Subnautica 2 Guide: Where to Find and Farm Quartz

Quick Answer: Search the hollow orange Coral Domes located just 10 to 30 meters deep near your starting Lifepod to pluck Quartz right off the inner walls. For a massive payload, swim 220 meters West-Southwest to the Spider Dome, where you can easily harvest around 100 pieces by hand without any special gear.

You are going to need a mountain of Quartz to build a proper seabase. This bright, crystalline material is the backbone of almost everything you craft in the early hours of Zazura. From basic glass and electronics to interior furniture and crucial base modules, your progression hinges entirely on keeping a steady supply of this mineral.

Fortunately, it is completely abundant. You just need to know exactly which weird alien plants and rock formations hide the best yields.

The Basics: Coral Domes and Node Types

Right out of the gate, you do not need to stray far from your Lifepod. The shallow starting biome is littered with large, spherical orange structures called Coral Domes.

Swim inside these hollow formations, and you will notice a glowing, luminescent blue interior. This is prime real estate for Quartz. You can easily spot the bright crystals clinging to the walls at a comfortable depth of 10 to 30 meters.

Depending on the size of the crystal you find, you will need different tools to actually pry it loose.

Before you start filling your pockets with crystals for major base expansions, you need to make sure your basic survival needs are met. Swimming around hauling rocks burns calories fast. Fix your stomach issues first by checking out our Subnautica 2 Guide: How to Cure Digestive Incompatibility so you do not starve to death on a mining run.

The Ultimate Early-Game Spot: The Spider Dome

If you want to skip the tedious process of searching dome after dome, there is a legendary farming spot available the minute you crash-land. It is called the Spider Dome.

This colossal, hollow orange coral structure is anchored to the seafloor by massive “legs.” Inside, you will find nearly 100 pieces of Quartz just waiting to be grabbed. Because every single node inside is small, you do not need any special mining tools. You can clear the whole thing out with your bare hands.

Here is how to find it:

• Climb on your Lifepod and pull out your compass.
• Align your view perfectly between Southwest and West (roughly a 240 to 245-degree heading).
• Swim straight for 220 meters.
• Look for the gigantic orange coral structure hovering above a circular hole in the ground.

For story purposes, this dome sits directly above the Wander – Blackbox signal. However, you do not need to wait for NoA to give you the waypoint. You can swim there immediately and strip the dome bare in complete safety.

Mid-Game Mining: Camp One Wreckage

Eventually, you will unlock the Sonic Resonator. This tool allows you to crack open the massive ore deposits scattered around the deeper biomes. When you are ready for a heavy-duty haul, you need to head toward Camp One.

This collapsed Alterra colony sits about 300 meters Northeast of your Lifepod. Look for distinct, flat-topped island rock formations near the wreckage. You will know you are in the exact right spot when you see strange, purple octopus-like creatures with glowing blue orbs on their heads. The seabed around these flat rocks is absolutely loaded with massive Quartz deposits. Bust them open with your Sonic Resonator for huge yields.

Upgrade Your Search with a Scanner Station

Tired of swimming blind? Once you scan enough fragments inside Cicada wrecks, you can build a Scanner Station inside your base. This beautiful piece of technology will ping the exact location of any resource within a 300-meter radius directly to your HUD.

Throw one of these down in your main base, select Quartz from the control panel, and never struggle to find glass ingredients again.

For more tips, walkthroughs, and everything else covering the game, check out our full collection of guides.