I've been embarking on areas with rivers and oceans lately (both produce sediments), and they've been chock-full of iron ores.
^this
it may not always be entirely realistic, but lowlands filled by rivers etc are sedimentary. sediments are layers laid down by either the ocean (continental drift to crawl over ocean) or where rivers deposited sediments from the mountains. Yes, mountains should have a bit more iron, probably as the sediments get the iron from the river source - mountains. Maybe it'll change in future versions
Wrong. This is neither how things work in the game, nor real life. Sedimentary
stone is not laid down by oceans or rivers.
Sediment is. Whether that sediment will turn into stone in a few million years or not is an open question. But the rivers and oceans won't be in the same place by the time it turns to stone. Looking at the current topography and trying to deduce what will be where is tricky, in the game and real life.
Going on my observations, there is no huge distinction between lowlands and mountains in terms of amount of sedimentary stone. Look, limestone is formed from seashells. If Garath were right, you would
only find limestone under the sea! But you don't. Meaning, sedimentary stone is not associated with the real world topological conditions that created it. Because, in the real world, stone is getting moved about by tectonic forces and orogeny all the time. The game does not actually simulate these geologic processes, it is just random.
Don't "try embarking near rivers and lowlands." Try using DFHack's "prospect all" instead, and you will actually see that there is plenty of sedimentary stone near the mountains.
Szkeptic: hematite is the only iron ore found in non-sedimentary stone layers.
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Topic: Problem finding iron :( (Read 3263 times)