The most remarkable block you might unexpectedly encounter during a deep mountain expedition in Minecraft PE is undoubtedly diamond ore. But what block deserves the second spot? I propose our block of the week as one of the contenders – mossy cobblestone.
Hear me out! The reason I say this is that mining a cluster of mossy cobblestone almost certainly indicates you’ve stumbled upon a dungeon within the world of MCPE—a small, naturally generated structure containing one or two chests filled with valuable goodies and mob spawners. The list of treasures can range from rotten flesh to saddles, name tags, and horse armor, while the mob spawner can be utilized for creating a mob farm in Minecraft Pocket Edition.
Mossy cobblestone was introduced in Minecraft PE during the early days of the game, in the same update that brought us iron, TNT, bookshelves, and obsidian. During the endless development phase of the game, players initially spawned in a small moss-covered house, and later, this block became integral in constructing jungle temples and zombie villages.
In version 1.8, the ability to craft blocks from mossy cobblestone was added—a straightforward recipe involving just cobblestone and vines. In turn, mossy cobblestone can also be used to create mossy walls made similarly to regular cobblestone walls but designed to appear as if covered in moss.
In the real world, you would likely find mossy cobblestone much easier to locate than in MCPE. Mosses are tiny, colorless plants that typically grow in clumps in dark or shaded areas. There are over 12,000 different species of moss, most of which tend to be quite small, resembling seedlings; however, one particular type—Dawsonia—can reach heights of up to 50 cm!
Historically, moss has been a valuable resource. Some cultures utilized it for bedding, while others employed it as insulation in homes and boots. Ötzi the Iceman, the naturally preserved remains of a man who lived over 5,000 years ago in the Alps, was found wearing moss boots at the time of his death. Certain cultures even used it as a sponge for absorbing liquids. North American tribes used moss as diapers and sanitary pads, and it was applied for wound dressing during World War I.
Today, many industries have replaced moss with newer materials. However, there remains a thriving market for wild-harvested moss, primarily in floristry and home decor. Other uses include the creation of peat, which serves as fuel and in the production of Scotch whisky. In Mexico, it is used as Christmas decoration.
Yet we can only scratch the surface of what moss can do for us. Biotechnology has discovered that certain types of moss may enhance human health or boost crop growth. Complex pharmaceuticals can even be brewed in moss bioreactors. With this in mind, you should probably gather all the mossy cobblestone you can find in Minecraft Pocket Edition—it could prove useful someday…
