Cortex functions primarily as a cosmetic reconstruction of gemstones, and a overhaul of the Netherite system for a more interesting and engaging gameplay. No additional ores or blocks have been added.<\/p>\n
**Dripstone is now not ugly** (everyone cheered). See gallery.<\/p>\n
### Gemstones
\n– Non-metal ores (emeralds, diamonds) have been changed to drop raw material that must be polished _(right-clicked)_ on a grindstone before use.
\n– Redstone and lapis lazuli now also spawn with varied formations on top of them. Their drop counts have been reduced slightly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
– Copper ore spawning has been reduced significantly.
\n– The appearance of diamond, its tools and armor, has been changed to reflect a “more real” color.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
### Netherite<\/p>\n
Ancient debris is not an ore anymore. Instead it is now a proper deposit under some fossils in soul sand valleys, and ruined portals (only in the Nether).
\nIt operates under the same system as archeology, making “suspicious netherrack” not a mineable block.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
– Suspicious netherrack can drop ancient debris scraps, or eventually a full ancient debris. You can craft ancient debris with 9 scraps.
\n– Ancient debris must then be smelted. Holding the then molten debris on your left hand, and a diamond pickaxe in your right one, right click an anvil to hammer it into a netherite ingot.
\n– Netherite smithing templates have been disabled. You can apply netherite to a piece at any anvil for the cost of 5 levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An overhaul of the ‘mine’ part of Minecraft without redesigning or adding ores.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":46433,"template":"","meta":{"_minecraft_slug":"cortex","_minecraft_project_id":"KNee4KiW","_minecraft_author":"Meowow","_minecraft_license":"MPL-2.0","_minecraft_downloads":1365,"_minecraft_follows":29,"_minecraft_client_side":"required","_minecraft_server_side":"required","_minecraft_storage_type":"zip","_minecraft_archive_name":"cortex.zip","_minecraft_size_bytes":336003,"_minecraft_version_count":2,"_minecraft_updated_at":"2026-05-16T23:37:56.341569Z","_minecraft_date_created":"2024-10-06T23:13:49.229994Z","_minecraft_date_modified":"2024-10-31T00:05:33.091620Z","_minecraft_project_url":"https:\/\/modrinth.com\/mod\/cortex","_minecraft_icon_attachment_id":46433,"_minecraft_imported_at":"2026-06-02T09:25:11+00:00","_minecraft_import_hash":"5433da7009455f63e81599fe23db888b","_minecraft_versions":"","_minecraft_links":"","_minecraft_gallery":"","_minecraft_api_metadata":""},"mod_category":[87,156,97,89,98,159],"mod_loader":[99,100],"minecraft_version":[37,74],"class_list":["post-46432","mod","type-mod","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","mod_category-adventure","mod_category-decoration","mod_category-fabric","mod_category-game-mechanics","mod_category-quilt","mod_category-worldgen","mod_loader-fabric","mod_loader-quilt","minecraft_version-1-21-1","minecraft_version-1-21-3"],"yoast_head":"\n