Minecraft is ever-growing and ever-changing, and that is very apparent in the latest Minecraft Java Edition Snapshot. The prior Snapshot added Grimstone into the game, but this one finalized the block’s design. The block type has since been renamed from Grimstone to the less ominous name Deepslate.

Deepslate comes in all of the same varieties but also offers the first Overworld alternate ore block in the game. There are Deepslate variants of five out of seven of the Overworld Ores: Diamond, Gold, Redstone, Lapis Lazuli, and Iron. There is no variant for Copper or Emerald because neither of those ores generates below y=0, where Deepslate spawns.

Some other changes include a new type of block called Smooth Basalt, created via smelting Basalt and Slime and Honey blocks moving to the Redstone tab in Creative. Below you can find the full patch notes.

Changes in 21w08a

  • Tweaked cave sizes furtherCanyon and cave carvers now apply below y=0Cracks can now be found carved into the groundGrimstone has been changed into DeepslateAdded Deepslate oresThe distribution of ores has been further tweakedAndesite no longer generates under y=0Tuff now sometimes generates under y=0The Tuff layer of amethyst geodes has been replaced with now a new type of stone called Smooth BasaltSmooth Basalt is now obtained from smelting BasaltAnother round of tweaking has been done to the new textures of ores and BlackstoneEmerald and Lapis Lazuli ore textures have had some touch-upsMineshafts now once again generate in the open air in cavesParticles now appear in the air around spore blossomsSlime Blocks and Honey Blocks have been moved to the Redstone tab of the creative inventory

Deepslate

  • Grimstone is now called DeepslateDeepslate now has a top texture, and a new block called Cobbled Deepslate drops from DeepslateThe cobbled variant is the same but without the top texture, and is used to craft all Deepslate variants insteadDeepslate now has a unique set of sounds! Very crunchy indeed

Deepslate ores

  • Added Deepslate versions of Iron, Gold, Lapis, Redstone, and Diamond ores that generate wherever those ores replace DeepslateTwice as tough to mine as normal ores

Fixed bugs in 21w08a

  • MC-213926 – Rooted dirt footstep sounds are considerably quieter than normal dirt footstep soundsMC-214782 – Geodes can generate floating in cavesMC-214843 – Old style caves don’t generate past Y=0