Hytale’s Howling Sands hides a rare, radiant treasure-thorium-but chasing it will test wit, luck, and the courage to press deeper into the desert.
How to find thorium ore in Hytale
Thorium ore appears in the Howling Sands biome, particularly Badlands zones beneath desert areas. Check map warm spots for sandy regions, then scan mountainsides for green veins or descend into caves where it clusters more often. Mine exposed nodes with a pickaxe, noting rarer traces in Whisperfrost Frontiers rocky spots.โ

You can find thorium ore nodes in the Howling Sands, which is the desert zone in Hytale. Although the map layout is different for every player, from the beginning of your journey, you can zoom out on the map and locate the arid areas covered in sand. The Howling Sands is considered the second zone in Hytale, and exploring it requires good gear to deal with enemies that spawn in the area. But if you’re ready for the challenge, head to the closest desert to grab some thorium.

Once you reach the Howling Sands, you’ll need to find a cave system as the best place to look for thorium is underground. You can always dig your own entrance, but you can search the map for small circular openings, which usually represent cave entrances. After you enter a cave, you’re looking for rectangular green stones sprouting out of the ground, walls, or even ceiling. To mine thorium, all you’ll need is a pickaxe. It doesn’t matter if it’s crude or copper, you’ll be able to mine it with any tier. Additionally, you don’t need to go too deep into the caves to find thorium nodes, but it may take a few minutes exploring to find them.

Best spots for Thorium Ore in Howling Sands
Thorium Ore spawns reliably in the Howling Sands biome of Hytale, particularly in elevated and underground areas.โ
Top Mining Spots
Cave systems offer the highest density of Thorium, identified by large openings and dark brown map regions with branching passages. Check mountainsides and cliff faces for exposed green veins visible on the surface. Avoid the Golden Steppe sub-biome within Howling Sands, as it lacks Thorium and focuses on copper and iron instead.โ
Exploration Tips
Scan your map for yellowish desert patches and dig sites marked by darker outlines beneath the sand. The “Howling Sands” label confirms the correct biome upon entry. Dig straight tunnels (2×1) underground as a safe farming method if surface ores are scarce.โโ
Best cave systems for Thorium in Howling Sands
The best cave systems for Thorium Ore in Hytale’s Howling Sands biome prioritize large, branching networks with high ore density.โ
Prime Cave Features
Seek out caves with large openings and dark brown map indicators, showing extensive underground passages. These systems, often in elevated terrain, yield Thorium alongside Iron and Silver, unlike the Thorium-poor Golden Steppe sub-biome.โ
Top Locations
Desert Oases stand out for abundant ores on walls, plus adjacent deep caves accessing Magma Layers rich in Thorium. Ravine edges, cliff interiors, and Badlands/Desolate Basin caves also provide efficient runs for green-glowing veins.โ
Farming Strategy
Mark entrances with torches, build staircases for multi-level access, and clear sections systematically. Set up a nearby smelting base to streamline operations in these high-yield spots.โโ
