Iron

Iron is a refined metal used throughout early- and mid-game industry. It is one of the main feedstocks for Steel production in the Metal Refinery, and it can also be used directly as a construction material for advanced power systems, buildings, and automation systems. Because it has no special downside or unique property, it is a good default choice when building Conductive Wire networks.

Iron is produced primarily from Iron Ore. A Metal Refinery converts Iron Ore into Iron at a 1:1 ratio, although this requires Duplicant operation. Other production methods exist as well: Smooth Hatches can eat Iron Ore and excrete Iron, and Rock Crushers can also process Iron Ore into Iron, but with much lower efficiency and an equal amount of Sand as byproduct. Iron also occurs naturally in the Barren Biome, can appear in some Meteor Showers in the Space Biome, and is found in Metallic Asteroids.

Common uses for Iron include:

• Steel production in the Metal Refinery: 70 kg Iron + 20 kg Refined Carbon + 10 kg Lime = 100 kg Steel
• Construction of advanced power systems, buildings, and automation systems
• Atmo Suit production in the Exosuit Forge: 300 kg Aluminum, Copper, or Iron + 2 Reed Fiber = 1 Atmo Suit
• Fuel for the Solid Fuel Thruster, which consumes 400 kg Iron per thruster

Because Iron is so broadly useful, it is often worth stockpiling for industrial upgrades rather than spending it immediately on low-priority construction. Its role in Steel makes it especially valuable once the colony begins moving toward higher-temperature materials and more durable infrastructure.