diff --git a/server/states/ExploringState.js b/server/states/ExploringState.js
index 9a69daf..79f1b07 100644
--- a/server/states/ExploringState.js
+++ b/server/states/ExploringState.js
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 /**
- * ExploringState - Autonomous exploration to discover the world map
- * Similar to mining but focused on discovering blocks rather than mining them
+ * ExploringState - Chunk-based spiral exploration to discover the world map
+ * 
+ * Instead of random walking, this systematically explores in a spiral pattern
+ * outward from the starting position, chunk by chunk (16x16 areas).
+ * Within each chunk, it does a strip-mine pattern to scan all blocks.
+ * 
+ * Inspired by runi95/turtle-control-panel's exploration pattern.
  */
 import { BaseState } from './BaseState.js';
 
@@ -9,9 +14,19 @@ export class ExploringState extends BaseState {
     super(turtle, data);
     this.maxDistance = data.maxDistance || 200;
     this.minFuel = data.minFuel || 500;
+    this.yLevel = data.yLevel || null; // null = stay at current Y
     this.blocksDiscovered = 0;
-    this.stuckCounter = 0;
-    this.visitedPositions = new Set();
+    this.chunksExplored = 0;
+
+    // Spiral state
+    this.spiralRing = data.spiralRing || 0;
+    this.spiralSide = data.spiralSide || 0;
+    this.spiralStep = data.spiralStep || 0;
+    this.spiralChunkX = data.spiralChunkX ?? null;
+    this.spiralChunkZ = data.spiralChunkZ ?? null;
+    this.startChunkX = data.startChunkX ?? null;
+    this.startChunkZ = data.startChunkZ ?? null;
+    this.exploredChunks = new Set(data.exploredChunks || []);
   }
 
   get name() {
@@ -19,69 +34,235 @@ export class ExploringState extends BaseState {
   }
 
   get description() {
-    return `Exploring - ${this.blocksDiscovered} blocks discovered`;
+    return `Exploring - ${this.blocksDiscovered} blocks, ${this.chunksExplored} chunks (ring ${this.spiralRing})`;
   }
 
   async *act() {
-    console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] Starting exploration`);
+    const pos = this.turtle.position;
+    if (!pos) {
+      console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] No position, trying GPS...`);
+      await this.turtle.gpsLocate();
+      if (!this.turtle.position) {
+        console.error(`[${this.turtle.id}] Cannot explore without position`);
+        this.turtle.setState('idle');
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Initialize start chunk from current position
+    if (this.startChunkX === null) {
+      this.startChunkX = Math.floor(this.turtle.position.x / 16);
+      this.startChunkZ = Math.floor(this.turtle.position.z / 16);
+      this.spiralChunkX = this.startChunkX;
+      this.spiralChunkZ = this.startChunkZ;
+    }
+
+    // Set Y level for exploration
+    if (!this.yLevel) {
+      this.yLevel = this.turtle.position.y;
+    }
+
+    console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] Starting chunk-based spiral exploration from chunk (${this.startChunkX}, ${this.startChunkZ}), Y=${this.yLevel}`);
 
     while (!this.cancelled) {
       try {
-        // Safety checks
+        // Safety: check fuel
         const fuel = await this.checkFuel();
         if (fuel !== 'unlimited' && fuel < this.minFuel) {
           const refueled = await this.tryRefuel();
           if (!refueled) {
-            this.turtle.setState('goHome', { reason: 'low_fuel' });
+            console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] Low fuel, going home`);
+            this.turtle.setState('goHome', { reason: 'low_fuel', returnState: 'exploring', returnData: this.getRecoveryData().data });
             return;
           }
         }
 
-        // Check distance
+        // Safety: check inventory
+        const isFull = await this.isInventoryFull();
+        if (isFull) {
+          console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] Inventory full, going home to dump`);
+          this.turtle.setState('goHome', { reason: 'inventory_full', returnState: 'exploring', returnData: this.getRecoveryData().data });
+          return;
+        }
+
+        // Safety: check distance
         if (this._isTooFar()) {
+          console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] Too far from home, returning`);
           this.turtle.setState('goHome', { reason: 'too_far' });
           return;
         }
 
-        // Check inventory
-        const isFull = await this.isInventoryFull();
-        if (isFull) {
-          this.turtle.setState('goHome', { reason: 'inventory_full', returnState: 'exploring' });
-          return;
+        // Get the current target chunk
+        const chunkKey = `${this.spiralChunkX},${this.spiralChunkZ}`;
+
+        if (!this.exploredChunks.has(chunkKey)) {
+          // Explore this chunk
+          console.log(`[${this.turtle.id}] Exploring chunk (${this.spiralChunkX}, ${this.spiralChunkZ}) [ring ${this.spiralRing}]`);
+          yield* this._exploreChunk(this.spiralChunkX, this.spiralChunkZ);
+          this.exploredChunks.add(chunkKey);
+          this.chunksExplored++;
         }
 
-        // Mark position
-        const pos = this.turtle.position;
-        if (pos) {
-          this.visitedPositions.add(`${pos.x},${pos.y},${pos.z}`);
-        }
+        // Advance spiral to next chunk
+        this._advanceSpiral();
 
-        // Comprehensive scan
-        const scanResult = await this.scanSurroundings();
-        if (scanResult) {
+        yield;
+      } catch (error) {
+        const isTimeout = error.message?.includes('timed out');
+        if (isTimeout) {
+          console.warn(`[${this.turtle.id}] Exploration timeout, retrying...`);
+          await this._sleep(3000);
+        } else {
+          throw error;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Explore a single chunk by navigating to it and doing a strip-mine scan pattern.
+   * Scans every 3rd row at the exploration Y level for good coverage.
+   */
+  async *_exploreChunk(chunkX, chunkZ) {
+    const startX = chunkX * 16;
+    const startZ = chunkZ * 16;
+
+    // Navigate to the start corner of the chunk
+    const chunkStart = { x: startX, y: this.yLevel, z: startZ };
+    yield* this._navigateToSafe(chunkStart);
+
+    // Strip-mine scan pattern across the chunk
+    // Every 3 blocks gives good coverage with turtle.inspect() range
+    let forward = true;
+    for (let row = 0; row < 16; row += 3) {
+      if (this.cancelled) return;
+
+      const rowZ = startZ + row;
+      const rowStartX = forward ? startX : startX + 15;
+
+      // Navigate to row start
+      yield* this._navigateToSafe({ x: rowStartX, y: this.yLevel, z: rowZ });
+
+      // Walk along the row, scanning as we go
+      const direction = forward ? 1 : 3; // East or West
+      await this.turnToFace(direction);
+
+      for (let step = 0; step < 15; step++) {
+        if (this.cancelled) return;
+
+        // 3-direction scan
+        const scanResult = await this.exec(`
+          local results = {}
+          local h, d
+          h, d = turtle.inspect()
+          if h then results.forward = d end
+          h, d = turtle.inspectUp()
+          if h then results.up = d end
+          h, d = turtle.inspectDown()
+          if h then results.down = d end
+          return results
+        `);
+
+        if (scanResult && typeof scanResult === 'object') {
+          this.turtle.processScanResults(scanResult);
           this.blocksDiscovered += Object.keys(scanResult).length;
         }
 
         // Mine any valuable ores we find
         yield* this._checkAndMineOres();
 
-        // Exploration movement
-        yield* this._exploreStep();
-
-      } catch (error) {
-        const isTimeout = error.message?.includes('timed out');
-        if (isTimeout) {
-          console.warn(`[${this.turtle.id}] Exploration exec timeout, will retry next iteration`);
-          // Wait longer before retrying after a timeout
-          await this._sleep(3000);
-        } else {
-          // Non-timeout errors still propagate
-          throw error;
+        // Move forward (digging through obstacles)
+        const moved = await this.moveForward(true);
+        if (!moved) {
+          // Stuck - try to go over
+          await this.moveUp(true);
+          const movedOver = await this.moveForward(true);
+          if (movedOver) {
+            await this.moveDown(true);
+          } else {
+            // Really stuck, skip rest of row
+            break;
+          }
         }
+
+        yield;
+        await this._sleep(100);
+      }
+
+      // Alternate direction for serpentine pattern
+      forward = !forward;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Navigate to a target position safely using pathfinding with simple fallback
+   */
+  async *_navigateToSafe(target) {
+    try {
+      const success = yield* this.navigateTo(target, { canMine: true, maxAttempts: 500 });
+      if (success) return;
+    } catch (error) {
+      // Pathfinding failed, use simple navigation
+    }
+
+    // Fallback: simple direct navigation
+    yield* this._simpleNavigate(target);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Simple direct navigation (X -> Z -> Y)
+   */
+  async *_simpleNavigate(target) {
+    const maxAttempts = 300;
+    let attempts = 0;
+    let stuckCount = 0;
+
+    while (attempts < maxAttempts && !this.cancelled) {
+      const pos = this.turtle.position;
+      if (!pos) return;
+
+      const dx = target.x - pos.x;
+      const dy = target.y - pos.y;
+      const dz = target.z - pos.z;
+
+      // Close enough (within 2 blocks)
+      if (Math.abs(dx) <= 1 && Math.abs(dy) <= 1 && Math.abs(dz) <= 1) return;
+
+      attempts++;
+      let moved = false;
+
+      // Move in X direction
+      if (Math.abs(dx) > 1) {
+        const facing = dx > 0 ? 1 : 3;
+        await this.turnToFace(facing);
+        moved = await this.moveForward(true);
+      }
+      // Then Z direction
+      else if (Math.abs(dz) > 1) {
+        const facing = dz > 0 ? 2 : 0;
+        await this.turnToFace(facing);
+        moved = await this.moveForward(true);
+      }
+      // Then Y direction
+      else if (dy > 0) {
+        moved = await this.moveUp(true);
+      } else if (dy < 0) {
+        moved = await this.moveDown(true);
+      }
+
+      if (!moved) {
+        stuckCount++;
+        if (stuckCount > 5) {
+          // Try going up and over
+          await this.moveUp(true);
+          await this.moveUp(true);
+          stuckCount = 0;
+        }
+      } else {
+        stuckCount = 0;
       }
 
       yield;
-      await this._sleep(300);
     }
   }
 
@@ -89,6 +270,13 @@ export class ExploringState extends BaseState {
     const valuableOres = new Set([
       'minecraft:diamond_ore', 'minecraft:emerald_ore',
       'minecraft:deepslate_diamond_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_emerald_ore',
+      'minecraft:gold_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_gold_ore',
+      'minecraft:iron_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_iron_ore',
+      'minecraft:lapis_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_lapis_ore',
+      'minecraft:redstone_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_redstone_ore',
+      'minecraft:copper_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_copper_ore',
+      'minecraft:coal_ore', 'minecraft:deepslate_coal_ore',
+      'minecraft:ancient_debris',
     ]);
 
     const directions = [
@@ -113,61 +301,54 @@ export class ExploringState extends BaseState {
     }
   }
 
-  async *_exploreStep() {
-    const pos = this.turtle.position;
-    if (!pos) return;
-
-    // Favor horizontal movement heavily (85%)
-    const r = Math.random() * 100;
-
-    if (r < 85) {
-      // Try to find unvisited direction
-      let moved = false;
-      
-      for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
-        const fwdPos = this.turtle.getBlockPositionInDirection('forward');
-        if (fwdPos && !this.visitedPositions.has(`${fwdPos.x},${fwdPos.y},${fwdPos.z}`)) {
-          const canMove = await this.exec('local h = turtle.inspect(); return not h');
-          if (canMove) {
-            await this.moveForward(false);
-            moved = true;
-            this.stuckCounter = 0;
-            break;
-          } else {
-            // Block in the way - dig through if exploring
-            const success = await this.moveForward(true);
-            if (success) {
-              moved = true;
-              this.stuckCounter = 0;
-              break;
-            }
-          }
-        }
-        
-        await this.exec('turtle.turnRight()');
-        this.turtle.facing = (this.turtle.facing + 1) % 4;
-      }
-
-      if (!moved) {
-        this.stuckCounter++;
-        const success = await this.moveForward(true);
-        if (!success) {
-          await this.exec('turtle.turnRight()');
-          this.turtle.facing = (this.turtle.facing + 1) % 4;
-        }
-      }
-    } else if (r < 93 && pos.y > 10) {
-      await this.moveDown(true);
-    } else {
-      await this.moveUp(true);
+  /**
+   * Advance the spiral to the next chunk position.
+   * Standard clockwise spiral: start at center, go E, then S, W, N with increasing lengths.
+   * Ring 0: just center
+   * Ring 1: side lengths = 1,2,2,1 (total 6 chunks)  
+   * Ring R: 8*R chunks around the ring
+   */
+  _advanceSpiral() {
+    if (this.spiralRing === 0) {
+      // Center done, start ring 1 going East
+      this.spiralRing = 1;
+      this.spiralSide = 0;
+      this.spiralStep = 0;
+      this.spiralChunkX = this.startChunkX + 1;
+      this.spiralChunkZ = this.startChunkZ - (this.spiralRing - 1);
+      return;
     }
 
-    if (this.stuckCounter > 6) {
-      await this.moveUp(true);
-      this.stuckCounter = 0;
+    // Side directions: S, W, N, E
+    const sideDirs = [
+      { dx: 0, dz: 1 },   // South
+      { dx: -1, dz: 0 },  // West
+      { dx: 0, dz: -1 },  // North
+      { dx: 1, dz: 0 },   // East
+    ];
+
+    this.spiralStep++;
+    const sideLength = this.spiralRing * 2;
+
+    if (this.spiralStep >= sideLength) {
+      this.spiralStep = 0;
+      this.spiralSide++;
+
+      if (this.spiralSide >= 4) {
+        // Done with this ring, move to next
+        this.spiralRing++;
+        this.spiralSide = 0;
+        // Jump to start of new ring (one East, one North from current)
+        this.spiralChunkX = this.startChunkX + this.spiralRing;
+        this.spiralChunkZ = this.startChunkZ - (this.spiralRing - 1);
+        return;
+      }
     }
 
-    yield;
+    // Move in current side direction
+    const dir = sideDirs[this.spiralSide];
+    this.spiralChunkX += dir.dx;
+    this.spiralChunkZ += dir.dz;
   }
 
   _isTooFar() {
@@ -184,6 +365,15 @@ export class ExploringState extends BaseState {
       data: {
         maxDistance: this.maxDistance,
         minFuel: this.minFuel,
+        yLevel: this.yLevel,
+        spiralRing: this.spiralRing,
+        spiralSide: this.spiralSide,
+        spiralStep: this.spiralStep,
+        spiralChunkX: this.spiralChunkX,
+        spiralChunkZ: this.spiralChunkZ,
+        startChunkX: this.startChunkX,
+        startChunkZ: this.startChunkZ,
+        exploredChunks: [...this.exploredChunks],
       },
     };
   }