Redstone Dust
Material Stack: 64 Since Alpha 1.0.1
Quick answer: Mine redstone ore or deepslate redstone ore with an iron pickaxe or better - generates Y=-64 to 16, most common around Y=-59; each ore drops 4-5 dust (more with Fortune).
How to get it
- Mine redstone ore or deepslate redstone ore with an iron pickaxe or better - generates Y=-64 to 16, most common around Y=-59; each ore drops 4-5 dust (more with Fortune)
- Kill witches (4-8 dust)
- Trade with cleric villagers
- Loot jungle temples, dungeons, mineshafts and trial chambers
Uses
- Power and wire redstone contraptions: pistons, farms, doors, traps
- Brew potions - redstone extends potion duration
- Craft repeaters, comparators, pistons, observers, dispensers, powered rails, clocks, compasses
- Activate blocks directly by placing dust trails
Renewability
Yes, via witches and cleric trades
Java vs Bedrock
Identical in Java and Bedrock. Redstone mechanics differ between editions though: Java has quasi-connectivity and 1-tick pulses; Bedrock pistons behave differently. Contraption tutorials are edition-specific.
Related: Iron IngotEmeraldDiamond