How to Get Aluminum in Astroneer: Laterite Locations and Recipes

Aluminum is one of Astroneer's key progression materials. It is used for vehicles, power items, rails, shuttles, and the Oxygenator, so getting a reliable supply early makes exploration much easier.

Getting Aluminum in Astroneer

Aluminum is made by smelting Laterite in a Smelting Furnace. Laterite is a reddish-brown ore usually found underground, especially in deeper cave layers.

A second option is trading 1x Scrap at the Trading Platform for 1x Laterite.

Bring survival supplies before digging deep for Laterite. Oxygen Filters and Power Cells are useful because cave trips can run long, and suffocating beside the ore you needed is not efficient resource planning.

Craft the Smelting Furnace at the Medium Printer with 2x Resin and 1x Compound.

Aluminum Uses and Crafting Recipes

At least one Aluminum is required for the Smelteringly Hot mission, which also asks players to unlock and print a Smelting Furnace.

Aluminum is used in these recipes:

Small Printer

• Oxygenator: 1x Ceramic and 1x Aluminum
• Medium Generator: 1x Tungsten and 1x Aluminum
• Medium Wind Turbine: 1x Aluminum and 1x Ceramic
• Tractor: 2x Aluminum
• Trailer: 1x Compound and 1x Aluminum
• Solid-Fuel Thruster: 1x Ammonium and 1x Aluminum
• Auto Arm: 1x Aluminum and 1x Graphite
• Rail Post Bundle: 1x Resin and 1x Aluminum
• Tall Rail Post Bundle: 1x Resin and 1x Aluminum
• Rail Junction Bundle: 2x Aluminum

Medium Printer

• Soil Centrifuge: 2x Compound and 1x Aluminum
• Buggy: 1x Compound and 1x Aluminum
• Large T-Platform: 2x Aluminum and 1x Resin
• Rail Engine: 1x Resin, 1x Aluminum, and 1x Copper
• Rail Car: 2x Resin and 1x Aluminum

Large Printer

• Small Shuttle: 2x Aluminum
• Landing Pad: 2x Ceramic and 1x Aluminum

Chemistry Lab

• Aluminum Alloy: 1x Aluminum and 1x Copper