7 Days to Die: Coal Locations, Crafting Recipes and Uses

Coal sits high on the survival shopping list in 7 Days to Die. It keeps vehicles running, fuels chemistry projects, and unlocks a few important recipes. The catch is knowing where to dig (or chop) for it. This guide walks through every reliable Coal source and the recipes that actually need it.

Mining Coal Ore Deposits

The most common way to stockpile Coal is by hitting Coal Ore deposits scattered across Navezgane. These nodes show up both above ground and inside cave systems, so keep an eye out for dark boulders and irregular rock clusters. Once you spot one, swing a Pickaxe until it crumbles into Coal. Better tools speed up the job and pull more ore per node.

Harvesting the Burnt Forest

For a different approach, head to the Burnt Forest biome (now available through the Random World Generator since Version 1.0). Instead of mining, chop the charred trees and scattered wooden debris. Each piece drops Coal alongside regular wood, which turns the whole biome into a renewable supply.

Looting Zombies and POIs

Coal occasionally drops from dispatched zombies, although the odds are slim and you should not plan around it. Containers tucked inside abandoned houses and certain points of interest (POIs) can also hide a few pieces, making routine looting runs worth the detour.

Coal Crafting Recipes

Three recipes currently rely on Coal as a key ingredient. Each one fills a very different role.

Gunpowder

• Requirements: None
• Materials: 2x Nitrate Powder and 2x Coal by hand, or 1x of each at a Chemistry Station
• Workstation: Hand crafting or Chemistry Station

Pure Mineral Water

• Requirements: Read Wasteland Treasures Vol. 4 to unlock the recipe
• Materials: 1x Water, 1x Coal, 1x Goldenrod Flower, 1x Chrysanthemum Flower
• Workstation: Campfire

Quick warning: setting up a Campfire raises your heatmap, so cook between hordes if you can.

Wheel

• Requirements: Read at least 5x Vehicle Adventures and pick up the Grease Monkey skill
• Materials: 2x Forged Iron, 16x Scrap Polymers, 2x Oil, 10x Coal, 1x Bottle of Acid
• Workstation: Hand crafting

Wheels eat ten Coal apiece, so if you are planning a vehicle build, treat those Coal Ore deposits as a priority rather than an afterthought.