Molten Iron

Molten Iron is the liquid form of Iron, obtained primarily from Iron Volcanoes and from certain asteroids on the starmap. Like other refined liquids, it serves as a high-temperature metal resource that can be collected, stored, and later cooled back into a solid form for industrial use.

Iron Volcanoes periodically erupt Molten Iron, providing a renewable source of the element. This makes them one of the most important natural sources of Iron in the game, especially for long-term colonies that need a steady supply of metal without relying on mined ore. Molten Iron can also be found on the metal asteroid belt, where it is available as part of the map’s generated resources.

A few practical points are worth keeping in mind when working with Molten Iron:

• It is a liquid resource, so it must be handled with plumbing and liquid storage rather than solid conveyors or storage bins.
• Because it comes from a Volcano, harvesting it usually requires heat management and controlled collection so the eruptions do not damage nearby infrastructure.
• The resource is renewable when sourced from a Volcano, with reported regeneration rates of 67.5 to 202.5 kg per cycle.
• Since it is tied to high-temperature environments, colonies often need insulated piping, heat-resistant rooms, or active cooling to transport and store it safely.

Molten Iron is especially valuable in colonies that want a dependable metal supply without exhausting asteroid deposits. An Iron Volcano can become a major industrial asset once it is safely contained and its output is routed into storage or processing systems. The metal asteroid belt is another useful source when available, but unlike a Volcano it does not provide the same steady eruptive production.

Because it is produced in liquid form, the main challenge is not acquiring Molten Iron itself but controlling the heat associated with it. Successful use generally depends on building a collection setup that can withstand repeated eruptions and on planning for later cooling or conversion into the form the colony needs.