Oil Shale 7 Days to Die

In the survival world of7 Days to Die, gathering and managing resources is vital to staying alive, crafting essential items, and upgrading your base. One of the more valuable mid-to-late game resources is oil shale. Often overlooked by beginners, oil shale is crucial for producing gasoline, a vital fuel source for various vehicles and tools. Learning how and where to find oil shale, and how to use it effectively, can greatly enhance your gameplay and self-sufficiency in the apocalypse. Whether you’re driving across the wastelands or fueling up your chainsaw, oil shale becomes an indispensable part of long-term survival.

What Is Oil Shale?

Oil shale is a natural resource in7 Days to Dieused primarily to produce gasoline through refining. It appears as a mineral deposit underground and can be mined using tools such as the pickaxe or auger. Once collected, oil shale can be smelted at a chemistry station to produce gasoline, a key resource for vehicles like the 4×4 truck, motorcycle, minibike, and chainsaw.

While it is not necessary for early-game survival, oil shale becomes highly important once players begin to explore vehicle crafting, base expansion, and more advanced power systems. Gathering it efficiently will ensure that you’re never stranded without fuel.

Where to Find Oil Shale

Biomes and Locations

Oil shale is biome-specific, and knowing where to dig is critical. It is primarily found in the Desert biome, where it appears in large underground clusters. This makes the desert the best location for oil shale mining operations.

• Desert Biome: The only biome where oil shale naturally spawns underground in significant quantities. Players will notice that beneath the sand and sandstone layers, dark purple veins begin to appear these are oil shale deposits.
• Random World Generation: In random gen worlds, oil shale can still be found in the desert regions, but its density and location vary. Using the auger or pickaxe while exploring beneath the desert floor will eventually reveal veins of oil shale.
• Navezgane Map: On the pre-made Navezgane map, players can find oil shale in the southeastern region, specifically near the desert areas of the Burnt Forest edge. Coordinates such as 1316 E, 1432 S can yield good results, but digging straight down can be risky without support.

Depth and Mining Tips

Oil shale is typically found deep underground, often below the sandstone layers. Once you hit rock layers, you are getting closer to discovering the ore. To improve efficiency and safety:

• Build spiral staircases or sloped tunnels to reach lower levels safely without collapsing.
• Use mining helmets or headlamps for visibility.
• Reinforce your mining shafts with wood frames or rebar to prevent collapse.
• Carry repair kits if using an auger, as it can degrade quickly while mining oil shale.

How to Mine Oil Shale

Tools and Efficiency

Mining oil shale is time-consuming without the proper tools. The most effective tools include:

• Auger: The fastest way to mine oil shale, especially when paired with gas to fuel it. The auger rapidly breaks through rock layers and is the tool of choice for high-yield mining.
• Steel Pickaxe: Slower than the auger but still effective. It does not require fuel, making it a solid backup or alternative for quieter mining.

Remember to bring plenty of fuel for the auger and repair kits for either tool. Pairing mining operations with coffee or the Rockbusters candy will increase efficiency, as will perks like Miner 69’er and Mother Lode.

Crafting Gasoline from Oil Shale

Using the Chemistry Station

Once you have collected oil shale, it needs to be processed into gasoline. This is done at the chemistry station, a mid-game crafting station that allows players to produce advanced resources.

To craft gasoline, you’ll need:

• 1,000 units of oil shale
• Chemistry Station

This combination produces 10,000 units of gasoline, making oil shale a very cost-effective method for fueling your needs. Compared to collecting gas from cars or gas pumps, crafting gasoline from shale is far more sustainable for long-term survival.

Efficiency and Storage

Because oil shale provides a large amount of gasoline per batch, it’s wise to mine large quantities in a single trip and store both shale and gasoline back at your base. Using fuel barrels or dedicated crates labeled for fuel will help keep your base organized and your operations running smoothly.

Other Uses and Considerations

Though gasoline is the primary use for oil shale, it plays an indirect role in powering many tools and weapons, making it indirectly essential to your offensive and defensive capabilities. Gasoline is used to power:

• Chainsaws (used for wood gathering and melee combat)
• Augers (for mining and base demolition)
• Generators (to power electric fences, turrets, and traps)
• Vehicles (motorcycles, 4×4 trucks, gyrocopters)

Maintaining a steady supply of oil shale means that you can keep all these systems operational, especially during horde nights or extended travel across the map. In PvP scenarios or higher difficulty settings, fuel can be a game-changing resource.

Perks That Enhance Oil Shale Collection

Skill Tree Suggestions

To maximize your oil shale mining output, invest in the following perks:

• Miner 69’er: Increases block damage and reduces stamina usage when using mining tools.
• Mother Lode: Increases the yield from mining resources, including oil shale.
• Grease Monkey: While not directly linked to shale, this perk is essential for vehicle crafting and maintenance, making the gasoline you create even more valuable.

Pairing these skills with mining tools and consumables will dramatically speed up your resource collection and help you stay ahead in the late game.

Tips for Safe and Productive Mining

Mining deep in the desert can be dangerous. Collapse, zombie spawns, and overheating are all potential issues. Here are some tips to stay safe and productive:

• Bring plenty of water and cooling clothes to manage desert heat.
• Always reinforce mine shafts to avoid collapse.
• Check your surroundings before and after mining, especially at night.
• Set up a quick base or shelter near your mining site for storing materials and respawning safely.

Oil shale in7 Days to Dieis more than just a resource it’s a gateway to independence, exploration, and advanced survival. By learning where to find it, how to mine it efficiently, and how to turn it into gasoline, players can take control of their mobility and power systems. The desert may be harsh and unforgiving, but hidden beneath its sands lies the fuel to drive your apocalypse journey forward. With the right strategy, preparation, and tools, oil shale becomes a valuable ally in your fight for survival.