Minecraft wiki entry for Iron_Ore, associated text: In Java Edition, iron ore generates in three batches. The first batch attempts to generate 40 times per chunk in blobs of 0-13, from levels 128 to 320, being most common around level 255 and becoming less common towards either end of the range. The second batch attempts to generate 6 times per chunk in blobs of 0-13, from levels -24 to 54, being most common around level 15 and becoming less common towards either end of the range. The third batch attempts to generate 3 times per chunk in blobs of 0-5, evenly from levels -63 to 64.