I am watching tutorials for how to mine Diamonds. I am going to dig down 2x1 to level 12. (Well, 16 to build my base.) How to I dig down and not run into lava? I am placing ladders as I go, and have many valuable things in my inventory. I can climb the ladders to get away from digging into lava, as well as pour water. But I will probably panic if that happens and die, along with my possesions. So any tips to a mining begginer?
Continue by digging your 2x1 hole to level 5 and begin your mining there. Then depending on what mining style you want to use (if your OCD like I am, I prefer a staggered branch mine) you can expand your diamond mine to levels 2-16. Bring 1-2 buckets of water and have it ready when you're mining, as it's useful when you come across lava lakes (turning it into obsidian) and if you fall in lava. Also bring plenty of wood to make tools and chests to store your loot. Good luck.
Continue by digging your 2x1 hole to level 5 and begin your mining there. Then depending on what mining style you want to use (if your OCD like I am, I prefer a staggered branch mine) you can expand your diamond mine to levels 2-16. Bring 1-2 buckets of water and have it ready when you're mining, as it's useful when you come across lava lakes (turning it into obsidian) and if you fall in lava. Also bring plenty of wood to make tools and chests to store your loot. Good luck.
You should mine to Y10-12 and strict mine down if you don't want to fall into lava. if doing 2x1 hole.DO NOT MINE ON BLOCK YOU ARE ON,also if you have potion of fire resist OR VERY GOOD DIAMOND WITH FIRE PROTECTION use that and mine 1x1 down(My armors good enough to stay down 1 1/2 minutes without dieing)
Just be careful.. be aware of your surroundings and listen for the lava.. Good levels for mining diamonds would probably be 4-14.
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I'm scared to get close and I hate being alone.
I long for that feeling to not feel at all.
The higher I get, the lower I'll sink.
I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim.
Looking at the chart you'll find that the best y-levels for diamonds are 5 and 12. I recommend at 11 because it's safer,and if you dig a 2 high tunnel you'll expose y11 and y12. Three high and you exposed y11, y12, and y13.
I never really mess with the fire resist potions, and I rarely carry a bucket of water with me when mining... if you take care, you should never really need it (except for the purposes of intentionally making obsidian for lava bridges or harvesting purposes).
However, the purpose of doing the 2x1 hole IF you are choosing to go straight down (which I usually just build a staircase instead)... is so that you are standing on a DIFFERENT block than the one you are mining. Like fundaykaide said: "DO NOT MINE ON BLOCK YOU ARE ON", but more importantly, be standing on an adjacent block when mining down. You can do this by standing 'between' the blocks, or by straddling both blocks.
The only real danger you have from lava is IF you happen to hit a stream on the side (and that isn't really a risk, however small it is, unless you are below Y=12, or when mining near surface lava), as anything below you, you will be safely above anyway. I like to leave a stack of blocks in my hot-bar right next to my pick that I can switch to very fast if I need to quickly fill in an area. But you should be able to work at your leisure with this strategy as Lava won't rise up if you happen to discover it below you.
I long for that feeling to not feel at all.
The higher I get, the lower I'll sink.
I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim.
Second look at this chart..http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Diamond_ore#Tested_distribution
Looking at the chart you'll find that the best y-levels for diamonds are 5 and 12. I recommend at 11 because it's safer,and if you dig a 2 high tunnel you'll expose y11 and y12. Three high and you exposed y11, y12, and y13.
Digging a staircase is probably safest.
Leonard Heflin
However, the purpose of doing the 2x1 hole IF you are choosing to go straight down (which I usually just build a staircase instead)... is so that you are standing on a DIFFERENT block than the one you are mining. Like fundaykaide said: "DO NOT MINE ON BLOCK YOU ARE ON", but more importantly, be standing on an adjacent block when mining down. You can do this by standing 'between' the blocks, or by straddling both blocks.
The only real danger you have from lava is IF you happen to hit a stream on the side (and that isn't really a risk, however small it is, unless you are below Y=12, or when mining near surface lava), as anything below you, you will be safely above anyway. I like to leave a stack of blocks in my hot-bar right next to my pick that I can switch to very fast if I need to quickly fill in an area. But you should be able to work at your leisure with this strategy as Lava won't rise up if you happen to discover it below you.