All eight Quartz clusters
The map shows eight Quartz clusters across the EA play area. Three you should know about by name:
Lifepod Quartz scatter (0-30m): Literally a 30-second swim from your pod. First Glass and System Chip run never has to move.
East coral plateau Quartz (20-50m): Reliable second run. Pairs with Copper at the same plateau for a Wiring Kit + Glass combo.
West reef Quartz (20-50m): Densest surface cluster. Larger crystals so each pickup yields more raw Quartz on processor conversion.
South cliff Quartz (40-90m): Cliff face pockets. Bring Fins — the ascent is vertical.
NE plateau Quartz (30-60m): Co-located with Quartz + Copper for a no-detour Wiring Kit run.
Sparse Plains Quartz (60-100m): Low density, zero predator pressure. Use it if a Marrowbreach is camping your usual reef.
Karakorum deep Quartz (200-300m): Glass becomes scarce near a long-established base. This is your late-game Glass farm.
North reef Quartz (20-50m): Often missed because it's behind a coral spire. A big clean cluster.
What Quartz crafts
Glass — 1 Quartz at the Fabricator. Every hatch, every window, every Scanner.
System Chip — Wiring Kit + Quartz. Required for Rebreather, Scanner Station, Engine Efficiency module.
Silica Dust — Quartz at a Processor. Late-game material.
Enameled Glass — Glass + Creature Enamel. Required for the Bioscanner, Feedback Resonator, Strike Armor.
Glowstick / Lightstick / Flashlight / Beacon / Scanner / Distraction Flare — all consume Quartz
The cheapest Glass farm route
For most players, the right pattern is:
Days 1-3: hit the Lifepod scatter for the first 10-15 Glass
Once you've built Camp One: pivot to the east coral plateau, pairing Quartz with Copper
Once you have Tadpole + Mk.1 Depth Module: stockpile from Karakorum deep Quartz so you never run out for Enameled Glass
Don't over-farm: Quartz respawns slowly in Early Access. Take what you need plus a 5-Glass buffer, then move on. Coming back to a clean cluster is much more efficient than scraping a half-farmed one.
