I've noticed since the new update that basic ores seem much rarer. Most notably iron. My friends and I have been doing a ton of mining out around layer 10 and were using almost entirely stone picks because we can't even find enough iron to make a pick before it breaks. Let alone diamond. I suspect it maybe because the new ores that are close to useless just clogging it up as they are extremely plentiful. Anyone else out there seeing this?
I'm not having a problem at all... been digging a railroad tunnel at Y12 around the edge of the world (something I do in almost every world I decide to keep) and have done a little bit of caving as well. I have 4 stacks of iron (not including what I've used) and about a 1/2 stack of diamonds. I do have a lot less cobblestone and dirt than I would normally have at this point... but I have granite, andesite, and diorite instead. I believe the new stones replaced dirt and regular stone and did not really affect the ore counts much at all. Besides, one you get an iron golem farm going, iron is unlimited.
"I like to dig to bedrock, go up 7 blocks then dig a 6x6 tunnel for as
long as I can - then I start strip mining the sides of it 1 block apart
from each other."
Actually, it is better to go 2 spaces between rows, giving you 1 more unseen surface per row, and I have always preferred to count up to 11, as it makes it easier to avoid lava on that level.
"I like to dig to bedrock, go up 7 blocks then dig a 6x6 tunnel for as
long as I can - then I start strip mining the sides of it 1 block apart
from each other."
Actually, it is better to go 2 spaces between rows, giving you 1 more unseen surface per row, and I have always preferred to count up to 11, as it makes it easier to avoid lava on that level.
I start at Y=14 and dig a 3-high tunnel since diamonds can generate as high as Y=16. I then dig out the floor of the tunnel one block at a time until I hit bedrock, then start a new tunnel 2 blocks over (like you said) and repeat the process. Very effective, especially with a Fortune pick.
I've noticed since the new update that basic ores seem much rarer. Most notably iron. My friends and I have been doing a ton of mining out around layer 10 and were using almost entirely stone picks because we can't even find enough iron to make a pick before it breaks. Let alone diamond. I suspect it maybe because the new ores that are close to useless just clogging it up as they are extremely plentiful. Anyone else out there seeing this?
I'm not having a problem at all... been digging a railroad tunnel at Y12 around the edge of the world (something I do in almost every world I decide to keep) and have done a little bit of caving as well. I have 4 stacks of iron (not including what I've used) and about a 1/2 stack of diamonds. I do have a lot less cobblestone and dirt than I would normally have at this point... but I have granite, andesite, and diorite instead. I believe the new stones replaced dirt and regular stone and did not really affect the ore counts much at all. Besides, one you get an iron golem farm going, iron is unlimited.
Got six stacks of iron sitting over here from one single abandoned mine dig. No troubles here.
"I like to dig to bedrock, go up 7 blocks then dig a 6x6 tunnel for as
long as I can - then I start strip mining the sides of it 1 block apart
from each other."
Actually, it is better to go 2 spaces between rows, giving you 1 more unseen surface per row, and I have always preferred to count up to 11, as it makes it easier to avoid lava on that level.
I start at Y=14 and dig a 3-high tunnel since diamonds can generate as high as Y=16. I then dig out the floor of the tunnel one block at a time until I hit bedrock, then start a new tunnel 2 blocks over (like you said) and repeat the process. Very effective, especially with a Fortune pick.
To the OP:
I have no trouble finding ores.
Its recommended that you stirp mine at Y32-12 since most minerals are common on those layers, coal, iron, gold, lapis emeralds, and Y14-5 diamonds