Well i was looking through the wiki, just you know, browsing and improving an answer here and there and i saw this: Drifting
Caves often contain many dead-end passages and shafts. Many of these dead ends are actually thin barriers that, if removed, reveal continuing passages, sometimes into entire adjacent cave systems. Drifting is simply searching for adjacent caves by digging beyond apparent dead ends. Note that this increases the risk of getting lost. However you can help to orient yourself by placing your torches in a consistent manner, such as only on the right hand wall or floor while going deeper. In this way you can walk with the torches to your left when you wish to leave. You can also make a very noticeable and unique way to show where you came from, like placing a Redstone torch from the way you came.
Drifting can be effective in finding dungeons if there are mob sounds audible at a dead end. Note: As of version Beta 1.8 most dead ends have been removed although some still exist.
So i thought, no big deal, than i saw the note, Beta 1.8
...we are in 1.6.6
I had never knew this. I thought all you xbox players out there would find this interesting. Most of those caves you go in aren't dead ends, they are most likely more caves. I have played and watched and learned about Minecraft for about a year now and i had never seen this. Am I the only one never heard of this? Because now, i have a whole new idea for when i go into caves. And, actually i found something like this in a cave just this morning. But i didn't think anything of it, until now.
I sort of figured this when I was in a cave and could hear monsters but couldn't see them.
sometimes you can find caves above you or just randomly in the wall by following your ears.
I learned this early on, I always dig in dead ends a bit because the slightly OCD part of my brain wants a nice evenly cubed end, and then I often find ores, and punch through while digging the vein out.
Still good to know though, tunnel miners will eventually get everything but cave runners are l.imited if they don't do at least some digging around.
I never give up at a Dead End. I just keep digging cuz if I hear mobs on the other side of a dead end I know there's either A) A dungeon on the other side or another cave system and even if I don't hear mobs I still check just to be sure. I found a cave system that went on forever and it just kept going on and on(tbh I think it connected all the cave systems in the map) and when I started it was covered by a block thick wall. I didn't know that's what the creators did on purpose though. i just thought i got lucky every time I cracked a wall and found another passage
i always turn around at a dead end but i guess that's because i'm a n00b. i'll have to keep some tnt handy next time i go cave hunting. thanks for the tip!
The coolest suggestion I saw about dead ends in caves (once pistons are released with 1.7.3):
Carry a piston with you while mining, and a lever or something to activate it.
When you get to a dead-end in a cave, put the piston up against the wall (or floor or ceiling) and try to activate it.
Pistons can only push a maximum of 12 blocks, so if it pushes, then there is an open chamber less than 12 blocks away. If it doesn't push, then there is at least 12 solid blocks that direction.
Ive Mined around most dead ends a lot but never found a continuing of a cave so idk about this... this is my last post =( i forgot my other accs pass so ttyl 2morow guys
The coolest suggestion I saw about dead ends in caves (once pistons are released with 1.7.3):
Carry a piston with you while mining, and a lever or something to activate it.
When you get to a dead-end in a cave, put the piston up against the wall (or floor or ceiling) and try to activate it.
Pistons can only push a maximum of 12 blocks, so if it pushes, then there is an open chamber less than 12 blocks away. If it doesn't push, then there is at least 12 solid blocks that direction.
OMFG! I love this suggestion!!
And to offer one of my own to the Xboxers out there who haven't heard this yet - when you find a vein of anything, dig away all of the connecting stone blocks. For some reason, veins of minerals seem to be clustered around each other. It also provides a break from monotonous strip mining.
The coolest suggestion I saw about dead ends in caves (once pistons are released with 1.7.3):
Carry a piston with you while mining, and a lever or something to activate it.
When you get to a dead-end in a cave, put the piston up against the wall (or floor or ceiling) and try to activate it.
Pistons can only push a maximum of 12 blocks, so if it pushes, then there is an open chamber less than 12 blocks away. If it doesn't push, then there is at least 12 solid blocks that direction.
Great idea, but you still have a slight flaw. If you use a piston, your running the chance of running into wall on the other side. If you aim wrong, you might miss the other cave. It could go down and you hit the ceiling. But it would save you from mining through. I don't know much about pistons, thanks for the tip.
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Drifting
Caves often contain many dead-end passages and shafts. Many of these dead ends are actually thin barriers that, if removed, reveal continuing passages, sometimes into entire adjacent cave systems. Drifting is simply searching for adjacent caves by digging beyond apparent dead ends. Note that this increases the risk of getting lost. However you can help to orient yourself by placing your torches in a consistent manner, such as only on the right hand wall or floor while going deeper. In this way you can walk with the torches to your left when you wish to leave. You can also make a very noticeable and unique way to show where you came from, like placing a Redstone torch from the way you came.
Drifting can be effective in finding dungeons if there are mob sounds audible at a dead end.
Note: As of version Beta 1.8 most dead ends have been removed although some still exist.
So i thought, no big deal, than i saw the note, Beta 1.8
...we are in 1.6.6
I had never knew this. I thought all you xbox players out there would find this interesting. Most of those caves you go in aren't dead ends, they are most likely more caves. I have played and watched and learned about Minecraft for about a year now and i had never seen this. Am I the only one never heard of this? Because now, i have a whole new idea for when i go into caves. And, actually i found something like this in a cave just this morning. But i didn't think anything of it, until now.
Pretty cool huh?
sometimes you can find caves above you or just randomly in the wall by following your ears.
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Retired StaffStill good to know though, tunnel miners will eventually get everything but cave runners are l.imited if they don't do at least some digging around.
Keep yourself up to date with the Minecraft Forum rules!
^
Saves time and is fun to do. I'm going to have to start blowing dead ends up now just for shits and giggles
Carry a piston with you while mining, and a lever or something to activate it.
When you get to a dead-end in a cave, put the piston up against the wall (or floor or ceiling) and try to activate it.
Pistons can only push a maximum of 12 blocks, so if it pushes, then there is an open chamber less than 12 blocks away. If it doesn't push, then there is at least 12 solid blocks that direction.
OMFG! I love this suggestion!!
And to offer one of my own to the Xboxers out there who haven't heard this yet - when you find a vein of anything, dig away all of the connecting stone blocks. For some reason, veins of minerals seem to be clustered around each other. It also provides a break from monotonous strip mining.
This thread bores me.
Great idea, but you still have a slight flaw. If you use a piston, your running the chance of running into wall on the other side. If you aim wrong, you might miss the other cave. It could go down and you hit the ceiling. But it would save you from mining through. I don't know much about pistons, thanks for the tip.