Mineshaft

Mineshafts (also known as abandoned mineshafts) are generated structures that generate underground in the Overworld.

Generation
Mineshafts generate naturally in the Overworld; they are usually found underground but some can be found in the ocean. They are generated before chunk features such as ores. As with other features, multiple mineshafts can generate near each other and intersect, producing larger complexes. They can also intersect with other cave systems. Corridors generate a floor of wooden planks if they cross over empty space.

Mineshafts can also generate on the surface in badlands biomes. These mineshafts are composed of dark oak planks and fences, rather than oak. Cave spider spawners and various wooden pieces do not generate if above ground (i.e. the sky light where they generate is 8 or more), and generated railways are more complete above ground. Badlands biomes generate gold ore far more often and at higher altitudes than other biomes, allowing for a lucrative haul compared to oak mineshafts.

Structure


Abandoned mineshafts consist of:
 * A starting point - a large room with a flat 10x10 dirt floor, an arched ceiling and up to four exits (one in each direction, although, sometimes it generates in a way for up to five entrances.)
 * Corridors - 3×3 block corridors featuring supports made from oak or dark oak fences and planks (sometimes with torches), rails, minecarts with chests (containing loot), and cave spider spawners surrounded by many cobwebs. On long corridors, supports are placed four blocks away from each other, and some have a missing plank in the middle. Underground tunnels can have imperfections on the upper side (such as a block of stone), sometimes occupying the area of the missing plank.
 * Crossings - intersections with wooden pillars, sometimes two floors tall. They occupy a 5×5 spacing.
 * Staircases - diagonal sections of tunnel.

Trivia

 * When generated, abandoned mineshafts cut through the top bedrock layer(s), if they happen to generate at the bedrock layers.
 * Mineshafts can generate on top of other mineshafts. If you see two different ones intersecting each other anomalously, they are two different shafts, even if they somehow meet up perfectly elsewhere.
 * Mushrooms can be found at the bottom of mineshafts.
 * The dirt room of a mineshaft never generates in the same chunk as (0, 0) in any Minecraft world.

Publicity

 * In LEGO Minecraft Micro World – "The Village", an abandoned mineshaft is beneath a village.