User:Thoth1480/Mining tactics

= prospecting gallery =

You can expose every block in a volume using a regular pattern of prospecting galleries. All the galleries on one level are one block wide, two blocks tall, and separated by 3 unexcavated blocks. This pattern repeats every 4 blocks.

All the prospecting galleries on the next level are vertically displaced by 2 blocks, and horizontally displaced by 2 blocks.

The advantage of this pattern is that every block in the volume is visible from one of the galleries.

= access incline =

Prospecting galleries must be connected by access inclines. These take the form of 1:1 incline stairs.

= access gallery =

The access gallery connects prospecting galleries and access inclines to shafts.

= ladder shaft = Mine blocks straight down with ladders. At regular intervals create an access gallery. Making the access gallery 2x2 helps distinguish it from prospecting galleries.

= stair shaft =

A stair shaft occupies a 5x5 column of blocks with the center 3x3 being unexcavated. The blocks at the corners will be flat landings. The 3 blocks in the middle of each side will be stairs.

When using a stair shaft the access galleries are best dug every 12 blocks. This is 10 blocks vertical unmined and 2 blocks vertical of shaft.

= diagram 1 =



The diagram to the right is a side view of a mine designed to expose almost all of the blocks in a volume. It does not illustrate access inclines.

An interfering gallery will intersect with the stair well in some way. If an attempt is made to continue the gallery through the stair it may render a portion of the stair or the gallery unusable. The best tactic is to stop mining before you reach the stair and install access inclines to travel to another prospecting gallery.