MATERIAL / HOT LIQUID
Sandustry Lava Guide
Find, move and use Lava by changing its state instead of trying to pipe it directly.
Lava occurs in underground caverns and cannot be carried with the Grabber or moved through Pipes. Freeze it into Scoria, break that into Cinder, transport the Cinder, then ignite it to restore Lava.
- State
- Liquid
- Pipe transport
- No
- Portable form
- Cinder
Move Lava safely
Use Snow or the Cryoblaster to turn Lava into Scoria. Destroy Scoria to release Cinder, move the solid Cinder with ordinary logistics, and reignite it at the destination.
Heat behavior
Water on Lava becomes Steam without consuming the Lava. A Thermal Buffer in direct contact with Lava consumes it over time, so these are different heat-use cases.
Create a portable Lava supply
Do not route the liquid across the base. Freeze a small exposed edge into Scoria, break only the amount needed into Cinder and transport that solid form through normal logistics. At the destination, isolate the conversion chamber from Water and other reactive materials before reigniting it. This state-change route reduces the chance of losing access to the original cavern and gives the factory a controllable input rather than an open channel of hot liquid.
- Secure a return path to the natural Lava pocket.
- Freeze and break a small test batch.
- Move Cinder through a separated solid-material lane.
- Restore Lava only inside a prepared heat chamber.
Separate Steam production from heat storage
Water contact can create Steam while leaving the Lava source available, whereas a Thermal Buffer in direct contact consumes Lava over time. Choose the chamber based on the desired output and give Steam a clear upward route. If heat production slows, inspect the contact face for foreign solids and confirm the source state has not changed. Keep experimental Water contact away from the main Lava access so a failed enclosure does not flood the route.
EVIDENCE LOG