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Duplicant
This article contains outdated information that is inaccurate for the current version. It was last updated for LU-356355. Unreflected changes in the discussed game mechanics are detailed here: EX1-445422 • U37-483944 • U39-489821 • U44-535720 • U47-561558
This article contains outdated information that is inaccurate for the current version. It was last updated for LU-356355. Unreflected changes in the discussed game mechanics are detailed here: EX1-445422 • U37-483944 • U39-489821 • U44-535720 • U47-561558

Geysers are renewable sources of various materials, which alternate between an active state in which they produce their material and an inactive (dormant) state where they do nothing. The types of geysers, spawned on the map, ultimately decide energy-economy of the colony.

A Duplicant with the Field Research skill can analyze a geyser in order to figure out its activity duration and dormancy duration.

Dealing with Geysers[ | ]

Most of the geysers reliably output large volume of either thermal energy or troublesome materials when uncovered.

A geyser is considered covered if the tile two tiles above the middle left Neutronium tile of the geyser's base is covered. In this state it does not emit anything and cannot be analyzed. Digging out other geyser tiles is safe and can be used to determine the type of the geyser.

A Geyser's type can also be checked by setting their priority to yellow alert with the Priority Tool, then hovering over the yellow alert.

Low temperature geysers can be contained with a simple Insulated Tile box. Volcanoes require at least inner obsidian box (most other materials will eventually melt) and some form of vacuum heat isolation in the long-term.

All geysers' eruptions can be halted by submerging their second bottom row in liquid. Low pressure geysers can be drowned even by gases, usually they do it to themselves. Partial drowning can also help cool down and recover metals.

Geyser Variants[ | ]

All geyser types randomly select an average active yield, eruption periods and percentages, and active periods and percentages; these values are picked independently.

Values in a range are picked based on this formula (graph by Google):

where x is a random value from 0 to 1. A value has approximately 50% chance of being in the middle 20%, and these "likely outcome" ranges are shown on the chart. For example: Most cool slush geysers will output between 1400 kg/cycle (= 2333.33 g/s) and 1600 kg/cycle (= 2666.67 g/s) on average while active.

Possible geyser variants and their parameters are listed in the table below, except for the active amount percentage, which is always between 40% and 80% (the middle 20% of which is between 56% and 64%). The values for parameter ranges are split across rows, with the top (lighter) cell giving the middle 20% of the parameter's range, and the bottom (darker) cell giving the full range (100%). Columns with names beginning with an asterisk (*) indicate a derived value, or a value which is not one of the main randomized parameters of a geyser but which is based on the parameters; the middle 20% threshold for these derived values is based on the middle 20% of their base parameters, not on the middle 20% of the range of the derived value, because these values do not necessarily scale linearly. The calculation of derived values is discussed below.

Name Produced Element Temp PMAX Average Active Yield Eruption Period
(sec)
Eruption Amount Active Period
(sec)
* Eruption Rate
(g/sec)
* Average Overall Yield
(g/sec)
kg/cycle g/s
Cool Steam Vent Cool Steam Vent Steam Steam 110 °C 5 1400 - 1600 2333 - 2666 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 4023 - 6349 1306 - 1706
1000 - 2000 1666 - 3333 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 1851 - 33333 666 - 2666
Steam Vent Steam Vent Steam Steam 500 °C 5 700 - 800 1166 - 1333 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 2011 - 3174 653 - 853
500 - 1000 833 - 1666 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 925 - 16666 333 - 1333
Water Geyser Water Geyser Water Water 95 °C 500 2800 - 3200 4666 - 5333 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 8046 - 12698 2613 - 3413
2000 - 4000 3333 - 6666 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 3703 - 66666 1333 - 5333
Cool Slush Geyser Cool Slush Geyser Polluted Water Polluted Water -10 °C 500 1400 - 1600 2333 - 2666 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 4023 - 6349 1306 - 1706
1000 - 2000 1666 - 3333 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 1851 - 33333 666 - 2666
Polluted Water Vent Polluted Water Vent Polluted Water Polluted Water
with Food Poisoning
30 °C 500 2800 - 3200 4666 - 5333 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 8046 - 12698 2613 - 3413
2000 - 4000 3333 - 6666 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 3703 - 66666 1333 - 5333
Cool Salt Slush Geyser Cool Salt Slush Geyser Brine Brine -10 °C 500 1400 - 1600 2333 - 2666 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 4023 - 6349 1306 - 1706
1000 - 2000 1666 - 3333 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 1851 - 33333 666 - 2666
Salt Water Geyser Salt Water Geyser Salt Water Salt Water 95 °C 500 2800 - 3200 4666 - 5333 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 8046 - 12698 2613 - 3413
2000 - 4000 3333 - 6666 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 3703 - 66666 1333 - 5333
Minor Volcano Minor Volcano Magma Magma 1726.85 °C 150 560 - 640 933 - 1066 8400 - 9600 0.7% - 0.8% 63000 - 87000 116666 - 152381 522 - 682
400 - 800 666 - 1333 6000 - 12000 0.5% - 1% 15000 - 135000 66666 - 266666 266 - 1066
Volcano Volcano Magma Magma 1726.85 °C 150 1120 - 1280 1866 - 2133 8400 - 9600 0.7% - 0.8% 63000 - 87000 233333 - 304761 1045 - 1365
800 - 1600 1333 - 2666 6000 - 12000 0.5% - 1% 15000 - 135000 133333 - 533333 533 - 2133
Carbon Dioxide Geyser Carbon Dioxide Geyser Liquid Carbon Dioxide Liquid Carbon Dioxide -55.15 °C 50 140 - 160 233 - 266 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 402 - 634 130 - 170
100 - 200 166 - 333 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 185 - 3333 66 - 266
Carbon Dioxide Vent Carbon Dioxide Vent Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide 500 °C 5 98 - 112 163 - 186 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 281 - 444 91 - 119
70 - 140 116 - 233 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 129 - 2333 46 - 186
Hydrogen Vent Hydrogen Vent Hydrogen Hydrogen 500 °C 5 98 - 112 163 - 186 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 281 - 444 91 - 119
70 - 140 116 - 233 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 129 - 2333 46 - 186
Hot Polluted Oxygen Vent Hot Polluted Oxygen Vent Polluted Oxygen Polluted Oxygen 500 °C 5 98 - 112 163 - 186 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 281 - 444 91 - 119
70 - 140 116 - 233 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 129 - 2333 46 - 186
Infectious Polluted Oxygen Vent Infectious Polluted Oxygen Vent Polluted Oxygen Polluted Oxygen
with Slimelung
60 °C 5 98 - 112 163 - 186 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 281 - 444 91 - 119
70 - 140 116 - 233 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 129 - 2333 46 - 186
Chlorine Gas Vent Chlorine Gas Vent Chlorine Chlorine 60 °C 5 98 - 112 163 - 186 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 281 - 444 91 - 119
70 - 140 116 - 233 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 129 - 2333 46 - 186
Natural Gas Geyser Natural Gas Geyser Natural Gas Natural Gas 150 °C 5 98 - 112 163 - 186 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 281 - 444 91 - 119
70 - 140 116 - 233 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 129 - 2333 46 - 186
Copper Volcano Copper Volcano Liquid Copper Liquid Copper 2226.85 °C 150 280 - 320 466 - 533 720 - 840 5% - 6.667% 63000 - 87000 7000 - 10666 261 - 341
200 - 400 333 - 666 480 - 1080 1.667% - 10% 15000 - 135000 3333 - 40000 133 - 533
Iron Volcano Iron Volcano Liquid Iron Liquid Iron 2526.85 °C 150 280 - 320 466 - 533 720 - 840 5% - 6.667% 63000 - 87000 7000 - 10666 261 - 341
200 - 400 333 - 666 480 - 1080 1.667% - 10% 15000 - 135000 3333 - 40000 133 - 533
Gold Volcano Gold Volcano Liquid Gold Liquid Gold 2626.85 °C 150 280 - 320 466 - 533 720 - 840 5% - 6.667% 63000 - 87000 7000 - 10666 261 - 341
200 - 400 333 - 666 480 - 1080 1.667% - 10% 15000 - 135000 3333 - 40000 133 - 533
Aluminum Volcano Aluminum Volcano Spaced Out! Molten Aluminum Molten Aluminum 1726.85 °C 150 280 - 320 466 - 533 720 - 840 5% - 6.667% 63000 - 87000 7000 - 10666 261 - 341
200 - 400 333 - 666 480 - 1080 1.667% - 10% 15000 - 135000 3333 - 40000 133 - 533
Tungsten Volcano Tungsten Volcano Spaced Out! Liquid Tungsten Liquid Tungsten 3726.85 °C 150 280 - 320 466 - 533 720 - 840 5% - 6.667% 63000 - 87000 7000 - 10666 261 - 341
200 - 400 333 - 666 480 - 1080 1.667% - 10% 15000 - 135000 3333 - 40000 133 - 533
Niobium Volcano Niobium Volcano Spaced Out! Liquid Niobium Liquid Niobium 3226.85 °C 150 1120 - 1280 1866 - 2133 8400 - 9600 0.7% - 0.8% 63000 - 87000 233333 - 304761 1045 - 1365
800 - 1600 1333 - 2666 6000 - 12000 0.5% - 1% 15000 - 135000 133333 - 533333 533 - 2133
Cobalt Volcano Cobalt Volcano Spaced Out! Liquid Cobalt Liquid Cobalt Spaced Out! 2226.85 °C 150 280 - 320 466 - 533 720 - 840 5% - 6.667% 63000 - 87000 7000 - 10666 261 - 341
200 - 400 333 - 666 480 - 1080 1.667% - 10% 15000 - 135000 3333 - 40000 133 - 533
Leaky Oil Fissure Leaky Oil Fissure Crude Oil Crude Oil 326.85 °C 50 100.6 - 150.4 167 - 250 600 100% 260 - 340 167.67 - 250.67 93.9 - 160.4
1 - 250 1 - 416 100 - 500 1.67 - 416.67 0.67 - 333.33
Sulfur Geyser Sulfur Geyser Spaced Out! Liquid Sulfur Liquid Sulfur 165.2 °C 500 1400 - 1600 2333 - 2666 492 - 708 42% - 58% 63000 - 87000 4023 - 6349 1306 - 1706
1000 - 2000 1666 - 3333 60 - 1140 10% - 90% 15000 - 135000 1851 - 33333 666 - 2666

Derived Calculations[ | ]

A geyser's average active yield (one of their main randomized parameters) is not shown directly to players; nonetheless, it can be derived quite easily using only the geyser's average overall yield (shown in a fully-analyzed geyser's information window under "average output") and its active amount percentage (which is shown under "active period" - e.g. a geyser active for 48.9 cycles every 76.8 cycles has an active amount percentage of roughly 63.7%):

For example: a Copper Volcano which is active for 48.9 cycles every 76.8 cycles and emits 311.8 g/s on average will have an active yield of 311.8 / 0.637 ≈ 490 g/s; multiplying by 600 gives about 293.7 kg/cycle.

Similarly, it is equally easy to go in reverse: if you have a geyser's average active yield and its active amount percentage, its average overall yield is:

Using the same example as above, a Copper Volcano which is active for 48.9 cycles every 76.8 cycles and emits 490 g/s while active on average will have an average overall yield of 490 * 0.637 ≈ 312 g/s; multiplying by 600 gives about 187.2 kg/cycle.


Calculating the eruption rate of a geyser, which is the rate at which the geyser actually emits its contents, is done similarly using the average active yield (see above) and the eruption amount (which is shown under "eruption period" - e.g. a geyser which erupts for 349 seconds every 719 seconds has an active amount percentage of roughly 48.5%):

For example, a Steam Vent which emits 3070.9 g/s of Steam for 349s every 719s will have an active yield of 3070.9 * 0.485 ≈ 1489 g/s (893 kg/cycle) - notably higher than the middle 20% for that parameter. If that same geyser is active for 77.5 cycles every 117.6 cycles (≈ 66%), then we can calculate its average overall yield to be 1489 * 0.66 ≈ 982 g/s. (The real geyser these values were taken from had an in-game average overall yield of 982.3 g/s.)

Geyser Spawning Rules - Basic Asteroids[ | ]

The swamp biome's cool steam vent, exposed to space.

The swamp biome's cool steam vent, exposed to space.

The caustic biome's chlorine geyser (left), next to a covered geyser (right).

The caustic biome's chlorine geyser (left), next to a covered geyser (right).

All geysers are spawned as part of biomes, with a specified amount for each biome.

Open Geysers[ | ]

Buried Geysers[ | ]

There are 12 randomly spawned buried geysers in each game. The Geoactive World Trait increases the number to 16, and the Geodormant World Trait decreases the number to 9.

These buried geysers are randomly spawned all over the map, except in the start Biome, Volcanic Biome, and Space Biome. These geysers start covered with granite and obsidian. In some cases, maps will contain less than what is listed due to points of interest overwriting each-other due to close proximity, especially in the Oil Biome.

As a convenient rule of thumb, each biome type will only have at most two buried geysers.

Geyser Spawning Rules - Asteroid Clusters (Spaced Out DLC)[ | ]

Each asteroid within a cluster has a specific list of open geysers, which can be seen by selecting the asteroid in the starmap.

The list of geysers for each asteroid type is as follows:

  • Sandstone Asteroid
    • 2 Cool Steam Vent (exposed, 1 Jungle, 1 Marsh)
    • 0-3 Minor Volcano
  • Swampy Asteroid
    • 1 Cool Salt Slush Geyser (exposed)
    • 1 Cool Slush Geyser (exposed)
    • 1 Cool Steam Vent (exposed)
    • 1 Hydrogen or Chlorine Gas Vent (exposed)
    • 0-3 Minor Volcano
  • Forest Asteroid
    • 1 Cool Salt Slush Geyser (exposed)
    • 1 Cool Slush Geyser (exposed)
    • 1 Cool Steam Vent (exposed)
    • 1 Hydrogen or Chlorine Gas Vent (exposed)
    • 0-3 unique of:
      • Chlorine Gas Vent
      • Hydrogen Vent
      • Minor Volcano
      • Sulfur Geyser
    • 0-3 Minor Volcano
  • Oily Swamp Asteroid
    • 0-5 unique of:
      • Chlorine Gas Vent
      • Natural Gas Geyser
      • Carbon Dioxide Vent
      • Hydrogen Vent
      • Minor Volcano
      • Carbon Dioxide Geyser
      • Sulfur Geyser
    • 1 Sulfur Geyser
    • 2-5 Oil Reservoir
  • Rusty Oil Asteroid
    • 0-4 unique of:
      • Chlorine Gas Vent
      • Natural Gas Geyser
      • Carbon Dioxide Vent
      • Minor Volcano
      • Carbon Dioxide Geyser
      • Sulfur Geyser
    • 1 Sulfur Geyser
    • 2-5 Oil Reservoir
  • Irradiated Asteroids
    • 1-2 Gold Volcano
    • Irradiated Forest and Irradiated Marsh Asteroids
      • 1-2 Aluminum Volcano
    • Irradiated Swampy Asteroid
      • 1-2 Cobalt Volcano
    • 0-4 unique of (0-5 on Irradiated Forest Asteroid):
      • Chlorine Gas Vent
      • Natural Gas Geyser
      • Hot Polluted Oxygen Vent
      • Minor Volcano
      • Hydrogen Vent
      • Polluted Water Vent
      • Salt Water Geyser (only on Irradiated Forest Asteroid)
  • Tundra Asteroid
    • 2-5 Iron Volcano
  • Marshy Asteroid
    • 1 Tungsten Volcano
    • 0-2 Tungsten Volcano (Magma)
    • 0-5 unique of:
      • Infectious Polluted Oxygen Vent
      • Natural Gas Geyser
      • Chlorine Gas Vent
      • Carbon Dioxide Vent
      • Hydrogen Vent
      • Hot Polluted Oxygen Vent
  • Superconductive Asteroid
    • 1 Niobium Volcano
  • Moo Asteroid
    • 1 Chlorine Gas Vent
  • Water Asteroid
    • 0-2 unique of:
      • Polluted Water Geyser
      • Cool Slush Geyser
      • Salt Water Geyser
      • Water Geyser

Geyser Probabilities[ | ]

There are 19 unique geysers to pick from for each of the 12 randomly chosen geysers, each having the same chance of selection. This can be broken down into groups:

  • Water-producing: 6 (PH2O can be cleaned, steam can be cooled)
  • Oxygen-producing: 2 (PO2 can be cleaned)
  • Volcanic: 5 (magma, metal)
  • Metal-producing: 3
  • Power-producing: 3 (natural gas, leaky oil, hydrogen)

Ignoring specified geysers (i.e. cool steam vent in swamp), and assuming 9 of the 12 randomly chosen geysers exist on a given world (oil biome geysers tend to not exist), the odds for getting preferred geysers are as follows:

Number of preferred geysers
1 2 3 4 5
Min
amount
wanted
1 38.53% 63.25% 78.7% 88.09% 93.6%
2 7.79% 24.34% 42.77% 59.49% 73.02%
3 0.96% 6.03% 15.81% 29% 43.62%
4 0.08% 1% 4.02% 10.02% 19.12%
5 0% 0.11% 0.71% 2.43% 5.99%
6 0% 0.01% 0.08% 0.4% 1.3%

All listed values assume the number of each preferred doesn't matter (two of the same geyser despite preference for more than 1), the odds of getting multiple distinct geysers will be worse.

As an example, if a world with at least two volcanoes is desired, it should have a 73.02% chance per world (5 preferred, 2 wanted). If just want one metal volcano is desired, it should have a 78.70% chance per world (3 preferred, 1 wanted).

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