The BRANCH mining Tutorial:
(Sorry for the terminology mixup, oh and click on the images to get a bigger version on Flickr.com)
Let's look at branch mining and how to make a proper b-mine spanning over multiple levels. The first thing you need to do, is obviously to find a suitable wall or create a room/wall of your own that is (or can be expanded to become) big enough for a major mining operation. For this tutorial, I've just made a demo along a cavern wall that I found:
First we need to dig out some initial tunnels and place torches to lighten up things. Oh and be sure to get yourself an ample supply of Iron or Diamond pickaxes (for stone and ore) and shovels (for dirt and gravel):
It's time to expand our mine vertically, which will show you the reason why each tunnel of the same level needs to be 3 blocks apart:
In this picture, we'll look closer at how we can better manage each tunnel:
Here's the final picture showing you a full coverage of the wall and how you can just expand forever, either up, down (to bedrock) or to either side. You can also add rails and whatnot.
Some final words:
For Diamond mining, get down to level/layer 12 ("y: 12.6..." when hitting F3) and make your operation span between layers 10-16, the best layers for finding diamond. Layer 10 is the Lava layer, and layer 1-4 is where you'll find the Bedrock.
Dig out the highest tunnels first. This will reveal potential lava lakes from a safe height as well as allow you to control falling gravel better. Just don't be reckless, else you might fall down.
Consider making a b-mine wall on each side of the b-mining hub (the big room), if applicable.
You may also want to bring with you a bucket of water so that you can "obsidianate" the lava if it becomes a nuisance, just remember to release the water above the lava and not into it, so you can reclaim the water afterwards.
Note: the best form of mining is actually NOT branch or strip mining, but rather cave spelunking (exploring), because of all the exposed veins. BUT, branch mining is a solid alternative if you fail to locate a decent cave system that satisfies your needs. branch mining can also be alot safer, because you control the layout. Notch ain't got nothing on you.
At the request of CaduceusGUILT, here's a picture of a previously posted branchmining hub that uses both walls:
Hope it all helps. Feel free to leave a comment :smile.gif:
I actually will start using this technique now! I always did it two blocks apart and did stair type thing down. but the test on those images is so difficult to read. might want to fix that
I actually will start using this technique now! I always did it two blocks apart and did stair type thing down. but the test on those images is so difficult to read. might want to fix that
Yep I noticed that myself. I should've saved them as PNG or something, but I figured it's still readable so what the heck. I'll think about it for later though, maybe I'll even make a Youtube video once I get a better PC. There's already a video out (, by kiershar), but I find it slightly confusing and somewhat less informative.
However, your idea of "strip mining" and mine are two different things.
You're mining in strips, I did it like the real miners do: stripped it down, layer by layer. (You don't want to know how long that took me, but I did get lots of goodies).
I'm going to have to modify my next branch mine to use a similar pattern to yours. In my last 3 branch mines, I dug the tunnels 2 blocks apart on each level, and they were all lined up evenly from level to level.
Although doing it that way misses some veins, I managed to find well over 3000 iron, some 400-500 gold, 2-3 stacks of diamonds, and more redstone and coal than I could count. I left most of the coal behind, mining only what I needed as I had a lot of it, and also left a lot of the redstone, usually only mining it if it was in my way.
Mines 2 & 3 were 80x81 blocks, with the main tunnels going E-W, and side tunnels N-S every 20 blocks. They went from layer 52 (counting the bottom bedrock layer as 1) down to layer 10 (7 on mine #3). For mine #4, I started at layer 52, went up to layer 55, then down to layer 10. It was larger than the previous 2, at 100x108. Both of these also had main tunnels running E-W like mine #2.
My first branch mine wasn't much of one, it was only 20x40, and I dug the tunnels 1 apart.
Now, the stripminig tutorial:
(click on the images to get a bigger version on Flickr.com)
Let's look at stripmining and how to make a proper stripmine spanning over multiple levels. The first thing you need to do, is obviously to find a suitable wall or create a room/wall of your own that is (or can be expanded to become) big enough for a major mining operation. For this tutorial, I've just made a demo along a cavern wall that I found:
"Stripmining" is to strip an area clean of resources, but first we need to dig out some initial tunnels and place torches to lighten up things. Oh and be sure to get yourself an ample supply of Iron or Diamond pickaxes (for stone and ore) and shovels (for dirt and gravel):
It's time to expand our mine vertically, which will show you the reason why each tunnel of the same level needs to be 3 blocks apart:
In this picture, we'll look closer at how we can better manage each tunnel:
Here's the final picture showing you a full coverage of the wall and how you can just expand forever, either up, down (to bedrock) or to either side. You can also add rails and whatnot.
Some final words:
For Diamond mining, get down to level/layer 12 ("y: 12.6..." when hitting F3) and make your operation span between layers 10-16, the best layers for finding diamond. Layer 10 is the Lava layer, and layer 1-4 is where you'll find the Bedrock.
Dig out the highest tunnels first. This will reveal potential lava lakes from a safe height as well as allow you to control falling gravel better. Just don't be reckless, else you might fall down.
Consider making a stripmine wall on each side of the stripmining hub (the big room), if applicable.
You may also want to bring with you a bucket of water so that you can "obsidianate" the lava if it becomes a nuisance, just remember to release the water above the lava and not into it, so you can reclaim the water afterwards.
Note: the best form of mining is actually NOT stripmining, but rather cave spelunking (exploring), because of all the exposed veins. BUT, stripmining is a solid alternative if you fail to locate a decent cave system that satisfies your needs. Stripmining can also be alot safer, because you control the layout. Notch ain't got nothing on you.
Hope it all helps. Feel free to leave a comment :smile.gif:
This is useful.
Someone posted useful **** in discussions.
You sir, are a credit to your nation and people.
However, your idea of "strip mining" and mine are two different things.
You're mining in strips, I did it like the real miners do: stripped it down, layer by layer. (You don't want to know how long that took me, but I did get lots of goodies).
Haha that's an awesome shot, dude :biggrin.gif: Respect :smile.gif:
Well, you're right about it's correct name being branch mining, no argue there. Except, of course, we're trying to keep the stripmining to a minimum - again, the mining where you strip an area, not where you perform an opencast mining operation - kinda like in EVE online, where stripmining is to clean an asteroid belt, which they rarely do IRL.
Recently all I have been using for mining is Kiershar's SMP technique, but I have been trying to stray away from that because of how ugly it looked.
With this, I can use a nice looking mine, while still being able to get diamonds as fast.
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I am the bone of my sword
Steel is my body, and fire is my blood
I have created over a thousand blades
Unknown to death, Nor known to life
Have withstood pain to create many weapons
Yet, those hands will never hold anything
So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works
You should include that picture of the branch mine with the minecart tracks and the wooden platforms.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I am the bone of my sword
Steel is my body, and fire is my blood
I have created over a thousand blades
Unknown to death, Nor known to life
Have withstood pain to create many weapons
Yet, those hands will never hold anything
So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works
However, your idea of "strip mining" and mine are two different things.
You're mining in strips, I did it like the real miners do: stripped it down, layer by layer. (You don't want to know how long that took me, but I did get lots of goodies).
Sometimes branch mining can lead to another good source of ores: caves. During my recent digging of #4, I found several of them, some of which were around diamond level. That one had 3 lava pools linked to it, a vein of 6 diamonds, a lot of redstone, and a little bit of coal and iron.
More recently while revisiting that same mine for more coal, I went back to a spider dungeon I had cleared out, and began exploring a cave beyond it. There was a fair amount of coal and iron, but it was right next to another cave that was epic by any sense of the word. I found it after mining out some of the coal. I got 3 stacks of coal, 28 iron, and 2 diamonds. There was no gold, but some redstone in it, which I didn't bother to mine as I had plenty. It went all the way down to the lava level.
It had so many passages leading up and down that I lost track. Its a good thing I was playing on Peaceful at the time as it would be hard to clear mobs out that spawned in there. Only one other cave system I have explored has come close to being epic. Most are medium or small ones.
(Sorry for the terminology mixup, oh and click on the images to get a bigger version on Flickr.com)
Let's look at branch mining and how to make a proper b-mine spanning over multiple levels. The first thing you need to do, is obviously to find a suitable wall or create a room/wall of your own that is (or can be expanded to become) big enough for a major mining operation. For this tutorial, I've just made a demo along a cavern wall that I found:
First we need to dig out some initial tunnels and place torches to lighten up things. Oh and be sure to get yourself an ample supply of Iron or Diamond pickaxes (for stone and ore) and shovels (for dirt and gravel):
It's time to expand our mine vertically, which will show you the reason why each tunnel of the same level needs to be 3 blocks apart:
In this picture, we'll look closer at how we can better manage each tunnel:
Here's the final picture showing you a full coverage of the wall and how you can just expand forever, either up, down (to bedrock) or to either side. You can also add rails and whatnot.
Some final words:
At the request of CaduceusGUILT, here's a picture of a previously posted branchmining hub that uses both walls:
Hope it all helps. Feel free to leave a comment :smile.gif:
May the force be without you.
Yep I noticed that myself. I should've saved them as PNG or something, but I figured it's still readable so what the heck. I'll think about it for later though, maybe I'll even make a Youtube video once I get a better PC. There's already a video out (, by kiershar), but I find it slightly confusing and somewhat less informative.
May the force be without you.
However, your idea of "strip mining" and mine are two different things.
You're mining in strips, I did it like the real miners do: stripped it down, layer by layer. (You don't want to know how long that took me, but I did get lots of goodies).
With that out of the way I have to commend you for a job well done. I will get on this pronto :biggrin.gif:
Venit, quessit, induravit.
Although doing it that way misses some veins, I managed to find well over 3000 iron, some 400-500 gold, 2-3 stacks of diamonds, and more redstone and coal than I could count. I left most of the coal behind, mining only what I needed as I had a lot of it, and also left a lot of the redstone, usually only mining it if it was in my way.
Mines 2 & 3 were 80x81 blocks, with the main tunnels going E-W, and side tunnels N-S every 20 blocks. They went from layer 52 (counting the bottom bedrock layer as 1) down to layer 10 (7 on mine #3). For mine #4, I started at layer 52, went up to layer 55, then down to layer 10. It was larger than the previous 2, at 100x108. Both of these also had main tunnels running E-W like mine #2.
My first branch mine wasn't much of one, it was only 20x40, and I dug the tunnels 1 apart.
"It's not hard. Just strip away one layer of earth. Repeat until bedrock."
But I see that the incorrect thread title has already been covered.
This is useful.
Someone posted useful **** in discussions.
You sir, are a credit to your nation and people.
Chariots Chariots
Haha that's an awesome shot, dude :biggrin.gif: Respect :smile.gif:
May the force be without you.
Here's an interesting article I found though:
http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Tutorials/Mining_Techniques
Anyways thanks for all the comments. Appreciate it. :smile.gif:
May the force be without you.
With this, I can use a nice looking mine, while still being able to get diamonds as fast.
I am the bone of my sword
Steel is my body, and fire is my blood
I have created over a thousand blades
Unknown to death, Nor known to life
Have withstood pain to create many weapons
Yet, those hands will never hold anything
So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works
I am the bone of my sword
Steel is my body, and fire is my blood
I have created over a thousand blades
Unknown to death, Nor known to life
Have withstood pain to create many weapons
Yet, those hands will never hold anything
So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works
May the force be without you.
oh. my jeezus.
More recently while revisiting that same mine for more coal, I went back to a spider dungeon I had cleared out, and began exploring a cave beyond it. There was a fair amount of coal and iron, but it was right next to another cave that was epic by any sense of the word. I found it after mining out some of the coal. I got 3 stacks of coal, 28 iron, and 2 diamonds. There was no gold, but some redstone in it, which I didn't bother to mine as I had plenty. It went all the way down to the lava level.
It had so many passages leading up and down that I lost track. Its a good thing I was playing on Peaceful at the time as it would be hard to clear mobs out that spawned in there. Only one other cave system I have explored has come close to being epic. Most are medium or small ones.