Finding Oil Shale is one of the key moments in 7 Days to Die, when early survival begins to transition into true late-game progression. Fuel becomes essential once vehicles, generators, and advanced tools come into play.
Unlike basic resources such as iron or clay, oil shale does not spawn randomly across the map and can only be found in one specific biome.
Where to Find Oil Shale in 7 Days to Die
In 7 Days to Die, the location of oil shale is very clearly defined – this resource spawns exclusively in the Desert biome. If you are looking for oil shale, the desert is the only place you should go.
In the desert, oil shale appears in the form of oil deposits. The first type can generate on the surface, making it easy to spot while exploring the biome. The second, and far more important form, consists of underground oil deposits that generate deep beneath the desert terrain. These underground deposits are the primary source of oil shale in the mid and late game.
Each oil deposit is part of the natural world generation and is not tied to specific buildings or POIs, meaning it can appear under open desert terrain as well as beneath structures.
Oil Shale Map Color in 7 Days to Die
In 7 Days to Die, oil shale deposits are highlighted on the in-game map after they are discovered or mined. Oil deposits appear as purple markers, which makes them easy to distinguish from other resource nodes.
This map indicator becomes especially useful in the later stages of the game, when you return to large underground oil deposits. With a quick glance at the map, you can immediately see where your oil shale sources are located.
Oil Shale Recipes
Oil shale is one of the most important resources in the later stages of the game, mainly due to its role in fuel production. Recipes that use this material are limited, but very specific, and each of them plays an important part in character progression and base infrastructure development.
The most important use of oil shale is, of course, crafting gas cans, which are used to power vehicles and other mechanical tools. Oil shale is also required for producing asphalt and sunstroke tonic, both of which can be useful when exploring the Desert biome.
- 2 Gas Cans (1 Oil Shale)
- Oil (24 Oil Shale)
- Asphalt (8 Crushed Sand, 17 Small Stone, 5 Oil Shale)
- Sunstroke Tonic (5 Aloe Vera Leaf, 5 Mushrooms, 5 Oil Shale, 1 Water)
