diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/items/itemid.csv b/assets/mods/basegame/items/itemid.csv
index 56663956f..726946e80 100644
--- a/assets/mods/basegame/items/itemid.csv
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/items/itemid.csv
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ id;classname;tags
 
 
 # gemstones
-#144; gems
+144;net.torvald.terrarum.modulebasegame.gameitems.GemQuartz;SMELTABLE,SIO2
+145;net.torvald.terrarum.modulebasegame.gameitems.GemAmethyst;SMELTABLE,SIO2
+146;net.torvald.terrarum.modulebasegame.gameitems.ItemRockSalt;
 
 # tree seeds by tree species
 160;net.torvald.terrarum.modulebasegame.gameitems.ItemSeedOak;SEEDLING
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/items/items.tga b/assets/mods/basegame/items/items.tga
index c4e6764ff..90518ab83 100644
--- a/assets/mods/basegame/items/items.tga
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/items/items.tga
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
-oid sha256:f6acb450f5ce5db757f85c7fe66a27ecec5b35f633b0ee3aaeb9fd8c475cc2f7
+oid sha256:e62409fc2fb24b70f68d1192803f4f9a2da9ff72c966865ead05c26ee16594bb
 size 2408466
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/locales/en/items.json b/assets/mods/basegame/locales/en/items.json
index 49673b61b..22b21c9cd 100644
--- a/assets/mods/basegame/locales/en/items.json
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/locales/en/items.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
   "ITEM_GEM_TOPAZ": "Raw Topaz",
   "ITEM_GEM_DIAMOND": "Raw Diamond",
   "ITEM_GEM_AMETHYST": "Raw Amethyst",
+  "ITEM_GEM_QUARTZ": "Raw Quartz",
   "ITEM_HATCHET_COPPER": "Copper Axe",
   "ITEM_HATCHET_IRON": "Iron Axe",
   "ITEM_HATCHET_STEEL": "Steel Axe",
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/locales/koKR/items.json b/assets/mods/basegame/locales/koKR/items.json
index 99fe6522c..efdf2ea6f 100644
--- a/assets/mods/basegame/locales/koKR/items.json
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/locales/koKR/items.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
   "ITEM_GEM_TOPAZ": "황옥석",
   "ITEM_GEM_DIAMOND": "금강석",
   "ITEM_GEM_AMETHYST": "자수정석",
+  "ITEM_GEM_AMETHYST": "석영석",
   "ITEM_HATCHET_COPPER": "구리 도끼",
   "ITEM_HATCHET_IRON": "철 도끼",
   "ITEM_HATCHET_STEEL": "강철 도끼",
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/256.tga b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/256.tga
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0f7b18f0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/256.tga
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:35c9fcf7627753c7f2659df232a8f77acaacde649bb740ec8c1cd696c5031103
+size 131090
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/257.tga b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/257.tga
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..40d18124e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/257.tga
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:b5a01528f361424764bbc3e0c6903fa2105ee002e00a5edbf28015c087711c67
+size 131090
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/258.tga b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/258.tga
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0e926e53d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/258.tga
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:ebf26fd8dc1f9d31cee8521d5c1107b39ea93a64403b0e6dea908a43140c1063
+size 131090
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/ores.csv b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/ores.csv
index 32d16c9cf..0f95de0db 100644
--- a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/ores.csv
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/ores.csv
@@ -7,14 +7,16 @@
  "6";"item@basegame:133";"GOLD,NATURAL_GOLD"
  "7";"item@basegame:134";"SILVER,NATURAL_SILVER"
  "8";"item@basegame:135";"LEAD,GALENA"
-# "8";"item@basegame:136";"GEM,RUBY"
-# "9";"item@basegame:137";"GEM,EMERALD"
-#"10";"item@basegame:138";"GEM,SAPPHIRE"
-#"11";"item@basegame:139";"GEM,TOPAZ"
-#"12";"item@basegame:140";"GEM,DIAMOND"
-#"13";"item@basegame:141";"GEM,SIO2,AMETHYST"
-#"14";"item@basegame:142";"GEM,SIO2,QUARTZ"
-#"16";"item@basegame:143";"TITANIUM,RUTILE"
+#"9";"item@basegame:143";"TITANIUM,RUTILE"
 
-#"256";"macro@BASETILE";"GRASS"
-#"257";"macro@BASETILE";"MOSS"
\ No newline at end of file
+"256";"item@basegame:146";"SALT"
+"257";"item@basegame:145";"GEM,SIO2,AMETHYST"
+"258";"item@basegame:144";"GEM,SIO2,QUARTZ"
+#"259";"item@basegame:136";"GEM,RUBY"
+#"260";"item@basegame:137";"GEM,EMERALD"
+#"261";"item@basegame:138";"GEM,SAPPHIRE"
+#"262";"item@basegame:139";"GEM,TOPAZ"
+#"263";"item@basegame:140";"GEM,DIAMOND"
+
+#"512";"macro@BASETILE";"GRASS"
+#"513";"macro@BASETILE";"MOSS"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/worldgen.csv b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/worldgen.csv
index 4e091592b..96dbb490b 100644
--- a/assets/mods/basegame/ores/worldgen.csv
+++ b/assets/mods/basegame/ores/worldgen.csv
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
 "7";"0.013";"0.300";"0.476";"1.0";"a16x16";"natural silver"
 "8";"0.017";"0.020";"0.511";"1.0";"a16x16";"lead (galena)"
 
+"256";"0.010";"-0.366";"0.528";"2.4";"a16x8";"rocksalt"
+"257";"0.007";"0.100";"0.494";"1.0";"a16x8";"amethyst"
+"258";"0.019";"0.015";"0.509";"1.0";"a16x8";"quartz"
+
 ################################################################################
 
 # id: ore ID to spawn, the ID must exist on the ores.csv
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/FancyWorldReadLoadScreen.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/FancyWorldReadLoadScreen.kt
index 57ed8bbdd..96520f801 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/FancyWorldReadLoadScreen.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/FancyWorldReadLoadScreen.kt
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ open class FancyWorldReadLoadScreen(screenToBeLoaded: IngameInstance, private va
 
 class FancyWorldgenLoadScreen(screenToBeLoaded: IngameInstance, private val worldwidth: Int, private val worldheight: Int) : FancyWorldReadLoadScreen(screenToBeLoaded, worldwidth, worldheight, {}) {
 
-    private val chunks = (worldwidth / CHUNK_W) * 8
+    private val chunks = (worldwidth / CHUNK_W) * 9
 
     override fun getProgress(): Double {
         return progress.get().toDouble() / chunks * previewWidth
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/console/ExportMap.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/console/ExportMap.kt
index f67763319..a82520854 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/console/ExportMap.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/console/ExportMap.kt
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ internal object ExportMap : ConsoleCommand {
         "ores@basegame:6" to Cvec(0xffcc00ff.toInt()),
         "ores@basegame:7" to Cvec(0xd5d9f9ff.toInt()),
         "ores@basegame:8" to Cvec(0xff9300ff.toInt()),
+        "ores@basegame:256" to Cvec(0xff00ffff.toInt()),
+        "ores@basegame:257" to Cvec(0xee77ffff.toInt()),
+        "ores@basegame:258" to Cvec(0xffffffff.toInt()),
     )
 
     private val WALL_OVERLAY = Cvec(0.35f, 0.35f, 0.35f, 1f)
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/gameitems/OreItemBase.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/gameitems/OreItemBase.kt
index 00ad98435..96070d7af 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/gameitems/OreItemBase.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/gameitems/OreItemBase.kt
@@ -153,6 +153,23 @@ class OreLead(originalID: ItemID) : OreItemBase(originalID, true) {
         get() = CommonResourcePool.getAsItemSheet("basegame.items").get(8,6)
 }
 
+class GemQuartz(originalID: ItemID) : OreItemBase(originalID, true) {
+    override var originalName = "ITEM_GEM_QUARTZ"
+    override var smeltingProduct: ItemID? = "item@basegame:149"
+    override val itemImage: TextureRegion
+        get() = CommonResourcePool.getAsItemSheet("basegame.items").get(13,6)
+}
+class GemAmethyst(originalID: ItemID) : OreItemBase(originalID, true) {
+    override var originalName = "ITEM_GEM_AMETHYST"
+    override val itemImage: TextureRegion
+        get() = CommonResourcePool.getAsItemSheet("basegame.items").get(14,6)
+}
+class ItemRockSalt(originalID: ItemID) : OreItemBase(originalID, true) {
+    override var originalName = "ITEM_ROCK_SALT"
+    override val itemImage: TextureRegion
+        get() = CommonResourcePool.getAsItemSheet("basegame.items").get(10,6)
+}
+
 
 class ItemCoalCoke(originalID: ItemID) : OreItemBase(originalID) {
     override var originalName = "ITEM_COAL_COKE"
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/OregenAutotiling.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/OregenAutotiling.kt
index 70382ee51..253b5e66d 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/OregenAutotiling.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/OregenAutotiling.kt
@@ -62,6 +62,15 @@ class OregenAutotiling(world: GameWorld, isFinal: Boolean, seed: Long, val tilin
                             BlocksDrawer.connectLut16[autotiled] or mult.shl(4)
                         }
 
+                        "a16x8" -> {
+                            // get placement (tile connection) info
+                            val mult = getHashCoord(x, y, 8)
+                            val autotiled = getNearbyOres8(x, y).foldIndexed(0) { index, acc, placement ->
+                                acc or (placement.item == ore).toInt(index)
+                            }
+                            BlocksDrawer.connectLut16[autotiled] or mult.shl(4)
+                        }
+
                         "a16x16" -> {
                             // get placement (tile connection) info
                             val mult = getHashCoord(x, y, 16)
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/Worldgen.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/Worldgen.kt
index cbdfefc6e..0286e05d2 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/Worldgen.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/modulebasegame/worldgenerator/Worldgen.kt
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ object Worldgen {
         val start = (0.00342f * world.height - 3.22f).floorToInt().coerceAtLeast(1)
         // this value has to extend up, otherwise the player may spawn into the chopped-off mountaintop
         // this value has to extend down into the rock layer, otherwise, if the bottom of the bottom chunk is dirt, they will turn into grasses
-        return start - 1 to start + 6
+        return start - 1 to start + 7
     }
 
     private val rockScoreMin = 40
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/tests/WorldgenNoiseSandbox.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/tests/WorldgenNoiseSandbox.kt
index d92be58a2..409d36e11 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/tests/WorldgenNoiseSandbox.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/tests/WorldgenNoiseSandbox.kt
@@ -332,17 +332,20 @@ internal object TerragenTest : NoiseMaker {
         Block.STONE_MARBLE to Color(0.8f, 0.8f, 0.8f, 1f)
     )
 
-    private val COPPER_ORE = 0x00e9c8ff
-    private val IRON_ORE = 0xff7e74ff.toInt()
-    private val COAL_ORE = 0x383314ff.toInt()
-    private val ZINC_ORE = 0xefde76ff.toInt()
-    private val TIN_ORE = 0xcd8b62ff.toInt()
-    private val GOLD_ORE = 0xffcc00ff.toInt()
-    private val SILVER_ORE = 0xd5d9f9ff.toInt()
-    private val LEAD_ORE = 0xff9300ff.toInt()
+    private val COPPER_ORE = 0//x00e9c8ff.toInt()
+    private val IRON_ORE = 0//xff7e74ff.toInt()
+    private val COAL_ORE = 0//x383314ff.toInt()
+    private val ZINC_ORE = 0//xefde76ff.toInt()
+    private val TIN_ORE = 0//xcd8b62ff.toInt()
+    private val GOLD_ORE = 0//xffcc00ff.toInt()
+    private val SILVER_ORE = 0//xd5d9f9ff.toInt()
+    private val LEAD_ORE = 0//xff9300ff.toInt()
+    private val QUARTZ = 0//x55ff33ff.toInt()
+    private val AMETHYST = 0//xee77ffff.toInt()
+    private val ROCKSALT = 0xff00ffff.toInt()
 
     private val oreCols = listOf(
-        COPPER_ORE, IRON_ORE, COAL_ORE, ZINC_ORE, TIN_ORE, GOLD_ORE, SILVER_ORE, LEAD_ORE
+        COPPER_ORE, IRON_ORE, COAL_ORE, ZINC_ORE, TIN_ORE, GOLD_ORE, SILVER_ORE, LEAD_ORE, ROCKSALT, QUARTZ, AMETHYST
     )
 
     private val terragenYscaling = (NOISEBOX_HEIGHT / 2400.0).pow(0.75)
@@ -353,7 +356,7 @@ internal object TerragenTest : NoiseMaker {
         val cave = if (noiseValue[1] < 0.5) 0 else 1
         val ore = (noiseValue.subList(2, noiseValue.size)).zip(oreCols).firstNotNullOfOrNull { (n, colour) -> if (n > 0.5) colour else null }
 
-        val isMarble = noiseValue[10] > 0.5
+        val isMarble = false // noiseValue[13] > 0.5
 
         val wallBlock = if (isMarble) Block.STONE_MARBLE else groundDepthBlock[terr]
         val terrBlock = if (cave == 0) Block.AIR else if (isMarble) Block.STONE_MARBLE else wallBlock
@@ -687,6 +690,9 @@ internal object TerragenTest : NoiseMaker {
             Joise(generateOreVeinModule(caveAttenuateBiasScaledCache, seed shake "ores@basegame:6", 0.009, 0.300, 0.474, 1.0)),
             Joise(generateOreVeinModule(caveAttenuateBiasScaledCache, seed shake "ores@basegame:7", 0.013, 0.300, 0.476, 1.0)),
             Joise(generateOreVeinModule(caveAttenuateBiasScaledCache, seed shake "ores@basegame:8", 0.017, 0.020, 0.511, 1.0)),
+            Joise(generateOreVeinModule(caveAttenuateBiasScaledCache, seed shake "ores@basegame:256", 0.010, -0.366, 0.528, 2.4)),
+            Joise(generateOreVeinModule(caveAttenuateBiasScaledCache, seed shake "ores@basegame:257", 0.007, 0.100, 0.494, 1.0)),
+            Joise(generateOreVeinModule(caveAttenuateBiasScaledCache, seed shake "ores@basegame:258", 0.019, 0.015, 0.509, 1.0)),
 
             Joise(generateRockLayer(groundScalingCached, seed, params, (0..7).map {
                 thicknesses[it] + marblerng.nextTriangularBal() * 0.006 to (2.6 * terragenYscaling) + it * 0.18 + marblerng.nextTriangularBal() * 0.09
diff --git a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/worlddrawer/CreateTileAtlas.kt b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/worlddrawer/CreateTileAtlas.kt
index 1b43a8567..a10f76995 100644
--- a/src/net/torvald/terrarum/worlddrawer/CreateTileAtlas.kt
+++ b/src/net/torvald/terrarum/worlddrawer/CreateTileAtlas.kt
@@ -367,6 +367,11 @@ class CreateTileAtlas {
             addTag(blockID, RenderTag.CONNECT_SELF, RenderTag.MASK_16X4)
             drawToAtlantes(tilesPixmap, tilesGlowPixmap, tilesEmissivePixmap, RenderTag.MASK_16X4)
         }
+        // predefined by the image dimension: 256x128
+        else if (tilesPixmap.width == TILE_SIZE * 16 && tilesPixmap.height == TILE_SIZE * 8) {
+            addTag(blockID, RenderTag.CONNECT_SELF, RenderTag.MASK_16X8)
+            drawToAtlantes(tilesPixmap, tilesGlowPixmap, tilesEmissivePixmap, RenderTag.MASK_16X8)
+        }
         // predefined by the image dimension: 256x256
         else if (tilesPixmap.width == TILE_SIZE * 16 && tilesPixmap.height == TILE_SIZE * 16) {
             addTag(blockID, RenderTag.CONNECT_SELF, RenderTag.MASK_16X16)
@@ -511,7 +516,8 @@ class CreateTileAtlas {
             const val MASK_TORCH = 3
             const val MASK_PLATFORM = 4
             const val MASK_16X4 = 5
-            const val MASK_16X16 = 6
+            const val MASK_16X8 = 6
+            const val MASK_16X16 = 7
 
             fun maskTypeToTileCount(maskType: Int) = when (maskType) {
                 MASK_NA -> 1
@@ -520,6 +526,7 @@ class CreateTileAtlas {
                 MASK_TORCH -> 4
                 MASK_PLATFORM -> 8
                 MASK_16X4 -> 64
+                MASK_16X8 -> 128
                 MASK_16X16 -> 256
                 else -> throw IllegalArgumentException("Unknown maskType: $maskType")
             }
diff --git a/work_files/graphics/items/basegame_items.kra b/work_files/graphics/items/basegame_items.kra
index f7f6891c4..7d75d81cf 100644
--- a/work_files/graphics/items/basegame_items.kra
+++ b/work_files/graphics/items/basegame_items.kra
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
-oid sha256:17b944ce40375963784d92e48cf95712b128188e85500641fe40b11039f9a930
-size 1081066
+oid sha256:d54cc8a4bf962dfe61a6fe708e9a0cc0a043b890333a13749487286a47042313
+size 1157742
diff --git a/work_files/graphics/terrain/gems.kra b/work_files/graphics/terrain/gems.kra
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a8eb28455
--- /dev/null
+++ b/work_files/graphics/terrain/gems.kra
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:41e6d57f36c5c38c088cc137bfff991fe2835a72fef4f3d8f75cd77384c5bc9f
+size 631562