Confused about ore deposits. Does the table on the wiki list diameter or radius?

[Licoracius]

On the wiki page about ore deposits in the section "Generation Stats", it reads:

Quote

Average radius: The average width [emphasis added] of the deposit along the X and Z coordinates. The variation is included with the ± symbol. An ore with an average radius of 8 ± 2 means that it can have a radius of 6 - 10 blocks.

This confuses me, because the value is referred both as "width" and "radius", but these two are different things. "Width" implies diameter, which is twice the radius. And given that area is pi times the square of the radius, whether we're dealing with width of diameter has large implications for deposit sizes. Does somebody know whether the values are actually radius, as its labeled, or whether its diameter?

[hstone32]

I'd assume that, because the word "diameter" is not used, that 'width' here is referring to radius.

Edited August 10, 2025 by hstone32

[Licoracius]

I ran the following experiment:

1. I loaded up a new world in creative mode.

2. I used the erase tool to stripmine.

3. I compared the sizes of revealed deposits with the sizes listed in the wiki

I found deposits of a size that would be impossible if the numbers in the wiki were diameters. See attached for an example. The deposit in question (lignite) is 22 blocks across, which would be impossible if the size given in the wiki (10 plus/minus 5) referred to diameter instead of radius.

 

[wildforester]

Is this the same for thickness?

[Krougal]

1 hour ago, wildforester said:

Is this the same for thickness?

Thickness is just a flat number.

Yes, halite pillars are that tall if you haven't seen one.

Edited August 11, 2025 by Krougal