Sandustry WikiLava Guide
Move heat into automation while keeping the process controlled.
Researched 17 Aug 2026 · Official facts separated from community observationsLava occurs deep underground and can be relocated through the Cinder process.
Where Lava comes from
Lava occurs naturally deep underground in the Lava Cave. It is a liquid resource with freezing and Water interactions, so the safe factory design starts with containment.
Do not open a natural pocket until the receiving area and escape path are prepared.
The Cinder transport cycle
Snow from the Cryoblaster freezes Lava into Scoria. Breaking Scoria drops Cinders, which can travel on Conveyor Belts or Launchers. Igniting Cinder turns it back into Lava.
This cycle converts a dangerous liquid into a transportable solid and recreates the heat only where it is needed.
- Lava + Snow → Scoria.
- Break Scoria → Cinders.
- Transport Cinders.
- Ignite Cinders → Lava.
Automated burning with Filters
The official Lava page describes trapping Lava inside Filters so compatible pixels passing over it ignite. A Filter filled with Lava can burn Slag moved across the belt and turn it into Burnt Slag.
Build the Lava cell as a replaceable module. Keep unrelated burnable materials and Water out of the same transport path.
Water and safety
Water landing on Lava evaporates into Steam. This can be useful in a designed process but destructive when two systems leak into each other.
The two selected videos show independent Lava automation layouts. Use their arrangement ideas, but validate clearances and throughput in the current build before scaling.
- Test with a small Cinder batch.
- Keep Water pipes away from open Lava.
- Provide a way to stop input.
- Do not expand an uncontained burner.
- Lava in Filters can ignite passing materials.
- Snow freezes Lava into Scoria.
- Water on Lava creates Steam.
Version boundary: The physical conversion chain is official; layout and throughput claims come from two separate Early Access videos.
Research behind this guide
This page was written from its own keyword material file. The sources below are not shared filler from another guide.
Lava Guide FAQ
Five practical answers covering setup, troubleshooting and version-sensitive decisions.
Where is Lava found in Sandustry?
Lava occurs in deeper underground areas such as the Lava Cave. Approach with a controlled excavation route and prepare containment before opening the final boundary, because the material can create heat and reaction hazards once released.
Can Lava be transported on conveyors?
Do not move liquid Lava as though it were an ordinary belt item. The documented workflow freezes Lava with Snow into Scoria, breaks Scoria into transportable Cinders, then reignites the Cinders inside containment at the destination.
What happens when Water touches Lava?
Water contacting Lava creates Steam according to the captured official material rules. Treat the meeting point as a designed reaction chamber; an accidental contact can consume resources or spread material into a part of the factory that was not built for it.
What tool freezes Lava?
The Cryoblaster is the relevant freezing tool. Confirm that you have the required research and enough working space before approaching the source; freezing is one step in the Scoria-to-Cinder transport chain, not a complete containment plan.
Why is Lava dangerous near Filters?
Lava inside or around Filters can ignite passing materials. Separate heat handling from ordinary logistics, use nonessential test inputs first and include an accessible shutdown or cleanup area before connecting the module to valuable production.