If I hit a decent sized cave then I'll stop and explore that then begin a new branch. Other then that, if I don't hit a cave, I just stop whenever I feel like it. Just depends I suppose.
When half of my pickaxes are broken, then i start another branch and mining my way back to one of four root branches (Advanced branch mining in all 4 sides)
I never stop going in one direction. If I hit a cave I explore it and continue through the other side of it. If I hit an "unstoppable" lava lake I go over it or through it (which is kind of hard).
Yep lava lake and also I try not to go out too many chunks, because I play on a server. Easier on the server if you don't load too many chunks.
Say what? You do know that only 21X21 chunks are loaded around you right? As you move chunks are saved and unloaded and new chunks are loaded ahead of you.
Branch Mining:
Assuming you dig down to Y12, that your tunnels are 1x2, that you leave two blocks between each branch, that your main tunnel is 32 blocks long and branches are 15 blocks long.
You will mine out roughly 650 blocks, exposing around 2000.
That would give you on average 2,3 diamonds, 26,5 coal, 2,9 gold, 14,7 iron and 2,9 lapis.
Quarrying:
Assuming you mine out a 32x32 area, starting at Y 64 and ending at Y 4
You will mine out roughly 61.500 blocks.
That should be roughly 27 diamonds, 318 coal, 34 gold, 177 iron and 34 lapis.
Please note that this is just what I can remember and calculate of the top of my head at 11:30 PM, so do not take this as conclusive evidence
Dude, think about it. In the branch mining numbers you mined 650 blocks and in the quarry you mined 61,440 blocks. So you would need to multiply the branch mining numbers by 94 to compare. The branch mining would blow your numbers away then.
But you still expose around 2000 stone blocks more, bringing the number down to about 25. And these are old stone to ore ratios (Beta 1.6.6) so they aren't what you would call up-to-date
Assuming your numbers are accurate in the first place then again you're not thinking correctly. You would need to multiply 2000 blocks exposed by 94 also, which would mean 188,000 blocks exposed.
Assuming I have sufficient time to mine as long as I want...
...I stop when my inventory fills with stuff I don't want to toss.
...I stop when my tunnel runs into a cave or abandoned mine. I'll then convert to spelunking. I might or might not resume the branch depending on how extensive the caves/mines are.
...I stop when my tunnel runs into an obstacle not worth the effort it would take to cross, usually vast lava beds but occasionally other things. I'll then backtrack to my main corridor and begin a new branch.
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You don't carry a water bucket on you? "Lava lake" is just another word for "smooth obsidian floor that probably has diamonds nearby" in my vocabulary
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I said an "unstoppable lava lake" meaning I turn if my water bucket won't work ex: lava lake is on me from all sides
Say what? You do know that only 21X21 chunks are loaded around you right? As you move chunks are saved and unloaded and new chunks are loaded ahead of you.
Dude, think about it. In the branch mining numbers you mined 650 blocks and in the quarry you mined 61,440 blocks. So you would need to multiply the branch mining numbers by 94 to compare. The branch mining would blow your numbers away then.
by c0yote
I tried it with terrible results. I gave my wife my glasses for a second, a creeper showed up and now my wife is pregnant.
Stupid 3D..
Assuming your numbers are accurate in the first place then again you're not thinking correctly. You would need to multiply 2000 blocks exposed by 94 also, which would mean 188,000 blocks exposed.
by c0yote
I tried it with terrible results. I gave my wife my glasses for a second, a creeper showed up and now my wife is pregnant.
Stupid 3D..
Hey no problem man. It sounds like you like quarry mining and that's okay. But it really is not near as efficient or productive as branch mining.
by c0yote
I tried it with terrible results. I gave my wife my glasses for a second, a creeper showed up and now my wife is pregnant.
Stupid 3D..
...I stop when my inventory fills with stuff I don't want to toss.
...I stop when my tunnel runs into a cave or abandoned mine. I'll then convert to spelunking. I might or might not resume the branch depending on how extensive the caves/mines are.
...I stop when my tunnel runs into an obstacle not worth the effort it would take to cross, usually vast lava beds but occasionally other things. I'll then backtrack to my main corridor and begin a new branch.