Getting Sand and Sandstone from Underground Biomes

The sand blocks

Each stone family has its own sand: Andesite Sand, Basalt Sand, and Black Granite Sand. These are distinct blocks, not vanilla sand, and they generate within their respective regions underground. When you dig through an Andesite area you may hit pockets of Andesite Sand; Basalt regions contain Basalt Sand; Black Granite regions contain Black Granite Sand.

The sandstone blocks

Each sand type has a matching sandstone: Andesite Sandstone, Basalt Sandstone, and Black Granite Sandstone. These generate as solid layers and pockets in the same regions as their sand. Mine them with a pickaxe. They are useful when you want a building palette that matches the surrounding stone instead of importing vanilla sandstone from a desert.

Building with the sand palette

Pair Andesite Sandstone with Andesite Slab, Andesite Stairs, and Andesite Wall for a warm, uniform build. Basalt Sandstone works the same way with Basalt Slab, Basalt Stairs, and Basalt Wall, and Black Granite Sandstone with Black Granite Slab, Black Granite Stairs, and Black Granite Wall. Use the loose sand blocks for paths, planters, or floor fill. If you need glass, remember that these sands smelt like ordinary sand, so a furnace converts them into glass without any special setup.