[MC-170897] Nether fossils can generate floating if a cave carver removes the ground beneath them

How to reproduce

Version: 1.21.4

Seed: 4373241205666815302
Coordinates: /execute in minecraft:the_nether run tp @s 112.53 55.00 168.09 -232.95 7.40

Linked issues

causes 1

MC-296488 Dried ghasts can generate floating Resolved

is duplicated by 14

MC-241834 Fossils spawn above lava pools in the nether Resolved

MC-239292 Floating fossils in the nether Resolved

MC-239293 Nether fossils floating Resolved

MC-235335 nether fossils now float Resolved

MC-193108 Nether Fossils occasionally float Resolved

9 more links

relates to 5

MC-171024 Fossils in the nether can spawn inside of nether fortresses and bastion remnants Reopened

MC-170815 Soul sand valley fossils generate duplicated / stacked Resolved

MC-171491 Fossils spawn floating in the sky in buffet worlds Resolved

MC-301781 Fallen tree trunks can generate fully floating Open

MC-214784 Fossils can generate floating in caves Resolved

Attachments

Comments 20

migrated 2020-02-07T00:33:04Z

Duplicate of MC-170815 - please search before reporting

xParadoxical_ 2020-02-07T14:15:24Z

@Oval not completely a duplicate. My report adds that these structures can float. I think it should be marked as relating to that report.

Michael Wobst 2020-02-26T19:35:39Z

Still an issue in 20w09a. See

[media]

. Added seed and coordinates to the description.

TheBoy358 2020-03-04T17:02:14Z

Still not fixed in 20w10a.

[media]

Ohtacaro 2020-03-05T16:08:32Z

Most fossils seem to generate properly. Here is another example of one not working in 20w10a

[media]

10 more comments

migrated 2020-03-14T14:00:25Z

Some fossils are completely underground as well when you go into spectator mode. This is likely from the same code as floating fossils.
But that's a related bug.

gaspoweredpick 2020-03-26T22:41:23Z

Fossils can still generate in the air, but only if a cave/ravine removes the ground below it.

migrated 2020-04-17T07:30:29Z

Still in 20w16a

migrated 2020-06-10T16:19:04Z

Still occur in 1.16 pre-3, also it looks like fossils may be able to delete blocks below (added screenshot)

migrated 2020-08-26T18:47:13Z

Confirmed for 1.16.2

Avoma 2020-12-22T16:09:34Z

Can confirm in 20w51a although, the provided coordinates no longer work. I did manage to find a floating fossil on the same seed, however. Here are the new coordinates:

Seed: -2995685393248072134
Coordinates: /execute in minecraft:the_nether run tp @p -318 72 -2039 150 30

migrated 2021-04-07T14:11:47Z

Can confirm in 21w13a.

Seed: 1
Coordinates: /execute in minecraft:the_nether run tp @p 80 60 80

This seems to be caused by the caves carving through the fossil's island.

migrated 2021-06-06T22:17:53Z

Can confirm in 1.17 Release Candidate 1.

Seed: -6152269615058931521
Coordinates: /execute in minecraft:the_nether run tp @s -115.08 95.43 228.76 55.99 15.75

migrated 2021-06-13T04:20:23Z

Can confirm in 1.17.

ampolive 2021-09-09T18:48:02Z

Can confirm in 1.17.1.

migrated 2021-10-22T14:47:35Z

Why is the status set to open? We need proper transitions Reopened to in progress and in progress to reopened when the progress is stopped.

muzikbike 2022-03-12T20:04:48Z

Affects 1.18.2:

[media]

Avoma 2022-07-04T18:54:45Z

Can confirm in 1.19.

[media]

Version: 1.19

Seed: 4373241205666815302
Coordinates: /execute in minecraft:the_nether run tp @s 112.53 55.00 168.09 -232.95 7.40

johnny17 2025-07-07T16:12:16Z

can confirm in 1.21.7

seed: 1019869349801327497
coordinates:  (on nether) /tp @s 287.10 56.20 998.86

aleksandrchernov 2026-08-14T05:57:25Z

Can confirm in 26.6