Minecraft Forums

So after the update I seem to see more diamonds exposed in ravines and less success branch mining..
Anyone seem to be running into the same thing? I like branch mining or just the good ol' random dig-a-huge hole-in-the-ground technique and it used to work great for finding diamonds.. Now I can go on long stretches of those 2 kinds of mining with little success, but then I enter a ravine and BAM! there's some diamonds right there.. :-/ anyone else noticing this issue?

I don't think I'm complaining but as I read this back it seems like I am? I'm not! or am I? hmmmmm.....

I'm still having the same success that I used to have branch mining. I think the ravines just seem like they have more 'cause all the diamonds are exposed and right there waiting for you due to the way that the ravines generate. I'm willing to bet though that they don't actually have more than if you were to go digging through the ground anywhere else.

I can't even remember the last time I went branch mining... Actually, I can't even remember the last time I found a diamond. Having too much fun on creative.

I am sure I will have the same amount of success with branch mining... due to the fact the amount of diamonds in a world has not changed, only the terrain itself has changed. Basically where those ravines were you would have normally dug to find those diamonds, but now in the cave systems and ravines there is more exposed to our eyes than before. So giving the appearance that branch mining wouldn't be as successful. However it should be about the same, that is I never really found a whole lot of diamonds in the first place. Things are spread across the entire map, so are ravines speckling the places, as well mineshafts that give that impression as well.

Either way it would be the same due to knowing there is more open space. Just more noticeable spots. I mean would you go branch mining often if you noticed diamonds in your caving and ravine exploits? For me it all depends on my mood. Sometime I would feel like building down to those diamonds, and others I would just want to go into my branch mine...

I've been branch mining for about 2 hours and I have found one diamond! It's also my first time branch mining so I don't really know. The answer to that is probably no, unless 4J accidentally made diamonds more rarer.

I seem to be having more trouble on both fronts, wasted half a diamond pick axe to find 5 diamonds (fortune enchantment )

Honestly I think its random. In my new world, I went branch mining as soon as I got down to level 12, and ended up having more diamonds than iron for awhile. And that was before I had fortune or anything. On a friend's world, I made a branch mine on level 12 that literally stretched across one whole side of the map, from corner to corner, and I only found around 30 diamonds after hours of mining. That was probably just bad luck on my part, but still it was the same exact technique, with way different results. Which leads me to believe its all just 'luck of the draw'.

This is what my strip mines look like.
Sure, it's not the most efficient mine, but I use a lot of stone anyway.

The biggest biggest problem I have, if you consider it a problem, is not breaking through in to open cave systems. They used to be an unexpected treat. Now it's hard to dig 50 blocks without hitting a cave system I like exploring caves, but I also like branching and the second one has taken a hit since the 1.8 update.

Branch Mining is based off of luck, but i do have a theory,

Any time i find diamonds they are close to the caves with a pool of lava.(Usualy on a wall or the ceiling)

Basicly if I were you, Find a nice seed with big caves and ravines if you are looking for diamonds

When it comes to mining it is all about luck, even branch mining. Though one time I used the TNT Xray glitch because I couldn't find diamonds and they we're 2 blocks away from. Kinda gives me a curious feeling when mining. "Maybe theres a diamond here, or there..."

i have many branch mines dont usally get that much stuff encahtments help alot now

After the last update I have continued to branch mine. I normally mine on lever 12 but have (Same level as Lava's top layer). But since the update I have moved down to level 10 and have had much more luck in finding diamonds. You now run into the top 2 levels of lava but I just step up the 2 blocks and then lay a path across and keep going. As mentioned above these pockets / caverns are also a great place to find exposed diamonds on the walls. I run a tunnel from about the middle of my map to the outer edge - move over 3 and go back. I am seeing return of about 10 - 15 diamonds per run..

Good luck and good mining..

My mining depends on what my needs are, if I want a slime farm I strip mine, if I want underground rails I branch mine.
But when I really want something I have other people do it and I pay them in mass amounts of tree wood thanks to faster tree growth.