Looking to push your weapons into mid-game upgrade tiers but running short on sturdy quartzite? You’re not alone. This guide covers exact locations, required tools, and efficient farming routes to help you stock up quickly — without wasting hours wandering the yard.
Quick Answer – Best Sturdy Quartzite Locations
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Black Anthill & Black Anthill Lab (Lower Yard) – Highest early/mid-game density
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Haze Tunnels (Southwest Yard) – Great clusters behind cracked-rock walls
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Woodpile Termite Den (Upper Yard) – Sturdy + Supreme quartzite (bring strong gear)
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Sandbox Burrows / Caves (Upper Yard) – Late mid-game quartzite; watch the Sizzle
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Undershed Caverns (End-game) – Large deposits, but extremely dangerous
Most sturdy quartzite is found underground in anthills, labs, and deep caves — bring light, healing, and spare equipment.
Why You Need Sturdy Quartzite
Sturdy quartzite is used to craft Sturdy Whetstones at the Smithing Station. These are required to upgrade weapons from early to mid-tier.
Think of upgrade materials like this:
| Upgrade Tier | Material Required |
|---|---|
| Early Tier | Brittle Whetstone |
| Mid Tier | Sturdy Whetstone |
| Late Tier | Supreme Whetstone |
Your favorite club, bow, or spear will fall behind without them — sturdy quartzite is the current bottleneck for most builds.
Gear & Preparation Checklist
| Item | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Tier 2 Insect Hammer | Sturdy nodes cannot be mined with Tier 1 |
| Light Source | Caves are pitch-black |
| Gas Mask | Mandatory in the Haze |
| Sizzle Protection | Sandbox caves & BBQ regions |
| Explosives | Crack open blocked side rooms (often hiding quartzite) |
| Healing + Backup Weapon | Anthills & labs have heavy enemy presence |
| Inventory Space | Shards add up quickly |
Pro Tip – Scan Before You Go
After analyzing your first Sturdy Quartzite Shard, visit any Field Station and use the Resource Surveyor to ping sturdy node locations.
Drop a waypoint and string together 2–3 clusters in a single run.
Best Sturdy Quartzite Locations (Detailed)
Black Anthill & Black Anthill Lab (Lower Yard)
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Why it’s good: Dense resource clusters + early access
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Bring: Tier 2 hammer, torches, crowd control weapons
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Route Tip: Clear outer loops first > lab section second. Mark cleared rooms with trail markers or Clover Roofs.
Haze Tunnels (Southwest Yard)
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Why it’s good: Early sturdy quartzite — often hidden behind cracked rock walls
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Bring: Gas Mask + Bratburst bombs
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Route Tip: Move clockwise from the Haze Lab entrance and blast every cracked rock you see.
Woodpile Termite Den (Upper Yard)
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Why it’s good: Mixture of sturdy and supreme nodes
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Bring: Tier 2 or Tier 3 hammer, piercing weapons
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Route Tip: Take one branch at a time and use markers at intersections — easy to get turned around.
Sandbox Burrows & Edge Caves (Upper Yard)
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Why it’s good: Solid mid-to-late game sturdy quartzite
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Bring: Sizzle protection + Antlion-ready gear
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Route Tip: Run burrows in sequence, then move to nearby caves during cooler hours.
Undershed Caverns (End-Game Only)
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Why it’s good: Massive deposits of sturdy and supreme quartzite
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Bring: Tier 3 hammer + late-game armor and weapons
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Route Tip: Only run these caves once other sources are exhausted. Plan an escape route.
Do Sturdy Quartzite Nodes Respawn?
No. Quartzite and marble nodes do not naturally respawn.
That’s why unlocking the recipe to craft Sturdy Whetstones (via BURG.L at the Oak Lab) is a long-term must.
Efficient Route Examples
Route A (Mid-Game Lower Yard Sweep)
Haze → Black Anthill → Black Anthill Lab → Return to base
Route B (Upper Yard Power Run)
Woodpile → Sandbox → (Optional) quick Undershed sweep → Return
Mining Tips
✔ Pull enemies one at a time
✔ Always carry a spare torch
✔ Repair hammers mid-run
✔ Blast cracked rocks — assume loot is behind
✔ Use clover roofs to mark forked branches
FAQ
Do sturdy quartzite nodes respawn?
No. They are finite. Unlock crafting via BURG.L as soon as possible.
What hammer do I need?
Tier 2 hammer for sturdy quartzite. Tier 3 only for supreme nodes.
Where do I craft Sturdy Whetstones?
At the Smithing Station, using sturdy quartzite shards or alternative materials (after unlocking the recipe).
Safest early location?
Outer Black Anthill loops and Haze tunnels (with Gas Mask).
Final Thoughts
Sturdy quartzite is the essential stepping stone between early comfort and mid-game survival in Grounded 2. With the right tools, planning and route linking, you can farm enough in just a couple of trips to keep your weapons viable. Combine resource scanning with route efficiency — and unlock the smithing recipe ASAP — and you’ll never fall behind the game’s scaling difficulty.
