Just started. I saw couple of videos regarding efficient mining. It says branch mining is the best. I have a question. Do people have access to their mining shafts from all their homes? The reason I ask is one video showed a guy travelling all the way to show his mining progress.
Is it better to mine from one point or can start new from different ones?
Depends on how you build really. I tend to build underground homes and cliff houses, so a mine fits in perfectly there. However, if you like to build seperate homes and towns, you might want to build them far away so there isn't some random mine in the middle of a random home. It doesn't really matter resource wise what you do, it is all preference.
Depends on how you build really. I tend to build underground homes and cliff houses, so a mine fits in perfectly there. However, if you like to build seperate homes and towns, you might want to build them far away so there isn't some random mine in the middle of a random home. It doesn't really matter resource wise what you do, it is all preference.
Also, welcome to the forums (:
thanks a lot. So just to be clear, you have multiple mines in multiple homes?
Most people will just have one branch mine. Branch mines are the most efficient way to find a lot of diamonds. Most other things can be found in sufficient quantities just by exploring caves. For example, in my most recent world I've mined nearly two stacks of diamonds. I probably found about 1/3 of those by exploring the caves and abandoned mineshafts in a large area under my base and the rest I got from doing some branch mining. Keep in mind though that most of the diamond ores were mined with a fortune III enchanted pick which is my first priority when I begin enchanting. Many times I'll branch mine and just leave the ores once I've found them until I get a fortune pick then go back and mine them.
I don't think it really matters where you start, you will find pretty much the same kind of things everywhere you mine. Abandoned mine shafts and dungeons are more rare, though, but you don't know where those are until after you find them.
As for how to mine, you have to decide what you mean by "efficient". If you want the most ore for the least digging then forget branch mining and dig a 1x2 tunnel in a straight line, only departing from your tunnel to clear out each vein you hit. If by "efficiency" you mean to clearing as much of the ore as possible from a given chunk volume, then use branch mining.
Straight line mining (never turn a corner unless you absolutely must) will get you the most ore per block dug out. Also, straight line mining gives you the best chance of finding an abandoned mine shaft. Using branch mining you will very, very rarely find an abandoned mine. Also straight line mining covers more chunks which means you're more likely to find limited ore like diamonds, because you are not zig-zagging around in the same chunk all the time like you do in branch mining.
It's best to mine around level 12. Lower and you will be hampered by lava, higher and you won't find as much good stuff like diamonds and redstone.
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Hey Edge! I too am new to Minecraft, but have learned a thing or two about mining. I have tried digging mines with large tunnels, and mines with smaller tunnels that are branch mines. I have even dabbled in searching caves. By far the best for me was digging a big mine underneath my home. Basically I dug out a hole in the floor, mined down to bedrock (I have since learned that level 10-12 is better), and started mining. It is ridiculously easy to access, I just tossed a trap door over the hole so it still looks nice and doesn't detract from my bedroom. And I can go down at night without having to worry about fighting my way through swarms of mobs.
Just be careful and keep your mine lit VERY well, or mobs can spawn down there. And...that sucks.
I may sound completely stupid here but got few followup questions.
1) I understand different biomes are pretty far. So for e.g. you have built a house on snow biome. Now you want to build another house on Plane biome. So do you start a fresh mine near Plane biome? Like Rodabon said people usually prefer one branch mine, so isn't it pain to travel and carry stuff between biomes?
2) Chanticleera, I saw the video regarding the trap door thing. Once you start mining at the level, which method you use?
3) Cryptopian, I am playing on a console. Any idea how do i calculate level on that? I saw that on comp it tells you the level.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
7/30/2015
Posts:
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1. I don't have a lot of experience with the distances of biomes as I think it varies depending on your map and the biome itself. In my experience in my map biomes vary from a half days run to a full days run and possibly more. God knows I ran around the desert for minecraft DAYS but then again I was lost and I think I was running around in circles. Nevertheless, when I started spreading out from my first base, I found it was too much trouble to run ALL THE WAY BACK to my first base to mine, so I created a new mine at one of my closer new mini-bases.
2. The first big mine I built I dug down to bedrock and started tunnelling out randomly using large tunnels 4x4. My second one I was a bit more experienced on and I build it 3 blocks high and 1 block wide. It's a branch mine in the strictest sense of branch mine xD
1: I would mine wherever I am and need resorces from a mine, so a mine at every base.
3: I just dig down until I hit bedrock and I know I'm at level 4 or 5, I usually mine at level 5 but that's just my preference.
I agree with the majority opinion that level 11-12 is easier, I just sorta enjoy digging my way through the lava lakes from the bottom, I guess I'm just odd that way!
thanks a lot. So just to be clear, you have multiple mines in multiple homes?
Like I said, it depends on preference. It really doesn't matter where you put it. I like it in multiple locations or a single location underground. It just depends on what you want to do. That is the beauty of Minecraft.
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“You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London
Basically what Santast is saying is... It depends on whether you want to have multiple mines... You could either have one centralized strip mine (I strip mine, branch mining is somewhat different, you can see my post below) which is fairly large-scale and spans a large area, or you could have multiple smaller mines branching out from many different locations that you are normally present at when playing.
Like you said concerning your plains biome and snow biome, you could either have one big mine at your first house that you do all of your mining operations at, or you could create another relatively small mine at your other "house" and not have to worry as much about traveling back to your original mine in order to gain resources.
I wish people would stop using the term "strip mine", there are at least three wildly different things different people mean by it (and that's not even counting the real world definition.) So it's impossible to know what somebody means unless they clarify the meaning (and in the rare cases where they do (like in the previous post) they might as well just use that description.)
I wish people would stop using the term "strip mine", there are at least three wildly different things different people mean by it (and that's not even counting the real world definition.) So it's impossible to know what somebody means unless they clarify the meaning (and in the rare cases where they do (like in the previous post) they might as well just use that description.)
Ah. I see what you mean about them being different. That being said, though... I am truly a strip miner. Let me show you what I mean.
I find Strip mining more effective, as you have less of a chance of missing blocks in-between your mines. While it may consume more of my pickaxe, I think it is more beneficial in the sense I wont miss as many ores.
Ah. I see what you mean about them being different. That being said, though... I am truly a strip miner. Let me show you what I mean.
I find Strip mining more effective, as you have less of a chance of missing blocks in-between your mines. While it may consume more of my pickaxe, I think it is more beneficial in the sense I wont miss as many ores.
No, like you said in your previous post, that's just plain branch mining, just using an inefficient spacing between branches.
The variants I've seen are, branch mining like you do, just digging a long tunnel, a quarry (that guy though he was justified in calling it a strip mine because he "stripped" off one layer at a time) and of course:
No, like you said in your previous post, that's just plain branch mining, just using an inefficient spacing between branches.
The variants I've seen are, branch mining like you do, just digging a long tunnel, a quarry (that guy though he was justified in calling it a strip mine because he "stripped" off one layer at a time) and of course:
So...Basically the Minecraft "strip mine" is just made up and isn't actually accurately named, although used by multiple people (including myself) to describe the basic branch mine, or etc.?
You learn something new every day, thanks for the clarification, Hex.
>Surface mining, including strip mining, open-pit mining and mountaintop removal mining, is a broad category of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed. It is the opposite of underground mining, in which the overlying rock is left in place, and the mineral removed through shafts or tunnels.
Surface mining began in the mid-sixteenth century[1][/sup] and is practiced throughout the world, although the majority of surface mining occurs in North America.[2][/sup]
It gained popularity throughout the 20th century, and is now the
predominant form of mining in coal beds such as those in Appalachia and
America's Midwest.
Strip mining means starting at the surface and removing one layer at a time creating a deep open pit in the ground. Standing on the edge of a completed Minecraft strip mine you are at ground level and you can see all the way to the bedrock at the bottom of the pit. That is the real world definition of strip mining.
Red Dog strip mine in Alaska:
built my house near the edge of my map, so I decided to travel to the centre of the map and put my mine shaft there.
I dug down to level 9. then started my branch mining there.
I mined a main 2x2 tunnel then every 3 blocks in the tunnel I mine a 1 x 2 branch until I hit the edge of my map. (on console, so not infinite like PC!). When ever I come to a lave lake, I mine under it or over it then go back to level 9 once past it.
I had a little time on my hands, So I did a spreadsheet to illustrate my set up!
I have shown diamonds in blue to show that they are usually in formations of at least 2 wide, which means it is possible to find them by mining every 3 blocks.
Ah. I see what you mean about them being different. That being said, though... I am truly a strip miner. Let me show you what I mean.
I find Strip mining more effective, as you have less of a chance of missing blocks in-between your mines. While it may consume more of my pickaxe, I think it is more beneficial in the sense I wont miss as many ores.
I don't even see any difference between what they call "strip mining" and "branch mining", aside from the spacing. Usually, when I see "branch-mining" they refer to a single main tunnel with lots of short branches off to the sides, using any spacing they like. By contrast, "strip mining" makes me think of (in the Minecraft sense, not the more proper real-life meaning) what I do, which is make a set of very long parallel tunnels (in this case, using the spacing shown for "branch mining"); I found 85 diamond ore in this mine, which was larger than what I usually make since my main intent was finding a rarer modded ore; otherwise, I find diamonds easy enough to find that Fortune is unnecessary and would probably take more time when considering the time spent enchanting; later on I find all that I need and more during my "normal" gameplay so there is no recurring benefit (I did get it for the aforementioned modded ore but in retrospect it was probably not worth it either):
By contrast, here is an example I found of what is often meant by "branch mine":
There's also many other different forms of mining that involve digging tunnels like this, including making a single long tunnel (which is just as effective, if not in the distance you'll end up having to cover to get to/from the end), but in a sense they are all the same.
I agree with Hex that if that is what people are calling strip mining then it's horribly misnamed and should just be called branch mining. In fact that is what branch mining started out as until people realized it was inefficient to have the branches so close together.
Hi,
Just started. I saw couple of videos regarding efficient mining. It says branch mining is the best. I have a question. Do people have access to their mining shafts from all their homes? The reason I ask is one video showed a guy travelling all the way to show his mining progress.
Is it better to mine from one point or can start new from different ones?
Thanks
Depends on how you build really. I tend to build underground homes and cliff houses, so a mine fits in perfectly there. However, if you like to build seperate homes and towns, you might want to build them far away so there isn't some random mine in the middle of a random home. It doesn't really matter resource wise what you do, it is all preference.
Also, welcome to the forums (:
“You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London
Watch me on twitch.tv/uraniuoxied !
thanks a lot. So just to be clear, you have multiple mines in multiple homes?
Most people will just have one branch mine. Branch mines are the most efficient way to find a lot of diamonds. Most other things can be found in sufficient quantities just by exploring caves. For example, in my most recent world I've mined nearly two stacks of diamonds. I probably found about 1/3 of those by exploring the caves and abandoned mineshafts in a large area under my base and the rest I got from doing some branch mining. Keep in mind though that most of the diamond ores were mined with a fortune III enchanted pick which is my first priority when I begin enchanting. Many times I'll branch mine and just leave the ores once I've found them until I get a fortune pick then go back and mine them.
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 don't think it really matters where you start, you will find pretty much the same kind of things everywhere you mine. Abandoned mine shafts and dungeons are more rare, though, but you don't know where those are until after you find them.
As for how to mine, you have to decide what you mean by "efficient". If you want the most ore for the least digging then forget branch mining and dig a 1x2 tunnel in a straight line, only departing from your tunnel to clear out each vein you hit. If by "efficiency" you mean to clearing as much of the ore as possible from a given chunk volume, then use branch mining.
Straight line mining (never turn a corner unless you absolutely must) will get you the most ore per block dug out. Also, straight line mining gives you the best chance of finding an abandoned mine shaft. Using branch mining you will very, very rarely find an abandoned mine. Also straight line mining covers more chunks which means you're more likely to find limited ore like diamonds, because you are not zig-zagging around in the same chunk all the time like you do in branch mining.
It's best to mine around level 12. Lower and you will be hampered by lava, higher and you won't find as much good stuff like diamonds and redstone.
Hey Edge! I too am new to Minecraft, but have learned a thing or two about mining. I have tried digging mines with large tunnels, and mines with smaller tunnels that are branch mines. I have even dabbled in searching caves. By far the best for me was digging a big mine underneath my home. Basically I dug out a hole in the floor, mined down to bedrock (I have since learned that level 10-12 is better), and started mining. It is ridiculously easy to access, I just tossed a trap door over the hole so it still looks nice and doesn't detract from my bedroom. And I can go down at night without having to worry about fighting my way through swarms of mobs.
Just be careful and keep your mine lit VERY well, or mobs can spawn down there. And...that sucks.
Enjoy playing!
Thanks a lot all.
I may sound completely stupid here but got few followup questions.
1) I understand different biomes are pretty far. So for e.g. you have built a house on snow biome. Now you want to build another house on Plane biome. So do you start a fresh mine near Plane biome? Like Rodabon said people usually prefer one branch mine, so isn't it pain to travel and carry stuff between biomes?
2) Chanticleera, I saw the video regarding the trap door thing. Once you start mining at the level, which method you use?
3) Cryptopian, I am playing on a console. Any idea how do i calculate level on that? I saw that on comp it tells you the level.
Once again thanks a lot all
1. I don't have a lot of experience with the distances of biomes as I think it varies depending on your map and the biome itself. In my experience in my map biomes vary from a half days run to a full days run and possibly more. God knows I ran around the desert for minecraft DAYS but then again I was lost and I think I was running around in circles. Nevertheless, when I started spreading out from my first base, I found it was too much trouble to run ALL THE WAY BACK to my first base to mine, so I created a new mine at one of my closer new mini-bases.
2. The first big mine I built I dug down to bedrock and started tunnelling out randomly using large tunnels 4x4. My second one I was a bit more experienced on and I build it 3 blocks high and 1 block wide. It's a branch mine in the strictest sense of branch mine xD
1: I would mine wherever I am and need resorces from a mine, so a mine at every base.
3: I just dig down until I hit bedrock and I know I'm at level 4 or 5, I usually mine at level 5 but that's just my preference.
I agree with the majority opinion that level 11-12 is easier, I just sorta enjoy digging my way through the lava lakes from the bottom, I guess I'm just odd that way!
Just testing.
Like I said, it depends on preference. It really doesn't matter where you put it. I like it in multiple locations or a single location underground. It just depends on what you want to do. That is the beauty of Minecraft.
“You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London
Watch me on twitch.tv/uraniuoxied !
I don't know what you mean by that lol
Basically what Santast is saying is... It depends on whether you want to have multiple mines... You could either have one centralized strip mine (I strip mine, branch mining is somewhat different, you can see my post below) which is fairly large-scale and spans a large area, or you could have multiple smaller mines branching out from many different locations that you are normally present at when playing.
Like you said concerning your plains biome and snow biome, you could either have one big mine at your first house that you do all of your mining operations at, or you could create another relatively small mine at your other "house" and not have to worry as much about traveling back to your original mine in order to gain resources.
I wish people would stop using the term "strip mine", there are at least three wildly different things different people mean by it (and that's not even counting the real world definition.) So it's impossible to know what somebody means unless they clarify the meaning (and in the rare cases where they do (like in the previous post) they might as well just use that description.)
Just testing.
Ah. I see what you mean about them being different. That being said, though... I am truly a strip miner. Let me show you what I mean.
I find Strip mining more effective, as you have less of a chance of missing blocks in-between your mines. While it may consume more of my pickaxe, I think it is more beneficial in the sense I wont miss as many ores.
No, like you said in your previous post, that's just plain branch mining, just using an inefficient spacing between branches.
The variants I've seen are, branch mining like you do, just digging a long tunnel, a quarry (that guy though he was justified in calling it a strip mine because he "stripped" off one layer at a time) and of course:
Just testing.
So...Basically the Minecraft "strip mine" is just made up and isn't actually accurately named, although used by multiple people (including myself) to describe the basic branch mine, or etc.?
You learn something new every day, thanks for the clarification, Hex.
Strip mining means starting at the surface and removing one layer at a time creating a deep open pit in the ground. Standing on the edge of a completed Minecraft strip mine you are at ground level and you can see all the way to the bedrock at the bottom of the pit. That is the real world definition of strip mining.
Red Dog strip mine in Alaska:
built my house near the edge of my map, so I decided to travel to the centre of the map and put my mine shaft there.
I dug down to level 9. then started my branch mining there.
I mined a main 2x2 tunnel then every 3 blocks in the tunnel I mine a 1 x 2 branch until I hit the edge of my map. (on console, so not infinite like PC!). When ever I come to a lave lake, I mine under it or over it then go back to level 9 once past it.
I had a little time on my hands, So I did a spreadsheet to illustrate my set up!
I have shown diamonds in blue to show that they are usually in formations of at least 2 wide, which means it is possible to find them by mining every 3 blocks.
I don't even see any difference between what they call "strip mining" and "branch mining", aside from the spacing. Usually, when I see "branch-mining" they refer to a single main tunnel with lots of short branches off to the sides, using any spacing they like. By contrast, "strip mining" makes me think of (in the Minecraft sense, not the more proper real-life meaning) what I do, which is make a set of very long parallel tunnels (in this case, using the spacing shown for "branch mining"); I found 85 diamond ore in this mine, which was larger than what I usually make since my main intent was finding a rarer modded ore; otherwise, I find diamonds easy enough to find that Fortune is unnecessary and would probably take more time when considering the time spent enchanting; later on I find all that I need and more during my "normal" gameplay so there is no recurring benefit (I did get it for the aforementioned modded ore but in retrospect it was probably not worth it either):
By contrast, here is an example I found of what is often meant by "branch mine":
There's also many other different forms of mining that involve digging tunnels like this, including making a single long tunnel (which is just as effective, if not in the distance you'll end up having to cover to get to/from the end), but in a sense they are all the same.
TheMasterCaver's First World - possibly the most caved-out world in Minecraft history - includes world download.
TheMasterCaver's World - my own version of Minecraft largely based on my views of how the game should have evolved since 1.6.4.
Why do I still play in 1.6.4?
I agree with Hex that if that is what people are calling strip mining then it's horribly misnamed and should just be called branch mining. In fact that is what branch mining started out as until people realized it was inefficient to have the branches so close together.
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..