Minecraft Forums

How do ya strip mine and what’s the best way to strip mine? I find my world getting kinda low on iron and barely any diamonds at all. So yea, how do ya do it?

Please be gentle, the only mining I know is find a cave and go deeper for more resources, and always bring a bucket of water.

Also have ome steak.

i will always start my strip mine on the 12 floor on the map so very deep, and i will decide how long i want my strip mine to be such as like 40 blocks long then i will skip 2 blocks and dig another 40 blocks so basically i found if i skip 2 blocks im getting lots of diamonds and iron and redstone and a good chunk of lapis
you make 40 lines of 40 going east or left or north then start again going west or right or south and you will have enough minerals to build for a month

Here's what you do, ya' go to layer 7 or below whatever your preference is. (You should probably staircase down) Dig out a huge area to start and just mine a 2 by 1 line and just dig and dig and dig. Once you're done move over two blocks and dig some more.




Just like the diagram above. The spaces represent your tunnel and the cobble represents whatever you're digging through.



This is an image of me killing slimes, but you can see my strip mine in the back. Hope this works out for you and happy digging. I also suggest a Fortune 3 pick so you can increase the chances in more ores.

If you're looking for Diamonds, go down to a level of 16 or below, and make a mine where you've got a 3x3 cube stretching for however long you need, then every two blocks build a 2x2 tunnel as far as you want. Usually, I build mine about 50 blocks in each direction.

For iron, I'd just suggest building a quarry, and then a branching mine from there, in the same style as the Diamond mine.

Wow this has not been up long and already getting plenty of professional tips! These seem helpful so I'll give it a shot. Thanks everyone who posted and who will post!

Guess strip mining is the best way to do it huh? lol

Strip Mine: "a mine that is worked from the earth's surface by the stripping of overburden." (Ref: http://www.merriam-w...nary/strip mine )

So, technically, I don't strip mine at all and, in all probability, most people in Minecraft don't either... although the term is commonly used among members of the community. However, the more correct term that might help you find the info you need is "branch mining." http://www.minecraft...s/Branch_Mining

ETA: Here's a link to the even better article I was actually looking for:

http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Tutorials/Mining_Techniques

I found it very helpful. Enjoy.

The above are great but just to give a different thought. Dig down to level 12 and find a lava lake, then dig a path around the lake until you return to the start then find another lake and dig around that one. I will often find these lakes linked by the dozens or occasionally only seperated by a single thick block wall.

every two blocks is great because you can physically see what blocks you are not mining.

I like to start from bedrock, dig every two blocks, but also dig directly up, every two blocks.

When you completely strip an area, you'll have what looks like a grid, or a bunch of parrellel paths.

The blocks above you that are too high should also be mined, but replace those with glass so you have something to walk on, and when you are below/above, you can tell what areas you've already mined.

It may not be strip mining, but my prefered way of digging for diamonds and materials is to make a staircase to layer 12, and make a 3 block high room...build a small base, and just keep digging out layer 12-14

Quote from UpUp_Away95

Strip Mine: "a mine that is worked from the earth's surface by the stripping of overburden." (Ref: http://www.merriam-w...nary/strip mine )

So, technically, I don't strip mine at all and, in all probability, most people in Minecraft don't either... although the term is commonly used among members of the community. However, the more correct term that might help you find the info you need is "branch mining." http://www.minecraft...s/Branch_Mining

ETA: Here's a link to the even better article I was actually looking for:

http://www.minecraft...ning_Techniques

I found it very helpful. Enjoy.

this is the technique I use. I do plan on making a true strip mine before long, starting at the top layer and going down in HUGE areas.

I start by taking off everything I have on and then begin whacking the nearest wall with a pickaxe.

I have yet to have a monster bother me....