I've been strip mining now for a few days, usually on my other worlds level 12 strip mines get me a few diamonds a run. Does direction matter? On other worlds my strip mines are facing north/south and this world is east/west. Does that matter?
I think it is completely random (as to which direction you chose), but I would stick to one direction at a time to avoid missing things by taking zig-zaggy turns. However, I could be completely wrong. Try checking the Wiki!
Yeah from what I've seen, direction does not matter, try switching it up a little bit every now and then, to make it less bland. Sometimes I circle back to an older path just to make sure I didn't miss anything too important.
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to strip mine effectively you mine in a pinwheel like pattern going out x in each of the cardinal directions then off of each of those paths you mine paths out the left (or right not both) side of the paths. you leave 2 blocks between each of these. In addition, you want your feet to be at y=11 for maximum efficiency vs safety (10 is more diamonds, but less safe)
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Don't forget that not all diamonds are at level 12. The spawning range is anywhere from 0-16. In your case, you may want to consider going a bit lower if you can. If there is no lava in the area, I will start all the way down at level 6, usually with moderate success.
imo, the only reason people say level 12 is the best is because you are safely above lava level, which is 11, but that's just me.
imo, the only reason people say level 12 is the best is because you are safely above lava level, which is 11, but that's just me.
This is true, as can be seen on this graph from the Wiki, which shows that the occurrence of diamond ore drops off rapidly above y=12 (note also that if you are standing at y=12, feet position, that your eyes will be at y=13 and the ceiling (2 blocks high) at y=14, layers with far fewer diamonds. Also, lava is actually at y=10, so you want to stand at y=11 to avoid it; again, feet position). Note also that diamonds actually only generate up to y=15, not 16 (despite the code saying 16, as random returns a number from 0 to 15, which is 16 different numbers); the distribution is uniform but drops off above y=12 because veins cover multiple layers and only generate down from the starting position, so there is less overlap (the decrease below y=5 is due to bedrock). In any case, I don't consider lava to be much of a threat due to the slow movement; just don't stand right in front of the block you are mining.
And also don't do strip mining (the kind of mining where you have a room and you mine the walls making the room bigger and bigger) this is inefficient
What you want to do is branch mining
What i do is I mine a straight 2x2 tunnel until my inventory gets full or my pick breaks etc
Then when i come back to mine i make another 2x2 tunnel branching from that one
And so on...
When I make a Strip Mine, I normally mine around Y = 12 because it's right above the Lava that spawns in pools down deep so that when you're digging your strip mine you don't come across lava randomly popping from in front of you. Instead you can just place Stone, or Cobblestone (Any building material really..) underneath your feet in front of you to take out the lava if you don't want it. Other than that try making the strip instead of 2x1 make it 3x1 so you can check for diamonds above your head.
When mining my feet are at level 11. I (i think) branch mine. I dig a tunnel 2 blocks wide for a long distance, stop and go another 2 blocks, then repeat building another 2 block wide tunnel, so i won't miss any ores but i won't have to mine the whole place down. I always do this in the walls of caves, i think there's a better chance of getting ores if you do it in a cave. The best i have gotten was 38 diamonds, in 2 tunnels, each about a few hundred blocks or so long. If anyone can confirm that part about caves, that would be great.
And also don't do strip mining (the kind of mining where you have a room and you mine the walls making the room bigger and bigger) this is inefficient
What you want to do is branch mining
What i do is I mine a straight 2x2 tunnel until my inventory gets full or my pick breaks etc
Then when i come back to mine i make another 2x2 tunnel branching from that one
And so on...
This branch mining you're describing is strip mining in mc :|
No. Lava can actually occur at any level or altitude. What they are refering to is the fact that below a certain point lava will be *much* more common, including forming lakes and pools. If I recall correctly, below 12 every block that would have been a water source when the area was generated is actually placed as lava. Think of it as the second water level. There's the sea level, and there's lava level. Below the lava level water sources don't generate, and lava source generation gets increased massively.
Personally, I strip mine (branch mine, really) from the bedrock up to 12, but I also carry a potion of fire resistance in my quickbar at all times, too. A relic of too much time spent in the Nether, I suppose.
i think there's a better chance of getting ores if you do it in a cave.
Ore probability does not differ based on proximity to caves. If anything, caves reduce ore rates because any ore that attempts to spawn within the cave's air space is lost.
No. Lava can actually occur at any level or altitude. What they are refering to is the fact that below a certain point lava will be *much* more common, including forming lakes and pools. If I recall correctly, below 12 every block that would have been a water source when the area was generated is actually placed as lava. Think of it as the second water level. There's the sea level, and there's lava level. Below the lava level water sources don't generate, and lava source generation gets increased massively.
Yes, lava lakes and springs can generate at any level, although the generation is biased to lower levels. At and below Y=10, any air block is spawned as lava instead.
Water springs and lakes can generate below lava level as easily as it can above it. There's not even any bias in the positioning here.
snbitzer ive seen lava on the surface is my miecraft glitched?
No. Those are random lakes that can generate at any altitude. I've seen lava lakes on top of mountains, as well as water lakes at level 6. By the way, these lakes actually do generate with air pockets, even if below lava level.
Generally speaking, this is how I like to set up my mining system. The floor is at level 6 (feet level):
No, in my experiences, the direction does not matter. All I do is dig down to y-11 and start strip mining in whatever direction I'm facing. Always works for me.
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i Phoenix mine... starting my feet at y=9
it yields massive results, just nee a bucket of water with you as you do end up running into the occasional lava lake or two... or three
start in a 4 x4 x 3 tall center chamber.. then in a pinwheel pattern mine 4 main corridors in each direction then zig zag between them first layer 6 then 6 then then 12 then 12 then 18 and 18 and so on...
(confused.jpeg)
Thanks
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imo, the only reason people say level 12 is the best is because you are safely above lava level, which is 11, but that's just me.
This is true, as can be seen on this graph from the Wiki, which shows that the occurrence of diamond ore drops off rapidly above y=12 (note also that if you are standing at y=12, feet position, that your eyes will be at y=13 and the ceiling (2 blocks high) at y=14, layers with far fewer diamonds. Also, lava is actually at y=10, so you want to stand at y=11 to avoid it; again, feet position). Note also that diamonds actually only generate up to y=15, not 16 (despite the code saying 16, as random returns a number from 0 to 15, which is 16 different numbers); the distribution is uniform but drops off above y=12 because veins cover multiple layers and only generate down from the starting position, so there is less overlap (the decrease below y=5 is due to bedrock). In any case, I don't consider lava to be much of a threat due to the slow movement; just don't stand right in front of the block you are mining.
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And also don't do strip mining (the kind of mining where you have a room and you mine the walls making the room bigger and bigger) this is inefficient
What you want to do is branch mining
What i do is I mine a straight 2x2 tunnel until my inventory gets full or my pick breaks etc
Then when i come back to mine i make another 2x2 tunnel branching from that one
And so on...
This branch mining you're describing is strip mining in mc :|
Personally, I strip mine (branch mine, really) from the bedrock up to 12, but I also carry a potion of fire resistance in my quickbar at all times, too. A relic of too much time spent in the Nether, I suppose.
It's only called that by people who don't bother to use the correct terminology, or who have learned from such people.
Ore probability does not differ based on proximity to caves. If anything, caves reduce ore rates because any ore that attempts to spawn within the cave's air space is lost.
Yes, lava lakes and springs can generate at any level, although the generation is biased to lower levels. At and below Y=10, any air block is spawned as lava instead.
Water springs and lakes can generate below lava level as easily as it can above it. There's not even any bias in the positioning here.
But really, a 2x2 with feet at 11 is my favorite.
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No. Those are random lakes that can generate at any altitude. I've seen lava lakes on top of mountains, as well as water lakes at level 6. By the way, these lakes actually do generate with air pockets, even if below lava level.
Generally speaking, this is how I like to set up my mining system. The floor is at level 6 (feet level):
WARNING: TNT can destroy diamonds.
[insert signature here]
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[try using something that isn't too weird]
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it yields massive results, just nee a bucket of water with you as you do end up running into the occasional lava lake or two... or three
start in a 4 x4 x 3 tall center chamber.. then in a pinwheel pattern mine 4 main corridors in each direction then zig zag between them first layer 6 then 6 then then 12 then 12 then 18 and 18 and so on...
here are a few graphs