Are you mining on the right layers? Diamonds are only found below y=16, and mainly between y=5 and y=12; you can press F3 and see your coordinates (x, y, z), or just mine down (in a staircase, of course) until you reach bedrock, then go up 1-2 layers (some people suggest layer 11, feet position, but that is just to avoid lava, which can be easily outrun/blocked off, but any layer between 6 and 10 will give you the most diamonds).
Also, the most efficient way to mine is to dig 1x2 tunnels spaced every 3 blocks, so there are two blocks between each one; this way you expose the most blocks for the least mining (making tunnels bigger, like the 3x3 previously suggested, doesn't expose much more per block mined than two 1x2 tunnels; you can also make the tunnels higher, say 1x5, if you mine lower down so the ceiling is y=12 or less).
I'm assuming that the spawn rate for diamonds is inversely proportional to the Y coordinate, so this may be the best bet if you have the skill to survive the lava (There have been some CLOSE CALLS with a fiery death).
Nope, the code uses a uniformly distributed random number (subject only to any imperfections in Java's random number generator) between 0 and 15 (the code uses 16 as the max but random returns a range from 0 to n-1) to set the y-coordinate of diamond veins; the reason why they become less common above around y=12 is because many veins cut through several layers and only generate downwards from their y-coordinate, hence no diamonds above layer 15, so the upper few layers have less overlapping veins (as seen along the y-axis). Similarly, the amount decreases below layer 5 because of bedrock; ores can only replace stone; because of this, a superflat world has about a third more diamond ore per chunk (although you won't find more just by digging a 1x2 tunnel).
This is also true of every other ore, except for lapis, which is generated differently, such that the density falls off linearly from a point centered around layer 15. Here is a better graph (than the one on the Wiki's ore page) that shows what I am talking about (the decrease in iron and coal above layer 40 is because of oceans; otherwise the same percentage of stone). Note that emerald ore in particular is almost perfectly flat, since it only generates as single blocks.
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I mine like this often at lower layers you dont miss as many blocks as you do with a strip mine. Sorry if this image doesnt work im not sure how to post images on these forums.
I often just mine at bedrock... though it is VERY dangerous i find it helpful to just have a stack of cobblestone ready and at hand! Just keep trying! It took me about 3 hours to find my VERY first diamonds!
JACK!
Also, the most efficient way to mine is to dig 1x2 tunnels spaced every 3 blocks, so there are two blocks between each one; this way you expose the most blocks for the least mining (making tunnels bigger, like the 3x3 previously suggested, doesn't expose much more per block mined than two 1x2 tunnels; you can also make the tunnels higher, say 1x5, if you mine lower down so the ceiling is y=12 or less).
TheMasterCaver's First World - possibly the most caved-out world in Minecraft history - includes world download.
TheMasterCaver's World - my own version of Minecraft largely based on my views of how the game should have evolved since 1.6.4.
Why do I still play in 1.6.4?
There very rare just keep trying
EDIT: 12/27/2013 try to find a lake of lava i normally find diamonds near lava or find a cavern they are there too
Level 11 (feet level), or else lava can flood in.
PROUD USER OF THE STEVE SKIN
Anyways, look up branch mining. In two hours, you may be able to get something like 15-25 diamonds.
Nope, the code uses a uniformly distributed random number (subject only to any imperfections in Java's random number generator) between 0 and 15 (the code uses 16 as the max but random returns a range from 0 to n-1) to set the y-coordinate of diamond veins; the reason why they become less common above around y=12 is because many veins cut through several layers and only generate downwards from their y-coordinate, hence no diamonds above layer 15, so the upper few layers have less overlapping veins (as seen along the y-axis). Similarly, the amount decreases below layer 5 because of bedrock; ores can only replace stone; because of this, a superflat world has about a third more diamond ore per chunk (although you won't find more just by digging a 1x2 tunnel).
This is also true of every other ore, except for lapis, which is generated differently, such that the density falls off linearly from a point centered around layer 15. Here is a better graph (than the one on the Wiki's ore page) that shows what I am talking about (the decrease in iron and coal above layer 40 is because of oceans; otherwise the same percentage of stone). Note that emerald ore in particular is almost perfectly flat, since it only generates as single blocks.
TheMasterCaver's First World - possibly the most caved-out world in Minecraft history - includes world download.
TheMasterCaver's World - my own version of Minecraft largely based on my views of how the game should have evolved since 1.6.4.
Why do I still play in 1.6.4?