Oxidized
Oxidized (Safro) adds “more vanilla+ uses for copper” (38 lang entries) — a small mod, but a functionally dense one, judging by config/oxidized_config.json. Two headline features are enabled on this server: copper rails (copper_rail_range: 50 — an extended-range rail variant, presumably a cheaper/simpler powered-rail alternative) and a copper pulsar (enable_copper_pulsar: true, pulsar_reach: 10 — a redstone pulse-emitting block with a 10-block reach). There’s also a copper golem (enable_copper_golem: true, with a copper_golem_button_chance: 30 — likely the odds it presses a nearby button while wandering, referencing the real Minecraft 1.21 copper golem concept implemented early here) and rose gold tools (enable_rose_gold_tools: true), giving copper an actual tool-tier alongside iron/gold.
The config also tunes a copper-panning mechanic: iron_nugget_chance and gold_nugget_chance at 0.15 each, sand_chance 0.24, gravel_chance 0.12, and a rare emerald_chance of 0.02, plus enable_copper_pan_sound: true — strongly implying a copper pan tool that sifts through gravel/sand for nuggets and the occasional emerald, similar to real-world gold panning. This makes Oxidized one of the more mechanically interesting mods in an otherwise mostly-cosmetic category.
How you’ll use it here
Copper becomes a proper mid-tier metal rather than just a decoration block: lay copper rails (50-block range here) as a cheaper alternative to powered rails on long minecart lines, craft rose gold tools for a tool tier sitting alongside iron and gold, and wire a copper pulsar (10-block reach) into redstone contraptions that need a repeating pulse. For a passive resource loop, use the copper pan to sift gravel and sand for iron/gold nuggets and the occasional emerald. A copper golem may also wander and press nearby buttons, so factor that in around redstone you don’t want triggered.
Anticipated questions
What do I get from panning? Per the config, sifting yields iron and gold nuggets (~15% each), sand and gravel, and a rare emerald (~2%) — a slow trickle, not a farm, so treat it as flavor income rather than a main source.
Are rose gold tools better than iron? They’re a distinct tool tier the mod adds alongside iron and gold; the note doesn’t give exact stats, so compare durability and speed in-game before committing.
What does the copper pulsar do? It emits a redstone pulse with a 10-block reach — generally useful as a repeating clock or remote trigger in redstone builds.