During gameplay you will encounter and interact with all sorts of sands. This page will outline what they are and what they do. For information on how the different sands are simulated, check Sand Simulation/Chemistry.

The following information describes default settings of various sands; map creators can alter these as they see fit for their maps and the following may not be accurate for maps in Colonies.

Most sands are simply static and do not move.

• LAND is the basic terrain that maps are comprised of.
• ROCK can't be excavated.
• LOWLAND will let creeper through when creeper gets dense enough.
• DAMAGEABLE LAND slowly erodes in contact with creeper.
• DECAY LAND slowly erodes on its own.
• WOOD burns when set on fire.
• CREEPER EATER LAND slowly destroys creeper on contact.
• BREEDER LAND may produce creeper or anticreeper when in contact with them.
• METAL melts in contact with lava.
• POROUS information needed
• BEDROCK cannot be excavated.
• NO FLOW doesn't let creeper pass.
• PIN FIELD traps creeper inside.
• LEFT FIELD pushes creeper to the left.
• RIGHT FIELD pushes creeper to the right.
• UP FIELD pushes creeper up.
• DOWN FIELD pushes creeper down.
• SHIELD can be constructed using lathes to temporarily hold creeper back.

Some sands will fall down with gravity.

• SAND falls down and is damaged by creeper.
• STONE falls down and takes longer to excavate.
• ICE information needed
• LOOSE METAL information needed
• SULFUR is used in chemistry.
• BOOMZENE is used in chemistry and will explode in contact with embers.
• AC ORE can be collected by a nearby Ore Miner.
• KIRKIUM is collected for extra Store energy.
• AC MAKER produces anticreeper.
• CREEPER MAKER produces creeper.
• EMBER sets sands on fire.

Some sands not only fall down, but also flow horizontally.

• WATER is harmless to ships.
• LAVA is very harmful to stationary ships.
• CREEPER EATER LIQUID slowly destroys creeper on contact.
• BREEDER LIQUID may produce creeper or anticreeper when in contact with them.
• PIXELIUM blocks ships and can be used in chemistry.
• ACID is moderately harmful to stationary ships and can be used in chemistry.
• MOLTEN METAL is a product of metal and lava. Ships can't operate in it.
• OIL is used in chemistry and will burn when set on fire.
• IXEIDE melts enemy structures on contact.
• ANGORIUM can supercharge nearby T.O.M. and B.O.B. units.
• CREEPER GAS FALL information needed

Some sands fall upwards.

• ACID VAPOR is a product of acid and lava. After some time it settles back into acid.
• FIRE SMOKE information needed
• SMOKE information needed
• TERP GAS is produced when terraforming using lathes.
• CREEPER GAS RISE information needed