs & Element Nodes
Orbital Supply Drops and Element Nodes are wave-defense events that reward resources and element. Bring turret coverage or strong mounts before you commit.
Meteor showers can hit the Wasteland-avoid parking tames in open areas during storms.
Community picks that balance city safety with access to nodes and domes:
- City Wall (62.0, 48.0): Perimeter build with access to Sanctuary routes
- Skyscraper Ledge (48.7, 68.0): Elevated city platform with clear sightlines
- Palm Platform (47.0, 35.0): Central Sanctuary platform near utilities
- Wasteland Platform (63.0, 16.7): Staging point for corrupted node runs
- Flat Snow Mountain (31.1, 82.0): Snow dome plateau with rich metal
Coordinates are approximate; confirm with interactive maps and your server settings.
Extinction features both traditional and futuristic resources.
- City (Sanctuary): Lamp posts contain metal and element dust
- Wasteland: Corrupted nodes throughout
- Desert Dome: Traditional metal nodes
- Snow Dome: Rich metal deposits in mountains
- Sunken Forest: Scattered metal and rare resources
Extinction-Exclusive:
- Element Dust: From lamp posts, benches, tables in city
- Corrupted Nodules: From corrupted creatures
- Blue/Red Crystalized Sap: From crystallized trees
- Silicate: Desert dome rocks
Ragnarok
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Common community anchors with defensible terrain and metal routes:
- Waterfalls (28, 49): Cliffside chokepoints with nearby resources
- Castle on the Bridge (43.5, 86.5): Elevated base space over a canyon
- Safe Haven Island (58, 20): Isolated island with water access
- Ruins on the Lake (27.7, 28.9): Lakefront ruins with multiple exits
- Canyon (39, 45.5): Narrow corridors with quick resource loops
Coordinates are approximate; confirm with interactive maps and your server settings.
Ragnarok offers plentiful metal deposits throughout the map.
- Viking Bay Mountains: Massive metal deposits
- Volcano: Rich metal nodes around and inside
- Murder Snow: High-yield metal in dangerous area
- Scotland Mountains: Abundant metal with moderate danger
- Desert Canyons: Good metal yields in canyon walls
Premium Locations:
- Ice Cave: Massive crystal formations
- Volcano Peak: Obsidian in abundance
- Murder Snow Mountains: Both crystal and obsidian
- Desert Caves: Crystal clusters throughout
ASA Notes
Ragnarok ASA launched June 20, 2025 and includes reworked areas and a new boss (Nunatak). Use the interactive maps below for current node placement.
Early Metal Callouts
- Viking Bay cliff faces and nearby hills
- Highlands ridges and the volcano foothills
Ragnarok Unique Features:
- Ice Wyvern Eggs: Murder Snow ice cave
- Black Pearls: Deep ocean trenches and Eurypterid
- Cactus Sap: Desert biome cacti
- Plant Species X Seeds: Swamp areas
Valguero
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Valguero Ascended is live
Community anchors that balance safety with access to metal and caves:
- The Lair Cave (73.1, 40.6): Defensible cave with nearby metal
- Oil Cave (49.1, 19.5): High-value cave with nearby oil routes
- Highlands Ridge (51.6, 38.0): Open ridge with quick access to metal
- Chalk Hills (57.7, 34.7): Safer mid-map valley with water access
- Northern Coast (83.6, 80.8): Quiet shoreline with easy travel lanes
Coordinates are approximate; confirm with interactive maps and your server settings.
Valguero’s ASA remaster spans more than 60 km² across layered biomes, so prep for drastic climate shifts before committing to long farm routes.
- White Cliffs (Chalk Hills): Cliffside Deinonychus nests and premium drop routes.
- Aberration Trench: Irradiated caverns with gems and gas veins-hazmat gear is mandatory.
- Ancient Redwoods: Cave mouths guard artifact routes.
- Frozen North: Harsh cold and dangerous patrols-demand fur armor and cooked stews.
Pair glider suits or zip-lines with an Argentavis hauler so you can extract loot without leaving pack dinos in trench hazards.
| Spot | Target Resource | Lat | Lon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Cave | Crystal, obsidian clusters | 10.6 | 33.1 |
| Metal & Crystal Cavern | Rich metal, crystal | 79.2 | 50.3 |
| Oil Cave | Oil rocks, black pearls | 85.0 | 59.8 |
| Beaver Dam Cave | Silica pearls, paste | 58.9 | 44.1 |
| White Cliff Drop #1 | High-tier supply drop | 54.3 | 35.4 |
| Red Drop Canyon | Mastercraft/Ascendant drops | 41.8 | 62.5 |
Use these as starting points and verify with the interactive maps below (node spawns can vary by server settings).
- Megaraptor: ASA-exclusive creature for Valguero.
- Elderclaw: ASA-exclusive creature tied to the Valguero release.
- Grendel Encounter: Valguero includes the Grendel boss encounter in ASA.
Prep hazard gear plus cannons or rockets before fighting these events so you can harvest their tribute drops efficiently.
Astraeos
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Premium DLC Map ($14.99)
Community anchors shared for safe builds and quick resource loops:
- Cherry Blossom Lake (46.2, 10.3): Calm shoreline with nearby metal
- Clifftop Houses (48.4, 9.6): Elevated build space with clear sightlines
- Abandoned Farm (60.2, 15.7): Flat terrain with quick resource routes
- Private Beach (69.0, 21.2): Low-traffic coastline for quiet builds
- Idyllic Island (48.5, 38.0): Isolated island with water access
Coordinates are approximate; confirm with interactive maps and your server settings.
Astraeos features abundant metal across its diverse biomes.
- Mountain Regions: Appalachian-inspired peaks with rich deposits
- Marble Cliffs: Mediterranean coastal areas with metal veins
- Volcano Island: Dangerous but resource-rich area
- Lemnokis Valleys: Deep valleys with scattered metal nodes
- Abyssal Zones: Underwater metal in resource-rich depths
Crystal formations are found throughout Astraeos's mythical landscape.
- Cherry Blossom Zones: Serene areas with crystal clusters
- Glacier Cave (Lemnokis): Ice-rimmed cave with crystal deposits
- Build-Friendly Caverns: Network of caves with resources
- Temperate Redwoods: Crystal nodes in forest clearings
Obsidian Locations:
- Volcano Island: Traditional volcanic obsidian deposits
- Mountain Peaks: High-altitude obsidian nodes
- Underwater Deposits: Unique underwater obsidian farming spots
- The Maelstrom: Storm-tossed ocean landmark with rare resources
Astraeos Highlights:
- Teleportation Network: Fast travel between spawn areas via the map radial
- Unique bosses & creatures: Astraeos has its own boss roster and map-specific creatures
- Silica Pearls: Abundant in coastal and underwater areas
📍 Interactive Resource Maps
For precise resource locations with visual markers:
Lost Colony
Coordinate tip: Community sources switch between mini-map and GPS/waypoint modes. Match the coordinate mode, then verify with landmarks.
Paid Canonical DLC ($29.99)
Community picks that balance safety with access to water, metal, and caves:
- Hot Springs (83.9, 6.6): Warm region with nearby water
- Snow Cave (85.2, 76.6): Defensible cave with rich nodes
- Glowing Gem Cave (17.5, 12.9): Early gem access with safer approaches
- Gothic Viewpoint (73.3, 33.5): Elevated build space near routes
- Lakeside (69.6, 4.2): Flat shoreline with easy travel lanes
Coordinates are approximate; confirm with interactive maps and your server settings.
Most survivors choose the northwest or south tundra spawns for early safety, then migrate toward the central valleys once they have fur armor.
Recommended early spawns
- Northwest Tundra: Upper-left shoreline with early metal nearby (3.8, 14.7).
- South Tundra: Lower-left shoreline with river access and pearls (11.5, 8.3).
Starter resource circuit
- Metal: 3.8, 14.7 and 3.4, 5.7.
- Crystal: 3.6, 5.5 (pink crystals).
- Pearls: 11.5, 8.3 under the waterfall.
Tip: Keep a sleeping bag chain between your spawn and the first metal run to avoid long corpse runs.
Mountain ridges and tundra shelves supply the bulk of metal and crystal.
- Best mixed ridge: 47.0, 76.0 (metal, crystal, obsidian in one run).
- Northwest Tundra metal: 3.8, 14.7 and 3.4, 5.7.
- South river metal: 96.7, 4.6 along the lower river shelf.
- Crystal clusters: 96.1, 9.3 and pink crystals at 3.6, 5.5.
Ankylosaurus + Argentavis remains the safest haul combo for Lost Colony’s long runs.
- Oil cave entrance: 68.1, 47.6 (underwater tunnel with multiple oil nodes).
- Sulfur + obsidian ridge: 89.7, 4.3 and 94.8, 7.8.
- Highland sulfur pocket: 97.2, 60.3 near the upper cliffs.
- Obsidian backup: 47.0, 76.0 mountain ridge.
- Silica pearls: 95.4, 5.3 and 94.9, 2.3 along the south river delta.
- Waterfall pearls: 11.5, 8.3 and 67.1, 64.2.
- Black pearls (city river): 30.6, 84.4 and 36.3, 67.2.
City rivers can be dangerous. Bring scuba, a mount, and a fallback escape route.
- Organic polymer (Kyuku): 66.7, 61.4 near central falls.
- Organic polymer plants: Aberration zones (small bright blue plants) - harvest with a Direbear.
- Aberrant mushrooms: 47.0, 4.3 in toxic crash-site zones.
- Sap trees: 92.1, 9.6 and 95.2, 41.4.
- Frozen gas balls: Aberration zones - bring a gas collector and hazard suit.
Crash sites can contain corruptive liquid Edmundium-clear the area before harvesting.
- Biotoxin plants: 94.8, 7.5; 89.9, 5.5; and 11.4, 1.4.
- Rare flowers: 29.7, 85.4 in the upper city river.
- Plant X seeds: Gather near sulfur and biotoxin spawns.
- Plant Z + Plant R seeds: Aberration biomes and mushroom zones.
- Red Element: Listed as a Lost Colony resource; check Bloodforge recipes in-game.
Northwest Tundra starter loop
Metal (3.8, 14.7) → metal (3.4, 5.7) → pink crystal (3.6, 5.5) → pearls (11.5, 8.3).
South River sulfur loop
Metal (96.7, 4.6) → crystal (96.1, 9.3) → pearls (95.4, 5.3) → sulfur/obsidian (94.8, 7.8).
Central falls polymer loop
Central waterfalls (64.9, 62.2) → Kyuku polymer (66.7, 61.4) → pearls (67.1, 64.2) → oil cave (68.1, 47.6).
📍 Interactive Resource Maps
For precise resource locations with visual markers:
Universal Farming Tips
Best Farming Dinos:
- Ankylosaurus: Metal, Crystal, Obsidian
- Doedicurus: Stone (for cementing paste)
- Mammoth / Megaloceros: Top thatch gatherers; Mammoth also excels at wood
- Argentavis: Weight reduction for metal transport
Efficiency Tips:
- Level melee damage on farming dinos
- Use Mining Drill/Chainsaw for thatch and small deposits
- Build forges near farming locations
- Use Argentavis/Quetzal for transport
- If your server supports it, use “Harvest Only” on Anky/Doed/Dunky to target a single resource
External resources
Related guides
Keep going with the next most useful guide.