Block of Emerald

A block of emerald is a precious mineral block equivalent to nine emeralds.

Obtaining

Breaking

Mining blocks of emerald requires an iron pickaxe or better.

Block	Block of Emerald
Hardness	5
Tool
Breaking time^[A]
Default	25
Wooden	12.5
Stone	6.25
Copper	5
Iron	1.25
Diamond	0.95
Netherite	0.85
Golden	2.1

↑ Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Emerald

Usage

Blocks of emerald are often used to store emeralds in a compact fashion. They are also commonly used as decorative blocks.

Beacons

Blocks of emerald can be used to "power" a beacon. The beacon can be powered by a 3×3 square of emerald blocks underneath it, and can optionally also include a 5×5, 7×7, and 9×9 layer in the shape of a pyramid under the original layer to increase the effects from the beacon. The layers do not have to be entirely emerald blocks, as they may also contain blocks of iron, blocks of gold, blocks of netherite, and blocks of diamond.

Crafting ingredient

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Emerald	Block of Emerald	9

Note Blocks

A block of emerald can also be used underneath a note block to produce the "bit" sound.

Sounds

Java Edition:

Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`block.metal.break`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	1.0	1.2	16
Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`block.metal.place`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	1.0	1.2	16
Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`block.metal.hit`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	0.25	0.75	16
None^{[sound 1]}	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	`block.metal.fall`	None^{[sound 1]}	0.5	1.25	16
Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	`block.metal.step`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.15	1.5	16

↑ ^a ^b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
Blocks	Once the block has broken	`dig.stone`	1.0	1.1-1.2
Blocks	When the block is placed	`use.stone`	1.0	1.2-1.25
Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.stone`	0.3	0.75
Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.stone`	0.4	1.0
Players	Walking on the block	`step.stone`	0.35	1.0
Players	Jumping from the block	`jump.stone`	0.12	1.0
Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	`land.stone`	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Block of Emerald	`emerald_block`	Block & Item	`beacon_base_blocks`	`block.minecraft.emerald_block`

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID^{[i 1]}	Translation key
Block of Emerald	`emerald_block`	`133`	Block & Giveable Item^{[i 2]}	Identical^{[i 3]}	`tile.emerald_block.name`

↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
↑ Available with /give command.
↑ The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.

History

Java Edition
May 28, 2012					Jeb tweeted an image featuring a room containing redstone lamps and blocks of emerald.
1.3.1		12w22a			Added blocks of emerald.
1.4.2		12w32a			Blocks of emerald can now be used to activate a beacon.
1.4.4		1.4.3-pre			Blocks of emerald can no longer be mined using wooden or stone pickaxes.
July 21, 2017					Showed new texture of block of emerald.
1.13		17w47a			Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 133.
1.14		18w43a			The texture of blocks of emerald has been changed.
		18w50a			The texture of blocks of emerald has been changed, again.
		19w08a			The texture of blocks of emerald has been changed, once again.
		19w09a			Blocks of emerald can now be used to play the bit, if they are under note blocks.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.9.0		build 1			Added blocks of emerald.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			The texture of blocks of emerald has been changed.
1.11.0		beta 1.11.0.5			The texture of blocks of emerald has been changed, once again.
1.13.0		beta 1.13.0.9			Blocks of emerald can now be used to play the bit, if they are under note blocks.
Legacy Console Edition
TU14	CU1	1.04	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added blocks of emerald.
		1.90			The texture of blocks of emerald has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added blocks of emerald.