Subnautica 2 Gold — Where to Find & How to Mine It
How to find Gold in Subnautica 2: golden perforated spheres in the hot lava zone east of the lifepod (~450m), needs Heat Tolerance. Used for Strong Acid and more.
Last updated: 2026-06-07
What is Gold used for?
Gold is a key metal for electrical and advanced components: it crafts Strong Acid (with Sulfur), the Advanced Wiring Kit and Gold Ingots, and feeds base structures like the Thermal Plant. You'll want a stock of it to push through the mid-game and wire up deep-sea power. Unlike the early surface ores, Gold sits behind a heat gate, so plan to make the trip once you've unlocked Heat Tolerance rather than grinding for it too early.
Where to find Gold
Location: the hot / lava zone east of the lifepod — the main source is on the rocks around the crashed colony ship ~450m east, plus the surrounding volcanic-vent area.
How to spot it: Gold appears as golden, perforated spheres, usually growing on and around Radiator Corals.
⚠️ You need the Heat Tolerance adaptation to safely enter this hot region. Heat Tolerance unlocks by clearing the Bloom infestation from an Angel Comb — see the Angel Comb & Adaptations guide.
💡 This area is also a Sulfur source, and the two are easy to confuse since both are yellowish: Gold is perforated spheres on Radiator Corals, while Sulfur comes with a yellow gaseous glow. Grab both in one trip.
How to harvest it
Large Gold deposits are mined with a Sonic Resonator; smaller ones can be picked up by hand. Before entering the heat, bring Heat Tolerance, top up oxygen, and don't linger too long.
Because the Gold field overlaps the Sulfur deposits, one heat-protected run can stock both — and both feed Strong Acid, making it an efficient mid-game farming loop. Bring a Tadpole if you have one: the hot zone is far enough east that swimming back with a full inventory wastes oxygen.
If you've already unlocked Heat Tolerance, the Gold + Sulfur route to Strong Acid is convenient since both spawn right here; otherwise Necrolei Cysts are the easier early source — see the Strong Acid guide.
What Gold is used for
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Strong Acid | Gold + Sulfur alternate recipe; Strong Acid gates Fiber Mesh, Power Cells and more |
| Advanced Wiring Kit | A key material for mid/late-game electronics |
| Gold Ingot | Pressed from several Gold — an advanced building material |
| Thermal Plant | The hot-zone power structure for deep bases |
| Silver (from Gold) | Convert Gold into Silver at the Fabricator when you're short |
FAQ
Q: Where do I find Gold?
A: The hot/lava zone east of the lifepod — mainly around the crashed colony ship ~450m east, as golden perforated spheres on Radiator Corals.
Q: What do I need to mine Gold?
A: The Heat Tolerance adaptation to enter the hot zone, unlocked by clearing an Angel Comb's Bloom infestation.
Q: How do I tell Gold from Sulfur?
A: Gold is golden perforated spheres on Radiator Corals; Sulfur comes with a yellow gaseous glow. Scan if unsure.
Q: Do I need a tool to harvest it?
A: A Sonic Resonator for large deposits; small ones are hand-pickable.
Q: What is Gold mainly used for?
A: Strong Acid, the Advanced Wiring Kit, Gold Ingots and the Thermal Plant — key mid/late-game crafts.
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