Mods / Ore Vein Traces

Tags:
Utility QoL
Author:
PurplePi
Side:
Both
Created:
Jun 21st 2025 at 6:31 AM
Last modified:
Jun 26th 2025 at 9:10 PM
Downloads:
7384
Latest release (for Vintage Story 1.20.12, outdated):
oreveintracers-v1.2.0.zip  1-click install

When mining ore, it's always annoying when you can't find the last few blocks in a vein. This mod will make traces appear on rocks adjacent to hidden ore.

If you mine the previously hidden ore, any redundant traces will disappear, so you won't be sent on a wild goose chase.

 


 

I'm not super happy with the textures I made, since they're just modified basegame textures. The coal and borax textures are especially rough.

If anyone with some actual artistic skill wants to make some proper textures, I'd be very grateful for the help.

Mod Version Mod IdentifierFor Game version Downloads Released Changelog Download 1-click mod install*
1.2.0 oreveintracers 6354 Jun 26th 2025 at 9:10 PM oreveintracers-v1.2.0.zip 1-click install
  • Added support for geologyaddons ores
    • my textures are terrible, bleh, but it should be better than nothing I guess
1.1.0 oreveintracers 737 Jun 22nd 2025 at 3:13 PM oreveintracers-v1.1.0.zip 1-click install
  • Made traces appear after mining any block, not just ore. Previous behaviour now available via config option
1.0.0 oreveintracers 293 Jun 21st 2025 at 6:32 AM oreveintracers-v1.0.0.zip 1-click install

Initial release


33 Comments (oldest first | newest first) (threaded | flat)

Rythillian, Aug 3rd at 9:47 PM

Still being updated?

OctaMagOS, May 28th at 6:13 AM

Would be really awesome to see this mod updated to work with interesting ore gen! Big fan of this mod <3

MdnghtEther, Mar 12th at 2:41 PM

Haha still works in 1.22

Drahkar, Feb 5th at 10:13 AM

@PurplePi I'm looking at the possibility of forking this Mod, to update the underlying code and address bugs. I wanted to see if you were ok with that.

I'll rewrite the feature from scratch if I have to, but it would save a lot of time, if I didn't have to. Please let me know.

Thanks!

From125, Jan 5th at 3:16 PM

Lonn a fix should be up by now, dev fixed it yesterday i think

Lonn, Jan 4th at 8:45 PM

From125 Yep, that would explain it, hope that it can get solved in the future

Daquice, Dec 23rd 2025 at 6:34 AM

Please update mate top mod!

HereticHazel, Dec 22nd 2025 at 10:34 PM

Rythillian I find that the juicy ores mod pairs well with this since it makes it obvious what is or isn't ore, while still looking good

From125, Dec 21st 2025 at 12:05 AM (modified Dec 21st 2025 at 12:06 AM)

Lonn are you using interesting ore gen?, there`s currently a bug going on with that mod

 

Lonn, Dec 20th 2025 at 11:14 PM

1.21.6 - Not sure if its a mod conflict or this mod its self but the Ores lose their texture and appear as regular stone and only the traces appear.

Rythillian, Nov 24th 2025 at 3:55 AM (modified Nov 24th 2025 at 4:49 AM)

This still getting updates? Also I made a set of textures for this that simply change the texture to be an outline to make it simplier for me to tell (I kept thinking traces were the ore themselves). It doesn't look pretty but it's more functional for me. Would be nice if the mod itself had an option to choose between detailed texture (current) or simple colored outline (function).

DecaByte, Oct 23rd 2025 at 6:41 PM

What does the , 'only Active Within Vein' option in the config do? I assume setting it to true makes it so player will not see traces till after mining an ore vein block if traces are applicable to a nearby ore.

GnashinTires, Oct 16th 2025 at 2:40 AM

It also seems to me this mod still works in 1.21.x although I haven't tested extensively.

PlinioJRM, Oct 6th 2025 at 12:42 PM

would be nice if this mod receives a bit of attention.

In the last version there are rocks that displays a ??? with white texture due to missing textures.

IMO the textures doesn't need to be good, so your work is quite good PurplePi.

NylonCat, Aug 26th 2025 at 7:56 PM

Version 1.2.0 of this mod still seems to work just fine with the latest 1.21 stable release. Tested with quartz, copper and a few other ores and didn't encounter any leftover or missing traces.

RosstheGreat, Jul 2nd 2025 at 8:37 PM

Oh no way, this is so cool! Is there a way to add distance to the placed blocks so it's not just orthogonal? Love the idea!

Rythillian, Jun 29th 2025 at 11:19 AM

PurplePi I see, there's quite a lot of them, have you thought about perhaps just using one universal texture and instead tinting it based on the ore? That way it would be compatible with other mods that add more ores?

PureWinter, Jun 29th 2025 at 6:01 AM

I can't wait to try this thank you!!

Chalki, Jun 27th 2025 at 5:41 PM

Looking forward to testing this out, great idea for a mod and doesn't feel cheaty 👍

LuppyLupan, Jun 27th 2025 at 8:00 AM

Great update, cannot be more pleased <3

Sheldon_Lee, Jun 26th 2025 at 11:07 PM

1.20.7 possible?

PurplePi , Jun 26th 2025 at 7:45 PM

Rythillian yeah, they're in the mod files. They're currently just selectively erased versions of the normal ore textures.

LuppyLupan, Jun 26th 2025 at 5:16 PM

Great mod, I use it every playthrough but can I make a request? can you add textures for https://mods.vintagestory.at/geologyaddons as it is also a mod I greatly enjoy but the ? mark ore tracers are very lame lol.

 

Once again it is a banger of a mod as it makes mining infinitely less tedious.

Rythillian, Jun 26th 2025 at 11:42 AM

Very cool mode, but it's a bit tricky to tell the ore apart from the traces, are the textures just in the mod files? Might make some edits if so.

Ensorcelled, Jun 22nd 2025 at 4:33 PM

Thank you, works like a champ, even with my handful of ore mods. My players will love it.

PurplePi , Jun 22nd 2025 at 3:15 PM

Okay, change complete, traces can now show up after mining any block, so it's now properly useful for finding ore veins, not just cleaning them up.

PurplePi , Jun 22nd 2025 at 2:14 PM

This is overlay based, so it's not affected by world generation. Additionally, the way it's currently set up, it only gives feeback once in the vein, though on second thought, I think I'll be changing that.

RedRockG, Jun 21st 2025 at 9:57 PM

I added the mod and went looking for a copper vein, but I didn't notice any change. Could you add a reference?

Rythillian, Jun 21st 2025 at 6:09 PM

Does this mod add the tracers as world generation or is a block overlay thing? Kinda hard to tell with screenshots or a video.

Omnison, Jun 21st 2025 at 12:15 PM

This mod is great! My pickaxes durability and I thank you.

NateDoesLife, Jun 21st 2025 at 6:55 AM

Could you put a screenshot of what happens? I get what it does but would like to see what it does as well.