How to Get Atacamite in Subnautica 2 – Locations, Uses & Farming Tips

TL;DR

• Atacamite is a dark green tabular crystal found on the seabed in the Alien Ruins biome, at depths of 250–450 meters.
• The closest farming spot is 250 meters east-southeast of the Alien Ruins base at around 110 degrees on your compass — directly below the broken turbine.
• The best farming spot is the Karakorum Metal Farm basin — 860 meters northeast of the Alien Ruins at about 450 meters depth.
• You need a Sonic Resonator to mine it — Atacamite only spawns as a Resource Deposit, not a loose pickup.
• You need the Tadpole Depth Module Mk. I to reach most deposits safely.
• You need at least 10 Atacamite for the Power Plant repair alone — collect more to cover Metal Farm builds too.

Atacamite in Subnautica 2 is one of the most important late-game resources you will ever need — and one of the least obvious to locate. It is a tabular green crystal, and according to the PDA, trace substitutions give it anomalous thermo-magnetic behavior that enables localized cooling. In practical terms, it is the material that unlocks Mangalloy Ingots, which in turn are required for the Power Plant turbine repair, Metal Farm construction, and the Tadpole’s second depth upgrade. Without Atacamite, the late-game story and resource automation are both blocked. This guide covers every location, exactly how to get there, what tools you need, and how much to collect in Subnautica 2.

What Is Atacamite Used For in Subnautica 2?

Atacamite feeds into several important crafting recipes. Here is every use for it in the current Early Access build:

Mangalloy Ingot – Primary Use

This is why most players are looking for Atacamite. To create a Mangalloy Ingot, you need to use your base Processor machine. The recipe requires one Titanium Ingot, one piece of Atacamite, and one piece of Troilite. The machine takes exactly 30 seconds to spit out the finished alloy.

Mangalloy Ingots are needed for two critical late-game objectives:

• 10 Mangalloy Ingots to repair the Karakorum Power Plant turbine — which means you need at least 10 Atacamite just for this step alone. See our full guide on how to fix the Power Plant and open the Observatory for the complete turbine repair walkthrough.
• 1 Mangalloy Ingot per Metal Farm — so if you plan to build all five farms using every Axum Bacterial Culture in the game, you need 5 Mangalloy Ingots on top of the 10 for the turbine, totalling at least 15 Atacamite for everything combined. Collect more than you think you need.

For help processing Atacamite into Mangalloy Ingots, see our guide on how to build Processors and craft ingots.

Ultra High Capacity Air Tank

The Ultra High Capacity Air Tank recipe requires 1 High Capacity Air Tank, 3 Troilite, and 3 Atacamite. This upgrade gives you significantly more dive time in the deepest areas of the map and is useful for long resource runs in the Alien Ruins region. While Atacamite is also used in crafting the Ultra High Capacity Air Tank, that is not currently possible in early access. However, collecting extras now means you are ready when it becomes available. For now, prioritize the Mangalloy Ingot chain over saving Atacamite for the air tank.

What You Need Before You Go

All Atacamite locations are well below the maximum depth that a base model Tadpole can handle, so you will either need to upgrade your Tadpole, or drop it off at 250 meters and do the rest of the dive yourself. Since the latter is incredibly dangerous, especially in the Alien Ruins area, it is recommended that you upgrade your Tadpole.

Before diving for Atacamite, make sure you have:

• Tadpole with Depth Module Mk. I — Required to reach the deeper Atacamite deposits without taking constant hull damage. See our guide on how to go deeper with the Tadpole Depth Module.
• Sonic Resonator — Atacamite is only found as a Resource Deposit, and the Sonic Resonator is required to obtain it. You cannot pick it up with your hands or break it with the Survival Multitool. It will not drop at all without the Resonator.
• Distraction Flares — Both farming zones are in or near Collector Leviathan territory. Carry a full stack. See our hostile creatures guide for the exact approach to take through Collector territory.
• Repair Tool and spare Power Cell — The Collector can damage your Tadpole hull. Have a Repair Tool in your inventory for between-encounter repairs.
• Enough inventory space — You need at least 15 free slots if you are collecting for the turbine and all Metal Farms in one run. See our guide on how to increase inventory space before heading out.

Where to Find Atacamite in Subnautica 2

Atacamite is a late-game resource found on the seabed surrounding the alien structures to the far east of the map. Unlike most minerals that hide in caves, Atacamite sits exposed on the ocean floor in the alien zone, making it easy to spot once you reach the area — but getting there requires significant progression.

There are two main farming locations. One is closer and easier to reach. The other has more deposits and is worth the extra distance once you have the Depth Module.

Location 1 – Below the Broken Turbine (Closest Spot)

This is the most accessible Atacamite farming spot in the game and the one you should hit first. Start from the Alien Ruins and swim towards 110 degrees until you are 250 meters away from the base. Now, move directly towards the bed of the ocean and search the sand under the alien platform. Atacamite only grows on the ocean’s bed, so do not waste your time looking for it on the cliffs or cave walls.

The deposits here sit at around 300 meters depth on the sandy floor directly beneath the giant turbine structure. You can get Atacamite at a depth of 300 meters or below in the Alien Ruins region. They occur naturally alongside large Quartz deposits on the floor. It appears as a cluster of crystals and can easily be confused for Titanium or Quartz, but it is noticeably darker than both. That is due to the lack of light at such depths — but when a light source hits it, it gives off a greenish hue.

Look specifically under and around the large purple Titan Rockbore roots in the area. Atacamite deposits tend to cluster near these root structures. Check the large crater below the main alien structure — swim around the large purple root there to find additional deposits.

This location is convenient because it is also where you will be spending time clearing the Alien Ruins Angel Comb. You can collect Atacamite on the same dive you are working on the Angel Comb puzzle, saving you a dedicated trip.

Location 2 – Karakorum Metal Farm Basin (Best Farming Spot)

The best farming location is the Karakorum Metal Farm area, southeast of the Karakorum Power Plant in the far northeast of the map. The area consists of a large multi-layered basin centered on a green pool, with Atacamite nodes scattered across the surrounding seabed.

From the Alien Ruins Research Base, head northeast at approximately 75 degrees for around 860 meters. The Metal Farm basin sits at roughly 400 to 450 meters depth. The glowing green pools are unmistakable once you are in the right depth range — follow them down into the basin and you will find Atacamite nodes spread across the surrounding floor.

This zone has more Atacamite than the turbine area, and it also has Troilite and the Axum Bacterial Culture in the same location. Farm Atacamite alongside Troilite and Axum Bacterial Culture in the same run — they all spawn in the same zone. This is the single most efficient resource dive in the entire game. Do all three in one trip and you come back with everything needed for Mangalloy Ingots, Metal Farms, and Power Plant repair in a single run.

For full details on collecting Axum Bacterial Culture during the same dive, see our Axum Bacterial Culture guide. For Troilite locations and how to prioritise it, check our Troilite guide.

How to Mine Atacamite

Atacamite only spawns as a fixed Resource Deposit on the seabed — not as a loose pickup. You need the Sonic Resonator to break it. Here is the process:

• Approach the dark green crystal cluster on the ocean floor.
• Equip your Sonic Resonator and charge it up.
• Fire at the deposit to break it. Each hit releases raw Atacamite pieces that float briefly before you pick them up.
• Collect the drops quickly before they drift.

Large deposits give more Atacamite per node than small ones. Always target the biggest crystal clusters you can find first to maximise yield per Sonic Resonator charge. The Feedback Resonator (upgraded version of the Sonic Resonator) works just as well for mining and also handles the armored Bloom Cankers in the Angel Comb areas. See our Feedback Resonator guide for how to upgrade.

How Much Atacamite Do You Need?

Work out your total before you dive so you do not have to make a second dangerous trip. Here is a breakdown by objective:

• Power Plant turbine repair — 10 Mangalloy Ingots required, each needing 1 Atacamite = 10 Atacamite minimum.
• 5 Metal Farms — 5 Mangalloy Ingots required = 5 additional Atacamite.
• Ultra High Capacity Air Tank — 3 Atacamite (currently not craftable in Early Access but worth collecting for future updates).
• Safety buffer — Grab 2 to 3 extra in case deposits are sparse or you want to build additional base components.

The practical recommendation from the community is to collect at least 15 Atacamite in a single run — 10 for the turbine, 5 for the Metal Farms, with a small buffer for anything unexpected. If you can carry more, take more. Return trips to a Collector Leviathan zone are never fun.

Remember that Titanium Ingots are also part of the Mangalloy recipe. Stock up on Titanium at your base before the dive and process Titanium Ingots in advance so you only need the Processor to handle the Mangalloy step when you return.

Navigating to Atacamite Safely

Both Atacamite zones sit in areas patrolled by the Collector Leviathan. Here is how to get in and out without losing your run:

• Approach from below, not above. The Collector patrols at a higher depth layer than the deposits. Descend steeply to 300–400 meters before moving laterally into the zone — this keeps you under the Collector’s main patrol altitude and significantly reduces aggro.
• Stay close to the seabed. Atacamite grows on the ocean floor, so you will naturally be near the bottom. This is also the safest position relative to the Leviathan overhead.
• Use the Camouflage Biomod. If you have unlocked it by scanning a Bullethead, staying still makes you completely invisible. This is the safest way to pause and mine Atacamite deposits without being interrupted. See our full Biomods guide for all Biomod locations.
• Have a Distraction Flare on your Quickslot. If the Collector locks onto you, throw a flare in the opposite direction of your escape route and swim back toward your Tadpole immediately.
• Park near cover. Leave your Tadpole next to a rock formation or one of the Metal Farm column structures — not floating in open water where it can be found and damaged while you are on foot collecting.

Tips for Farming Atacamite Efficiently

• Do the Metal Farm run and the Atacamite run at the same time. Both objectives are in the same zone. Collect Atacamite, Troilite, and Axum Bacterial Culture on a single dive, then scan the Metal Farm structures while you are there. You save multiple dangerous trips by doing everything at once.
• Collect more than you think you need. It is one of the three materials needed to make Mangalloy Ingots, and since you will need twelve of those, make sure you collect at least twelve Atacamite while in the area. The guidance from progression guides is to collect 12 or more — 10 for the turbine, with a couple extra for emergencies and the Metal Farm builds.
• Process Mangalloy Ingots before building anything. Having raw Atacamite is only part of the equation. You need a Processor at your base to turn it into Mangalloy Ingots. Make sure your base power is solid enough to run the Processor continuously without gaps. See our guide on how to add power to your base.
• Increase your oxygen before deep runs. At 300 to 450 meters, with creatures to manage and deposits to mine, you will be under for a long time. Stack oxygen upgrades before attempting this dive. Our oxygen guide and improved fins guide will help.
• Look under and around purple root structures. Atacamite clusters consistently near the Titan Rockbore root systems in both farming zones. If you are not finding deposits, trace the purple roots toward the seafloor and check the base of each one.

Atacamite in the Bigger Picture

Atacamite sits at the centre of the entire late-game material chain in Subnautica 2‘s current Early Access build. Without it, you cannot make Mangalloy Ingots. Without Mangalloy Ingots, you cannot fix the Power Plant turbine. Without the turbine, the Observatory stays locked and the story cannot progress. Every other preparatory step — learning the alien language, clearing the Angel Comb, building your Tadpole — leads to the point where you need Atacamite to push through to the ending.

The resource is not hard to mine once you reach it — the barrier is entirely about preparation and survival. Get the Depth Module, bring your Resonator, take flares, and approach from below. Collect 15 or more in one trip and you will not need to come back. Everything after that becomes a base-building and processing exercise that you can handle safely from home.

You can start your Subnautica 2 journey now on Xbox Game Preview or Steam Early Access.

Related Subnautica 2 Guides

• How to Get Axum Bacterial Culture
• Where to Find Troilite
• How to Build Processors & Craft Ingots
• How to Fix the Power Plant & Open the Observatory
• How to Go Deeper with the Tadpole Depth Module
• How to Get the Feedback Resonator
• How to Deal with Hostile Creatures in Subnautica 2
• All Biomods in Subnautica 2 & How to Get Them
• How to Get Titanium
• How to Increase Oxygen
• How to Increase Inventory Space
• How to Add Power to Your Base