Sulfur Quarry in Rust: Complete Guide & Calculator

William Westerlund / September 2, 2025 / 4 min read

In Rust, resources are the lifeblood of survival, and sulfur stands out as one of the most critical ones. Sulfur Ore is essential for crafting gunpowder, which powers everything from explosive ammo to raiding tools like rockets and C4.

While mining sulfur nodes manually is a staple activity, the Sulfur Quarry offers a passive way to harvest this valuable resource. However, it’s not without its challenges, requiring diesel fuel and constant defense against other players.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Sulfur Quarry, from locating and setting it up to optimizing efficiency with a built-in calculator.

Whether you’re a solo player or part of a clan, mastering the Sulfur Quarry can give you a steady supply of sulfur without the endless grind of hitting rocks.

What is the Sulfur Quarry?

The Sulfur Quarry is one of three static mining monuments in Rust, alongside the Stone Quarry and High-Quality Metal (HQM) Quarry.

📍
Spawn Location
Typically in desert biomes (though map seeds sometimes glitch).
🏗️
Fixed Monument
Unlike older, craftable quarries (removed in Devblog 189), these are permanent structures and cannot be relocated or claimed.
⚙️
Function
Automated extractor that produces Sulfur Ore in exchange for diesel fuel.

The quarry produces 1,000 Sulfur Ore per unit of diesel fuel, with each cycle lasting 2 minutes and 10 seconds (130 seconds). It’s slower than the Giant Excavator Pit, but easier to manage for mid-game players.

Locating the Sulfur Quarry

Rust Sulfur Quarry - 1

Here’s how you can locate the Sulfur Quarry more easily in Rust:

Biome Priority

🔥
Sulfur
Found in desert biomes.
🌳
Stone
Found in temperate areas.
❄️
HQM
Found in snowy biomes.

Identification

Large crater-like depression with a massive drill rig at its center.

Tips

🗺️
Map Awareness
Use Rustmaps.com or the in-game map to locate quarries.
🎯
High Exposure
Deserts are more open and exposed—watch for snipers.
👥
Server Population
On low-pop servers, quarries are less contested. On high-pop servers, clans usually dominate them.

Setting Up and Operating the Sulfur Quarry

Rust Sulfur Quarry - 2

Here’s what you need to do to use the Sulfur Quarry in Rust:

1. Fuel It Up

🛢️
Fueling
Insert diesel fuel into the blue barrels on the side opposite the ladder.
Diesel Sources
Obtained from red barrels in junk piles, oil rigs, and pump jacks.
⚖️
Yield
1 Diesel = 1,000 Sulfur Ore.

2. Start the Engine

🎮
Operation
Climb the ladder and interact with the control panel (E key).
🔊
Noise
The quarry is very loud—plan runs during off-peak hours.

3. Collect Resources

🪣
Ore Collection
Ore gathers in the hopper at the base.
⚠️
Prevent Overflow
Empty regularly to prevent the hopper from overflowing.

Defense Setup

🧱
Walls
~20 external walls around the quarry for protection.
🔫
Turrets
Place auto-turrets on the watchtower for high-ground coverage.
Escape Route
Plan an escape route, e.g., a boat if near the coast.
💪
Quarry HP
Quarry HP: 2,500 (requires 5 C4 or heavy gunfire to destroy).

Efficiency Tip: Pair with pump jacks → crude oil → refined into diesel → self-sustaining loop.

Sulfur Quarry Efficiency and Calculator

Rust Sulfur Quarry - 3

Yields are modest compared to manual mining (jackhammer + snow biome nodes), but the quarry provides passive income.

Formula

  • Sulfur Ore Output = Diesel × 1,000
  • Time = Diesel × 130 seconds

Examples:

  • 1 Diesel → 1,000 Ore → 2:10 min
  • 5 Diesel → 5,000 Ore → 10:50 min
  • 10 Diesel → 10,000 Ore → 21:40 min

Calculator Table

Diesel Fuel UsedSulfur Ore YieldTotal TimeEquivalent Gunpowder (after smelting)Notes
11,0002:10 min1,000Quick solo run
55,00010:50 min5,000Mid-game ammo stock
1010,00021:40 min10,000~7 rockets worth
5050,0001:48 hrs50,000Clan-level farming
100100,0003:37 hrs100,000High-risk, heavy defense

Sulfur Quarry Calculator

Tips, Strategies, and Common Mistakes

Here’s what you need to pay attention to when using the Sulfur Quarry:

Fuel Management

Stockpile diesel from boating runs. Don’t confuse with LGF—post-2023 updates use diesel only.

Defense

  • Solos: quick hit-and-run.
  • Clans: turrets, walls, and watchtower snipers.

Risks

  • Noise attracts raiders.
  • Never leave it unattended without walls.

Alternatives

  • Giant Excavator → 2,000 sulfur per diesel, but requires clearing NPCs.
  • Manual Mining → Faster for solos, especially in snow biomes.

Server Variations

  • Modded servers may boost yields.
  • Console editions sometimes differ, so check settings.

Conclusion

The Sulfur Quarry is a double-edged sword: a steady source of sulfur if managed well, but a noisy, risky target without proper defense.

With smart preparation, walling, and the efficiency calculator above, it can power your raids and keep your team supplied. Experiment on low-stakes servers, and remember: in Rust, resources win wars.

FAQs

How much sulfur does the Sulfur Quarry produce per diesel fuel?

The Sulfur Quarry produces 1,000 Sulfur Ore per unit of diesel fuel, with each cycle taking 2 minutes and 10 seconds (130 seconds).

Can you build around the Sulfur Quarry in Rust?

Yes. Players can wall off the Sulfur Quarry with high external walls and add defenses like auto-turrets on the watchtower. However, the quarry itself cannot be locked or owned exclusively—it remains a public monument.

Is the Sulfur Quarry better than manual mining?

For solo players, manual mining (especially with a jackhammer in snow biomes) is faster and more efficient. The Sulfur Quarry is best for passive farming, especially when clans or groups can fuel and defend it.

Where can I find diesel fuel for the Sulfur Quarry?

Diesel fuel can be found in red barrels at junk piles, oil rigs, and pump jacks in monuments like the Power Plant, Train Yard, or Water Treatment Plant. It is rarer than low-grade fuel but much more efficient.

Is the Sulfur Quarry worth using on high-pop servers?

It depends. On high-pop servers, quarries are often contested by clans, making them risky for solos. However, if well-defended, they can provide massive amounts of sulfur passively, fueling large-scale raids and PvP dominance.

author avatar
William Westerlund
William is an author, editor, and an avid gamer with thousands of hours in CS:GO (Counter-Strike 2). He also enjoys playing Rust, Dota 2, and TF2 but never became as proficient in any of those games.

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