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在Minecraft的世界裏,採礦可謂玩家常遇之客。但是不要一個人傻傻地埋頭苦挖,下文將提供一些非常贊的技巧。
快速到達基岩位置的最佳辦法無疑是下挖垂直礦洞(雖然這並不能挖到很多礦並且非常非常的不安全,常常有跌落進天然礦洞和岩漿池的危險),然後在入口處澆一鐵桶水以方便游回地面以及安全到達底部。
在哪兒採礦最好
根據所有礦石的海拔分佈,包括罕見的鑽石在內,也許高度Y的座標為12的地區最適合採礦。在向下挖掘垂直礦洞的時候按下F3可以查看自己所在海拔,當發現岩漿池(通常在11層)的時候用方塊堵上缺口便可以快速到達這一區域,或者你將直接下挖到基岩所在位置,這時你可以向上攀爬7層左右到達目標位置。在此之後,你可以使用下面列出的各種技術來開始你的採礦大業。
如何開始採礦
欲要進行採礦作業首先需要找到一個安全的區域開始進行採礦操作。切記在採礦時請自備工具和食物。請確保準備充足之後再行開始,為使您在不幸摔落後可以順利返回,請不要忘記攜帶梯。請在礦道內隨機放置一定數量的熔爐,這可以是您在需要時進行食物的烹製。請確保您攜帶足夠數量的食物、鎬以及一個工作台,這樣子當您需要工具時可以進行合成。對於採礦而言,熔岩極其危險,所以在採礦時記得攜帶一鐵桶水。當進行多人遊戲時,請只在附近進行開採,否則極易觸發陷阱。當然,不要忘記攜帶火炬以提供照明。萬事俱備,現在出發!
在採礦過程中建造鐵路系統是十分必要的,鐵路系統可以使您更為迅捷地往來於危機四伏的地下和地面之間運送礦石。基於您擁有資源的多少,儲物箱礦車、熔爐礦車或者是動力路軌都是一個不錯的選擇。但是請切記:岩漿可以燒毀路軌、爬行者也能炸毀路軌。所以請在鋪設路軌時萬分小心,可以使用如欄杆甚至是石頭等方塊對路軌加以保護。當然,也需要保障您的路軌系統的一定照明才能免遭損毀之虞。
以下三點是您開始採礦之旅的基本提示,雖然實際上這三點是緊密相關的:
- 在眾多露天的洞穴中挑選一個洞穴並開始探險,儘可能的是您的探險道路向地心前進。即使是中空的洞穴也能提供儲量豐富的煤和鐵礦,更深層還會有如金礦等其他礦藏。洞穴探險可以是您在搜尋礦脈的同時開採到數量巨大的石頭,但是另一方面,洞穴中經常會盤踞着許多怪物,地形險惡,無論是水還是岩漿都將會造成一定的阻礙。
- 如果您發現了豎井或者是峽谷的話,在那裏進行採礦也是不錯的選擇。您可以使用水鐵桶來人為地製造一個瀑布,這樣可以游到峽谷底部(或者游上來),接下來如第一條洞穴提示一樣探險峽谷。注意小心從高處墜落的怪物!您可以使用支柱跳的方式抵達那些看起來很高的隧道和突出邊緣。
- 當然,您也可以自己製作一個通向地下世界的入口:在方便的位置上(比如房間的地下室)挖掘一口垂直豎井,並開始垂直挖掘至適合的高度。通常這種方法會浪費更多的工具(因為所有的通道均需自行挖掘),但是配以合適的照明,您將幾乎看不到怪物。也有可能您挖通了一個天然洞穴,此時您可以參照第一條進行洞穴探險。關於採礦的最優策略眾説紛紜,但是對於豎井而言,最安全的尺寸可能是1×3並在中間配以樓梯免遭墜落。無論您的礦道如何設定,請保障一定的光照以防生成怪物。當然在洞穴中資源採集殆盡時可以返回您的礦道中繼續開採。
洞穴採礦
也被稱為 洞穴狩獵。洞穴採礦僅僅需要在探索天然洞穴的時候發掘被發現的礦物,它們將被暴露在牆壁,地面和洞穴的天花板位置。在更新1.2版本以後由於洞穴附件的礦產將會被增加(請看版本記錄),因此這種方式收穫會更佳。探索大型的洞穴系統結果往往是收穫大量的礦石。相比其他方式由於單位時間內收穫了更多的礦石,需求更少的工具(不會在挖掘石頭,泥土和砂礫的時候消耗掉過多鎬,鏟的耐久度),洞穴採礦屬於高回報的投資。
另一方面,洞穴探險也極度危險。未探索的黑暗洞穴中將出沒許多生物;探索時必須帶上劍,弓和盔甲。玩家在進行洞穴採礦時需要攜帶大量的火炬來提供照明和防止生成更多的怪物。規模巨大的洞穴系統盤根錯節需要加以留心定位才不至於迷路。在洞穴中移動過快會漏掉一些通道忘記安放火炬(這些位置可能會生成怪物),有可能會使您跌落豎井以及熔岩池中。某些洞穴在高度11以下的部分充斥着岩漿。基於以上這些因素,通常在面對全新的洞穴時需要先行進行探索和安放火炬,在返回的途中再行開採礦石。儘管這樣增加所需時間和降低採礦效率,但安全為上。
洞穴頁面提示我們將出現更大的洞穴系統,關於導航部分請參見教學/導航。
帶上裝水的鐵桶是個好點子。洞穴會隨機出現一些岩漿流,在10層以下的一些洞穴甚至被巨大的岩漿池所填充,當你無意中跌落其中可以用水鐵桶來撲滅火焰。同時,也可以作為在岩漿池表面製造黑曜石的手段(在固體方塊上倒水讓水流流向岩漿池;不要站在水流和岩漿之間)。如果怪物無暇招架,您也可以在「選項」中將難易度調為「和平」,這樣會阻止生物的刷新。但是此時您掉進岩漿後依然會死掉,所以還是不要忘記帶上水鐵桶!
洞穴通常會包含許多死胡同和廢棄礦坑。這些死胡同實際上很多都只有薄薄的隔層,如果進一步挖掘,有時會探索到相鄰的整個洞穴系統。漂流式挖掘是透過挖掘死胡同簡單地尋找鄰近的洞穴的方法。在死胡同裡聽到生物的聲音傳來的時候,使用漂流式挖掘可以非常高效率地發現地牢。您也可以利用活塞來幫助您發現附近的洞穴,甚至是透過岩石進行探測:面朝牆壁方向安放活塞,透過如拉桿、紅石火炬等工具為活塞充能。如果在活塞方向上12方格內出現空洞,則活塞會將岩石推入牆中留下一個小洞。
您也可以透過生成錯誤的方式調用"X-ray視野"來發現洞穴,但是在伺服器中這一舉動很有可能會被封鎖。最為簡單的小錯誤就是站在1×2的洞穴之中(也就是説四周被岩石覆蓋)使用活塞向頭部推動螢石或TNT。注意不要使TNT被充能!
廢棄礦坑
經常可以在交錯的洞穴中發現廢棄礦坑,推薦將您自己的礦道與這些礦坑相連。由於其與洞穴採礦相似,但是其資源儲量及其豐厚,尤其是在蜘蛛網和木材方面。當然也會有極大的風險造成您迷失在這些結構十分相似的礦道之中,而在礦坑中預先放置的火炬更是您難以分辨該區域是否被探索過。當然,廢棄礦坑進場會有洞穴蜘蛛出沒,這種生物極難接近和消滅。
由前文,由於其預先有一定數量的火炬,遭遇有敵意生物的機率會大大下降。由於其中用以支撐礦道的木板數量巨大,可以減少因木材短缺而返回地面的次數。此外,在礦道中經常會發現一段段遺棄的路軌和裝滿財寶的儲物箱。有一種避免迷失方向的方法是簡單粗暴地去除礦道中所有的附加設施,只留下3×3的通道。這樣做會使您能夠回想起這裏是否走過,但是缺點在於會浪費很多時間(以及鎬)。標識牌和其他指示物也可以提供一些幫助。
洞穴採礦攜帶物品清單
- 一把鎬。假如這是你的採礦初旅, 那麼請採集一些石春然後做一把石鎬吧。如果你已稍有採礦閱歷,那麼採礦時請帶上兩把鐵鎬以及至少一把石鎬。如果你已經得到了一些鑽石,並且你希望在鑽石存在的深度進行一次高效的採礦,那麼一把鑽石鎬你值得擁有,它不僅耐久更高並且是唯一可以挖掘黑曜石的工具。礦鎬常常沒有挖到足夠的鑽石的時候就損壞掉了,如果你希望節約珍貴的材料,那麼帶一些石鎬用來挖石頭,帶一把鐵鎬專門用來採礦。
- 一把鏟。至少攜帶一把鐵鏟以幫助你快速地挖開泥土和砂礫,擺脱用手挖土的繁瑣過程。如果你的鐵別有他用那麼帶一到兩把石鏟應該也夠用了。
- 建築方塊,包括泥土和受重力影響的沙。由於地下沒有天然的沙存在,你可以用它來標記道路。同時在探索地下峽谷的時候沙也特別有用。(詳見地下峽谷那一章)泥土可以很方便地在峽谷和岩漿甚至是充滿岩漿的峽谷(真的,非常壯觀)上搭橋。如果發現一大波喪屍或爬行着向你接近來不及招架,立刻拿起手中的方塊進行柱子跳,然後逐個擊破(手頭有一鐵桶岩漿的話直接倒下去)。
- 火炬。建議至少整整一組,多多益善。照亮你的四周可以使你了解探索過的地區以免迷路,亦將怪物生成的可能性降低至最小,並且有助於發現隱藏在陰影中的礦物。
- 木塊。假如耗盡了工具或者火炬,你可以用它們做一個工作台和木棍來補充你的鎬,鏟,以及火炬(你會在採礦時找到夠合成它們的煤炭的)。
- 一鐵桶水。這將非常有用。當你着火的時候,它能撲滅火焰挽救你的生命和物品;當你遇見岩漿時你也可以使用它將岩漿變成黑曜石。
- 一個鐵桶。空鐵桶可以用來收集的岩漿可以當做爐子裏的燃料,也可以當做另類的殺怪方式;當你失去了你的水鐵桶的時候你也可以用空鐵桶來裝水。
- 食物。長期的採礦生涯會慢慢耗盡你的飢餓條。帶上食物可以讓你在洞穴中探索得更久,同時保持食物飽食度可以使你在受到攻擊後能自動回復健康。
- 武器:任意一種劍(宜用石制或者更好材料的),一把 弓和一些箭。這些可以幫助你抵禦遇到的怪物。
- 盔甲。可以防護在採礦時遇到的各種傷害,包括被怪物攻擊,被岩漿流灼傷已經從高處跌落。
- 儲物箱。在你探索岩漿洞穴的時候你可以用儲物箱來存放物品以預防死亡的情況。沒有儲物箱的你死掉之後也許會損失一整組的鐵,許多黃金,所有的食物和武器,但是你也可以選擇在一個地方放上工作台和儲物箱,這樣當你死亡的時候最多損失少量的煤炭,火炬,石頭和採礦的鎬。
- 指示牌。透過在指示牌上留下的資訊和由ASCII碼構成的箭頭可以為您在洞穴中標記路線。常見的資訊如:出口 ->、居住所^、此處有喪屍生成籠。
- 梯(可選)。梯的用途在於當您不慎摔落後卻無法返回時……當然,也可以透過梯到達高出的礦道和平台。
- 不同種類的標示物(可選)。除了上文提及的指示牌,木塊應該是最早可以獲得的資源,而隨着採礦的逐漸深入會開採出紅石粉。此時如果身上有南瓜的話,可以合成南瓜燈用以提供照明和指路。
- 欄杆。欄杆的用途不只是標記為探索的礦道,當您遇到水流和地下河時身邊卻沒有空鐵桶,可以使用欄杆切斷水流。
- 種子或西瓜種子(可選,中級技巧不在準備工具範圍內)。種子的用途在於建立一座簡單的農場。透過放置泥土和使用鋤頭以及種子可以為您提供一些應急的食物。您可以透過獵殺骷髏骨來獲得骨粉使作物快速成熟。
- 抗火藥水(以下這些提示適用於那些精通於洞穴探險的高端玩家)。當你在岩漿或者火焰附近工作的時候喝下它,比如在你發現的資源位於一個地下岩漿湖裏的時候就可以嘗試着喝上一口(否則你需要挖下去繞過岩漿來採集)。 藥水保護你免受火焰灼燒,也允許你免傷地在岩漿中游泳。 這種藥水雖然成分罕見但一旦你找到了是很容易培育的。如果你還沒有這種藥水,切記帶上裝滿水的鐵桶子。
- 終界箱(可選)。不同位面內的終界箱內的物品可以不受位面限制的進行共享,不受地形和位面限制。
人工礦坑採礦
也叫做垂直礦洞採礦 和礦坑採礦,指的是開掘屬於你自己的隧道來探索隱藏資源。在這樣做的時候,需要一定注意的是你也許會挖開擋住岩漿的塊,跌落進天然洞穴或者被敵對生物隔絕在狹小的礦道裡。
方法
人工礦坑採礦無論是使用階梯式礦坑還是直線式礦坑最終都會是您到達您希望的礦層。在此之後可以在水平方向上向四周輻射是掘進礦道,通常在不同的水平層面上同時進行。而在豎直方向上可以透過如下這些使用的小型裝置標記工作站:儲物箱、工作台,熔爐甚至是牀。可以製作一個「水池」用以無限值的進行取水,做法如下:挖掘一個2×2,1格深的空地,在對角線的兩方格中放水。1x3或L形的無限水源也是可以的,只不過取水的時候不要取端頭的水,否則就不是無限水了。
階梯式礦坑
階梯式礦坑示意
階梯式礦坑的優勢在於您可以在不使用梯的情況下方便地出入。透過將您身上採礦而得的大量的是同合成為石製樓梯可以更為方便地上下(不需要跳躍!),但此時需要在礦道頂部額外挖掘一方格才能通行。階梯式礦坑在挖掘時需要每挖掘3方格時下降1方格(不包括頭部空間)。以下是幾種階梯式礦坑的可能形式:
直線式階梯礦坑
直線式階梯礦坑的方向向下,也有可能向「上」。不太好判斷這種方式是否有用,因為當您在閱讀地圖時,您可能會發現隨着您的開採的逐漸深入,當您需要透過挖掘來從另一條路線上返回地面時,您可以能會處於一個完全陌生的地區。同時,自您的居所延伸出來的樓梯隨着您的深入很可能會超過了您居所的區塊載入範圍,或者至少是與您的居所超出了相當長的一段距離。此時您在居住地附近所耕種的莊稼將停止生長。直線式階梯礦坑的寬度可以為一方格、兩方格甚至是三方格都有可能。
挖掘直線式階梯礦坑最常用的策略即使呈45°向下挖掘,每向下挖掘一塊向前掘進一格。如果您在挖掘時將高度設定為4方格而非三方格,在您從地底返回時會較為容易一些,因為此時您在透過跳躍爬樓梯的時候並不會有「撞到頭」的感覺。每隔5層安放一個火炬既能保障一定的高度,又可以為您提供高度上的指示。
當然,您也可以以對角線為方向進行挖掘。很簡單找到一個角落,面朝角落想像一個2x2x2方塊缺一角的樣子,然後挖掉這七個方塊並放置火炬。雖然這一方法增加了挖掘每層時需要的時間,但是卻在其路線上可以顯示更多的方塊。
您也可以採用較為平緩的半磚式方法,每向下挖掘一層向前掘進兩格。這樣雖然會在水平方向上增加了許多距離,但是卻大大方便了鐵路和礦車系統的鋪設。
螺旋式階梯礦坑
雖然螺旋式階梯礦坑有着結構複雜,轉向頻繁等缺點,但是其優點在於可以在保持區塊不變的前提下向下不斷深入。螺旋式階梯礦坑可以問您提供了一種對目標針對性的挖掘方案,同時也保障了您能安全迅速的抵達基岩。
3x3 螺旋階梯礦坑
一種水平佔地3x3的螺旋隧道設計如下,在以你為中心3x3的區域內繞着圈移動,每移動一格向下挖掘一格,確保下挖過程中保證隧道有足夠容納你頭部的空間。你可以選擇保留中央的柱子來作為樓梯的隔牆,也可以挖掉它好在中間放梯,這個柱子是否保留對階梯無關緊要。同樣地,你也選擇可以在螺旋的階梯上鋪上樓梯塊來提高返程效率。此外,完成階梯後,可以挖走中央的立柱後在最底部放上一格水可以讓你直接跳進礦洞節約時間。 移走中央的立柱可以透一些光進來,但是卻增加了危險:小心不要掉下去。(儘管在底部放水後並不會使你受傷) 這種設計每8層轉過一圈。
2x2 螺旋階梯礦坑
如同3x3的設計,然而你將在2x2的區域內開掘隧道,這意味着沒有了中央立柱。 同樣的你可以挖開每次遇到的第十塊右前方的塊(當然選擇左後方向這樣做也可以,這沒什麼緊要的)。這可以增加你發現礦物的機率。 這種設計下每轉一圈下降4層。因為在隧道內前進你需要三層高的空間,因此某些層的砂礫和沙跌落空出來的位置需要你用泥土和石春填補。
5x5 螺旋階梯礦坑
與3x3的設計類似,但是你將在一個5x5大小的網格邊緣挖掘。中央的柱子被清空來提供地下的光源。在外環安裝樓梯,中間可以放上防止跌落的欄杆。 這種設計每一滿轉下降了16層,並且隧道探索到了水平範圍更寬廣的區域。同時它也容易錯過螺旋之間的一些資源。
TNT爆破法
TNT爆破法的第一個步驟和傳統地下挖垂直隧道來到達基岩位置類似,當你到達基岩後,你透過在腳下放置TNT的方法來上爬到達地面層,然後在那裏引爆TNT。這種辦法如同垂直礦洞方案,實際上的實用性值得懷疑。但是如果意圖收集這些跌落下的資源可以下挖一個側面的隧道到達位置去收集。
垂直礦洞採礦
垂直礦洞 是透過下挖垂直礦洞進入地下採礦地點的採礦技術。除了在1x1的方塊上你可以選擇任意尺寸來開掘。
1x2
- 選址(1x2的區域)
- 在你對着的地方向下挖一格(不要挖腳下)
- 跳進坑裏
- 挖走你對着的塊和它下方的塊
- 在所有塊上放滿梯 (1.5版你不能透過梯往上爬)
- 按照2.1繼續。
- 循環操作直到你到達希望去的層數。然後可以按照你選擇的方法水平探礦。
挖掘1x1礦洞是非常危險的因為會有下落到天然洞穴中的懸崖或者岩漿湖內的風險。安全的垂直礦洞至少是2x2大小的,它能提供更多安全的保證,也可以放火炬而非全部放梯來照明。
三格嵌入爆破式
三格嵌入爆破式採礦是透過使用TNT來開掘隧道的技術。首先找到一面合適的石頭牆,向內挖三格,在第三個鏤空位置放置TNT,用打火石右擊點燃後退後幾步快速在洞口放置一個石頭塊:爆炸會創造出一個完美的4x3x3的洞。你可以按需要重複上面的操作。
一種更快速但是風險也更大的技術是在牆壁上挖出一個小的壁櫥式的空間,然後用大量TNT填滿後引爆:這會創造出相當大的洞穴,然而這種方法會摧毀大量的塊,包括某些未被發現的珍貴礦藏,而且爆破也會讓大量岩漿湧入通道,造成洞穴難以進入並且燒毀爆破產生的塊。
跳水式礦坑
在直上直下的礦坑裡,你可以極快達到底部:只需要縱身一躍,跳進底部的水窪中即可;攀升則透過梯。完成這種礦洞必要的準備包括64節梯和兩鐵桶水。然後你將下挖一個3格寬的垂直隧道。到達礦坑底部後,一端做成水窪,另一端佈置梯。完成後把中間填滿以免當你跳躍的時候落在水窪之外。 關於建造細節的直道可以參見Vertical Mine Shaft With Water Drop。
橫向挖掘(或資源?采/分層)
安全
水平的挖掘是不一樣垂直的危險。但也有一些類似的建議。攜帶一個水鐵桶和一些一次性的,非易燃材料的一些方塊:非易燃材料(如沙,砂礫或石春)。方塊可以用來迅速堵塞洩漏在熔岩的岩漿,水可以通過源岩漿灌入變成黑曜石,以及撲滅火災。
項目及定義
主軸/通道:1x2或2x2的連接通道。
效率:你的采?工作有多少,你就可以得到多少礦石;又或者是你得到多少礦石,就可以?采多少鵝卵石。
徹底:每一方塊有多少礦石能夠提煉出來。
公平交易:在一個礦井能夠更有效獲得更多的礦石,又或是反之亦然。
佈局:礦場的俯視圖。
分支:純粹挖開隧道以收集礦石。
分支長度:有多少方塊在開鑿隧道時被?采出來。一個的建議就是量度開鑿隧道的長度及十字鎬的耐久度。
間距:分支隔開的長度。
徹底完成:礦井展示了4個新方塊,並展示出每一方塊包含一個大方塊,就是徹底完成。
分層:"堆疊"一個礦洞分支在另一個之上,以加大?采的效率。
效率 vs 徹底性
"效率"一詞,根據定義,是你用了多少時間獲取多少的礦石;當然計算出要用多少的時間到達礦洞是很困難的,所以礦石提取及石頭挖掘是一個較有用的項目。
"徹底性"是你在礦洞提取多少百分比的礦石。
可惜的是,效率經常被方塊?采及顯露的數量所粗略估計,同時徹底性亦常被粗略估計。
由於兩者都包含"所顯露的方塊",它們通常都會被混淆起來,這是一個很大的錯誤。
為了使其變得簡單,便假設所有礦石都是出自2x2x2或更大的方塊。然後,這裏絕對沒有必要顯露所有方塊;事實上,三格間距,及分層堆疊的距離為四,便可以徹底完成。 現在,讓我們假定 90%的礦石是 2 x 2 x 2,但 10%是 1 x 1 x 1 ;取得 100%的徹底性同時需要 3 間距和分層距離為 2,原礦 (3 空間 4-堆疊),然後維護減少那 98%-糟糕的徹底性。現在看看兩個區塊;礦井需要挖掘兩倍石頭以微不足道的 2%,100%增加總的收益,從而,基本上,是一半的效率的。為提高效率給予實際的數目,我們可以使用效率 = 100 * (礦石收集/區塊的數目)或,效率 %= (區塊?采的礦石收集數目)這個方程是類似於真實世界礦業計算如等級 = (克的金屬/噸岩石中刪除)。上述方程 " "中是區塊所提到的是兩個重要的性質,把目標定在觀察到的最大塊。這個簡單的等式得出的最有效的方法的結論。必須提出幾個假設:
- Ore 是隨機分佈
- Ore 隨機是不能控制的
- Ore 佔有一定寬度,即兩條隧道運行太接近對方會相交同一礦體兩次。
在這些假設本質上是真實的,雖然有一些失真,每個鑽石礦不可能唯一一粒.所以我們達到論點 ;在所在隧道間。傳統的"高效"采?方法中,隧道的間距緊靠在一起,以"觀察"塊的最大數目可能的因此從區域移除所有的礦石。所以,讓我們考慮間距 1 ;這是從另一個隧道由一個塊分隔的一條隧道。在第一條隧道的挖掘,期間遇到幾個礦體。這條隧道已有可能是有最大的效率。第二隧道已很低的效率,因為幾乎所有的礦體它遇到就已被第一條隧道刪除。這將導致暴跌礦業運作的效率。1 的間距是非常低效的。現在我們將移動到 2 的間距。這是很多人使用,因為它會導致 100%的間距觀察到單個圖層中的塊。然而,與 2 的間距,第二隧道仍遇到幾個礦體,已被刪除,所以它也是非常低效。我們可以繼續像這樣 ;只要第二隧道有機會遇到礦體已由相鄰隧道被刪除的它將具有一個小於最大的效率。因此礦山的最有效方式是放置足夠的距離相鄰隧道是有 '沒有機會遇到已被刪除的礦石的' 第二隧道。
你可以幫助我們來翻譯此條目,但請勿使用機器翻譯。
You don't have to take my word for it though. I have modelled the problem in matlab using a 2D slice of a real minecraft level and a virtual mining procedure. The model mines a 1 block wide tunnel through the 2D layer and removes all diamonds it encounters, just like a real player would do. The model is limited to diamonds but the principle applies to all ores. It repeats the mining for different tunnel spacings, from 1 to 10. The model then records how many diamonds were mined for each case, how many blocks were removed, and calculates the efficiency of each spacing. A simple graph is produced:
The results indicate what is expected - that when tunnels are close together they are not efficient because the miner will encounter diamonds which were already removed by the adjacent tunnel(s). A maximum efficiency is reached at a spacing of around 6 blocks (that is, 6 solid blocks left in-between the tunnels). At this spacing, efficiency is about 0.017, corresponding to 1.7% of blocks removed being a diamond. At this spacing, the tunnels effectively become independent of each other and so, statistically speaking, the chance of encountering an ore are maximised because there is no chance the ore has been removed by an adjacent tunnel. Above a spacing of 6, efficiency does not increase greatly because ore collection rate is simply a function of the distribution of ores within the level. Note: in the above graph, efficiency appears to drop-off at a spacing of 10. This is simply a limitation of the size of the level used to model the process, resulting in a large error at high spacings. If a larger level were used, the line would smoothly come to a maximum efficiency and stay there.
In summary:
- The term "efficiency" is often applied to the practice of making every block observable, however this is not usually the objective of a miner.
- A more practical definition of "efficiency" describes the percentage of blocks removed that are ores, in other words efficiency = (ores removed / blocks removed).
- Maximum efficiency is reached when adjacent tunnels become independent of each other, since there is no chance that an adjacent tunnel has already removed an ore.
- This maximum efficiency, for diamonds, is reached at a spacing of 6. Since other ores are usually collected in copious amounts compared to diamonds, this spacing is recommended for every-day mining operations.
Methods
Branch Mining
Branch mining consists of mining out side tunnels from an access shaft to expose as many blocks as possible with a minimum of blocks removed.
layout 1
(antennae layout) An effective technique if you want to find rare resources with minimal effort. It is basically mining down to any level, usually to bedrock, and then mining outwards to the sides, much like a tree with a trunk and branches.
- Use the staircase method to dig down to bedrock.
- Go up 2 blocks and fill any space below you mined out.
- Dig a 3x3 room.
- Dig a straight 2x1 tunnel in a straight line then dig out 32 blocks every 4th block.
- To further increase efficiency, you can end the 20-block tunnel by digging 4 blocks of an 1x1 tunnels as each of the mined block reveals more than a 2x1 tunnel.
This method is based on the relatively low probability of desirable blocks being created without any neighbors, so it will occasionally miss small/narrow ore deposits that fall entirely between the branches, but it covers ground faster, so you'll usually get more ore for your time. If you'd rather be sure of 100% coverage, simply place the tunnels closer together. it is also meant to be done quickly.
Diagram:
X = Tunnel "Trunk"
B = Branch
S = Staircase
Y = Outpost (for supplies etc.)
B B B B
B B B B
B B B B
B B B B
B B B B
B B B B
B B YYY B B
X X X X X X X X X X X X X YYY X X X X X X X X X X X X
B B YYY B B
B B S B B
B B S B B
B B S B B
B B S B B
B B S B B
Each branch can be any length, but about 32 blocks long is a good length to begin with, as it can be measured with the durability of a stone pickaxe.
layout 2
a pinwheel mine with a spacing of 2
(pinwheel mining system.)
the pinwheel mining layout:
the pinwheel mining layout is designed to cover HUGE squares of land-over LONG periods of time.
- get to the diamond layer by your prefered method,
- dig out a room-as large as 10x10x8 if you want to set it up as a self-sufficient base, or as small as 4x4x2 if you just want to get mining. (use even numbers if you like 2x2 access shafts; odd numbers if you prefer 1x2 access shafts)
- mark the access shafts into the middle of the walls; the picture shows 2x2 tunnels. (if you do not use the wide tunnels, mark the main shafts with signposts.)
- dig a given access shaft out untill your inventory is full. (you'll have plenty of chances to get the ores out of the access shafts)
- note: If you use a simple straight staircase to get down, you may need to leave off the south tunnel for a while.
- mark the branches at the desired interval. The picture shows a spacing of 2, which is 100% thorough but inefficient.
- dig out each branch untill your inventory is 3 spaces away from full, then turn around
- On the way back, place torches in any dark spots, and collect any missed ores-collecting all the coal is advised, but not required.
As always, you can use any spacing; a spacing of three provides both reasonable efficiency and reasonable thoroughness.
This layout can compete with the pheonix mine in terms of efficiency, and is easier to modify if necessary, but it does require a lot of time for each trip.
layout 3
(room and fork layout)
- Dig a room that is 7 blocks long, 10 blocks wide and 3 blocks high. Have your stairway/ladder in the middle of one of the 10 block walls, preferably 2 spaces wide.
- Starting in one of the corners, dig parallel to one of the walls of the room you just dug, for 20 spaces, placing a torch every 5 blocks.
- Then, dig another 20 block tunnel that has two blocks between it and the previous tunnel.
- Continue until you reach the other side of the room.
Diagram:
Key: A = Air
B = Stone block
S = Staircase
T = Tunnel
A A A A A A A A A A T T T T T
A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B
A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B
A A A A A A A A A A T T T T T
A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B
A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B
A A A A A A A A A A T T T T T
T B B T S S T B B T
T B B T S S T B B T
T B B T S S T B B T
T B B T S S T B B T
T B B T S S T B B T
By utilizing this variant properly you can uncover all the blocks in quite a large area, and the mineral yields are quite high. Having the stairs 2 blocks wide allows for thorough strip mining as they can be strip mined around. Also, a good length for each tunnel is 20 blocks long.
Tiered Branch Mining
Advanced branch mining is one of the most efficient way to mine 100% of the ores on multiple levels.
This setup allows for linear navigation along tunnels by first selecting depth, then choosing an appropriate tunnel at that depth.
Tiered branch mining is the art of stacking shaft mines on top of one another.
If you decide to stack your mineshafts, however, you should use an odd-spacing, or you'll get inefficiency AND blindspots.
for instance, The following tiering has the advantage of being very efficient, while finding any 2x2x2 cube of valuable ore. It has the disadvantage of missing some of the smaller veins, though it doesn't miss as many as you might expect-it yields somewhere between 80 and 90 % of the ores in a region. (mine at y=12, y=16, and y=8)
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- ooooooooooooo
- ooooooooooooo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- ooooooooooooo
- ooooooooooooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- ooooooooooooo
- ooooooooooooo
(bedrock begins.) (x=branch, o=stone)
This is a good mine for single player if you can't stand the mere possibility of leaving a 2x2x2cube of diamonds just below or above your initial mineshaft-this will find them.
The next one has a tiering distance of 3, and is noticeably less efficient in terms of ores found/cobble removed, but it finds at least 90% of the diamonds in a chunk:
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- ooooooooooooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- ooooooooooooo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- ooooooooooooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
(bedrock begins.) this is a good mine for somewhat crowded multiplayer, where thoroughness is actually worth something.
should you be willing to sacrifice efficiency in exchange for revealing every last block, you can use a tiering distance of 2:
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oooxoooxoooxo
- oxoooxoooxooo
- oxoooxoooxooo
This particular tiering, however, is not only inefficient, but requires one of the access methods shown in the pictures-either an 8 tall, 2-3 wide tunnel with staircases as shown in the grey picture, or with one access shaft for 2 sets of layers. this should be used only in ridiculously crowded multiplayer servers, when what matters is finding that one redstone vein that got missed by all the random-miners.
however, nearly any spacing and layout can be used with a given tiering distance. , as it is fairly thorough, only slightly less efficient than a straight shaft, and it can be transformed into nearly any level of thoroughness without wasting effort.
however, Nearly any layout, spacing, and branch-lenght can be combined with any tiering distance, though doing it with a pheonix mine on the compact spacing is NOT recommend for anyone who gets headaches easily.
Simple Strip Mining
My technique is to take off the top 6 layers of a mountain completely. Continue until your mountain is entirely flat. TNT is useful for the first 5 layers, since the explosion will destroy only cobblestone for the most part.
Diagram:
Key: A = Air
B = Block
L = Ground Level
Step 1:
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
First 5 layers are gone when you start mining.
Next couple steps are as shown:
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
This time consuming method is a useful tool for when you need minerals or a flat area.
Quarry Mining
A 16x16 quarry being looked at from the top.
Looking up from the bottom of a quarry mine.
Quarry Mining is very similar to branch mining, sharing the prospect of taking all resources within an area. These mining shafts are used very commonly in minecraft. The difference between Quarrying and Branch Mining is that the process of Quarrying involves a large rectangular or square strip, continually mined downwards with a staircase running along the side. This method got its name by its similarity to real world quarry sites. Quarries are typically ceased when a large cave is discovered (This does not directly stop the excavation, it just makes it difficult to continue), the miner abandons the Quarry for another project, or bedrock is reached. One can place a minecart track(powered) in a spiral, to allow ease of access.
An unfinished 20x20 quarry.
A 25x25x57 quarry.
The Construction of a Quarry is as follows:
1: Determine the size of the project, there is no standard so simply choose how big you want it to be, however it is advised that the area is large, to maximize resources within a single quarry. (A typical quarry can be 20x20 or 20x30, for example)
2: Begin Mining until the entire area is one block deep, save for one block which will become the stairs
3: Continue mining one block deep while keeping an extra block to extend the stairway, until the mine reaches bedrock or until you wish to abandon the project.
Example:
Key: - = Air
B = Stone block
S = Staircase
Top of mine:
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
BS----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
Next few levels down:
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
B-----------------------------B
BS----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
BS----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
B-----------------------------B
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
Although the yielded amount of cobblestone, dirt/sand, coal, iron, and to some extent gold, will be enormous, and the possibility of lava is very high, this is not the best method for mining diamond and lapis lazuli, because they're found only at the bottom of the map (Note: Diamonds and Lapis Lazuli CAN be mined using this method, but due to their rarity the placement of the quarry along with its size will determine the amount). This type of mining is suggested for getting large amounts of cobblestone, iron and coal, besides the ability to gain large amounts of resources, this type of mining exposes many caves for further exploration/mining.
Besides mining, Quarries also have some non-resource related benefits, such as keeping the area clean and fresh (not ruining the nature), and a handy trap as the mine is very deep.
Water blocks placed two high at the bottom of a quarry can allow quick descent (by just jumping into the water), and water elevators can be used to quickly return to ground level from the bottom.
Warning: Be extremely careful around this mine, as a fall will surely be fatal, unless you covered the 2 bottom levels of it with water. Make sure the shaft is either covered up by a layer of blocks or a fenced perimeter. The shaft should also be well-lit to avoid being a mob pit.
Tunnel-mining
This involves digging a long tunnel. You will need many logs (for sticks), and optimally, crafting tables, chests, and furnaces. The simplest tunnel is 2 high by 1 wide, but the wider and higher the tunnel, the more cobblestone you get per chunk you explore (you will not gather cobblestone any faster, also you will get less ores). Dig at about level 50 if under land; 40 if underwater; or 12 if for precious ores. You may want to use the cobblestone to seal off caves already explored. This is like a quarry - but more useful since less resources are spent going through the dirt/sand layer, and it can also be used in conjunction with minecart tracks to go from one base to another. A 4X3 tunnel that is 1800 blocks long will yield as much as an 18X18 quarry to bedrock, though arguably safer as you won't hit the lava layer, and it will yield more diamond/redstone if at layer 12, as well as the fact that falling in is completely non-lethal!
Best used for ores AND cobblestone - for ores only, use Branch mining instead.
Multi-mining
The name fits any combined mine such as the following:
Quarry-Branch Mine
This involves digging a quarry and adding ledges every few blocks down around the outside while digging. The sides of the quarry have to be a certain length, for example with a two-space branch mine, you need each side to be [(something divisible by 3) + 1] blocks long. The result will vaguely resemble a shopping mall atrium with one massive open space and then a bunch of "shelves". Then, dig the shafts to at least 20 blocks for a ton of ores, including quite a few diamonds (about 3 veins) down on the lower levels. For a 10x10 quarry, you will get about 150 stacks of cobblestone, while for larger mines (e.g. 40x40) you will get around 2000 stacks, handy for massive building projects.
Quarry-Cave Mining
Dig a quarry down to under Y-level 25, and attempt to unearth a cave. If you do, you can explore that cave. Many of the deeper caves have no surface entrance, and being able to expose a cave that is otherwise sealed to the outside world through a quarry can garner you both large amounts of cobblestone, dirt, and gravel, as well as the rewards of mining out a deep cave. If you don't want to hold on to the stone that is excavated, you can use it to fill in dead ends, allowing you to navigate the remainder of the cave more easily.
"Mass Mining"
For those who favor mining in a straight path but try to not make it very long. Once you reach bedrock level, go up a few blocks and start mining and make it a large corridor. If you reach a cave, continue to make the large corridor (but secure the cave first). This will give you large stores of cobblestone and more of a chance of finding lava. Find ores that are nearby that would be hidden if you did another technique and did not get lost in your mine. This a very basic technique yet a tiring way of mining. It is suggested to use a diamond pickaxe with max efficiency enchantment and unbreaking enchantment so that the pickaxe doesn't break during the process and also consumes less time compared to using a non-enchanted stone pickaxe.
Aesthetic Mines
This section is for mines that focus more on aesthetics rather than efficiency.
Clc's Vertical design
A mine of mine (No pun intended) I decided to talk about, seeing as how few aesthetic mine designs there are it should be a welcome change. Mind you don't expect to do all the connections, let alone open/maze connections (Variations section) unless you're on a server, or you have a will you can break diamond on.
Design
This design consists of a Hub and a Push leading into another Hub.
Key:
B - Block
_ - Air
Hub:
Top view:
BBBBBBB
BB___BB
B_____B
B_____B
B_____B
BB___BB
BBBBBBB
Side view:
BBBBBBB
BB___BB
BB___BB
B_____B
B_____B
B_____B
BBBBBBB
Each push is basically the design behind it (The side view) dropped a square repeated several times, the amount is dependent on the miner but an even number is preferred due to torch placement (Discussed later)
The central hub (The first hub made in the mine) will have 4 pushes in each of the cardinal directions, eventually, if you are in need of ores you may choose to go down in one direction until you have what you need. I recommend you check your y coordinate about now, you may want a push length that will allow you to get your y value as close as you can to 12 (Lava spawns in caves at 10, and your y is up 2 for the positioning of your head) After you've decided on your length and finished a push you make another Hub in the same size as above. Continue until you reach the last of your hubs (You should end it before you hit bedrock, otherwise it won't be very nice looking)
Torch Placement
Torch placement is simple in this design. You will have 8 torches in each hub, on both sides of the bottom of the corners. If you want you may add a torch to the center floor to add more light, but it is enough to prevent mobs spawning as it is now.
For every push you put two torches on every other left and right hangs.
Connections
After you finished all of the cardinal pushes you'll be wondering what next to do, considering the amount you've mined you may want a place to store away items, connections are great for this.
Each connection is a hub formed by two of the cardinal branches intersecting, meaning if you went to the first north hub down, you'd have to mine one push/hub to the left and connect to it from the first west hub down by pushing right. It's the same as the hub but it leaves two walls with nothing to do, if you try to continue with them you will get intersections that are hard to make aesthetic unless your looking for a large open mine, or a maze mine. Instead, you can use it for chests, and it works well for it's purpose. Very hard to describe with letters, so here's a picture instead: Picture
Continuations
After your cardinal directions are done, you have your as many connections as you care for, what's next? You continue Adding onto your bottom hubs, only with straight pushes. The bottom hubs will branch in all directions except backwards (Unless your going with a open/mine variation) and each of those hubs may spread in the same direction so long as it's not backwards for the original hub. If you positioned well in the first central hub and push size, you'll be scraping a long in a fairly wide tunnel along the same height you find diamonds. It's easy sailing from here on.
Varations
Central Drop shaft:
Central hub is under an area of flat ground, you put a three deep hole where torches will go, ladders go on the bottom and top, torches in the middle, you go above the hub as normal only there will be a 2 high gap under the hangs on this first hub to allow for the ladders as a way up. Due to update you will need the ladders to go all the way down, and such won't have a place for a torch. You can circumvent this by putting them on the middle of part left over at the top of the next section, the lighting is the same and you won't need an extra torch to prevent mobs spawning. This also works particularly well if you want to replace the top with glass.
Open Mine Connections:
Same as original, only every connection you make splits off in all four directions. It goes up with a 1 wide path in the center in all four directions and the both of the two wide paths go down until they merge (Which is when it can do so without getting rid of the upward path)
There are two variations, one where you will go up when you make a connection, so you will have a stack of hubs in all directions, another where you only dig down in the connections, where they intersect you build the 1 central path down to the hub. The latter is more efficient as all of it will eventually lead to the bottom and therefore be mining ore.
Maze Mine Connections:
The same as an Open Mine except your down path is one wide, not your up path. Same two variations, same correlation in efficiency.
Lava lights:
You can replace the torches in the center (If you placed them at all) of the hubs with a piece of glass and lava under it and it gives only one light less. You can change it for a 3x3 if you feel so inclined and have enough lava.
Drop Shafts:
This combines the Central Drop Shaft and optionally the Open and Maze Mine Connections. It requires close tallies if you don't want to combine them though.
At your Hub you mine down the same as if you were going to make a Central drop Shaft, but continue until you are on the same level as your next hub (Depends on the size of your push, like a 8 push would be 8 blocks down) After you reach the bottom you make another hub in the same style as a Central Drop Shaft. This will require more ladders, so it's not a very good idea if your short on wood, but it allows a certain maze quality that I find welcome.
There are two places where you can put the ladders, but the two per corner type of the Central Drop Shaft style is preferred, however the other style uses less ladders. You mine your shafts in the blocks directly north/south/east/west of the center so that you have 4 shafts all the way to the next hub, this require 5 blocks to hang down from the hub, some like it, others don't.
Two variations on top of that, you may use the drop shaft for all your hubs, thus any hub with a hub above will be able to ascend, or you can only use the shafts for the central hub, adding 'terraces' to your mine.
Where does open/maze mine connections come in? After you get down to the bottom level you may continue to stretch out and connect with the original push/hubs. Once you connect you may use the open style, leaving 1 wide path up or the maze, leaving 2x2 wide up.
Other Aesthetic Mine Ideas
Central Mine
- is open space;
- are rails
Once every x blocks you should change the rail/torch/rail combination for a Powered Rail/Redstone torch/Powered Rail
You will have a central rail system with smaller hallways for pedestrian traffic. On interesting locations, you should add some kind of rail station with access to the rail.
Side Mines
Connections
(From the top)
Random Mining
Mining randomly is very simple: dig, dig, dig wherever and however you just happen to feel like digging at the moment.
Very simple, and potentially the most rewarding type of mining around: you can find dungeons, massive cave networks, and maybe the enemy base. HOWEVER! it is also, potentially, the least rewarding: you could be 2 blocks away from a 16-ore diamond vein (two cubes, from 2 different chunks) and HAVE NO IDEA! -and in general, it's possible to twist and turn and miss all the ores, even the coal....
But it is DEFINITLElY the most dangerous: you can get lost, mine your way into lava (and thus lose ALL your items), mine your way into a ravine, mine your way into a skeleton spawner with 5 angry skeletons, or even into your own 40 block drop. alternatively, you could embarrass yourself by mining straight up into a patch of gravel or sand, or flooding half your mine digging into the ocean.
That said, there is one major benefit to random mining; it will confuse potential griefers. Surrounding a main base with all kinds of twisty passages is certainly a viable option-though it won't stop a determined, deliberate griefer from finding you with a widely-spaced branch mine.
Note: In order to preserve safety it is recommended to never dig directly below oneself, or directly above.
Space/Portion Mining
Not to be confused with Strip Mining; however, this does involve a similar method.
Room Mining
This form of mining involves someone to make a hall way and then make a small opening in the wall. From there, one must simply dig out a portion of the block to create a space. This method is repeated many times down the hall on either side to create rooms for various purposes, while finding several ores and valued materials in the process. This method is useful for the creation of houses, barns, indoor-gardens, storages, and in the creation of hard-to-find/secret places as it offers a variety of places one may go to in order to find something, but they may likely give up in the process unless they are determined.
Tunnel Mining
This is highly similar to Room Mining, except that instead of Building rooms, you build tunnels. However, this takes much longer to do and tunnels are usually much larger than rooms. Because of this, Tunnel Mining is lesser to be used as the tunnels take up many tools in the process of making them as well as the mining process may dig into a body of water and flood the tunnel. However, if the player wants to make an artificial river for boats, this may not be a problem. Despite the fact that they may yield many resources, players may use up several pick axes or shovels in the process of making them as well as torches to light up the tunnel. Players may get bored of doing this and may abandon the tunnels while still in the process of making them. Some may not consider beginning construction on future tunnels due to lost supplies and the tunnel not being rewarding enough to continue. This method is useful for making minecart subways, large indoor-gardens, art galleries, tree farms, boat rivers, large barn(s), mazes, doing construction on vertical and horizontal structures, constructing strip mines, and secret/hard-to-find areas by making tunnels that seem to go nowhere.
Clear Mining/Safe Mining
The general purpose of Clear Mining (or Safe Mining, whichever one may prefer to call it) is a variation of Box Mining and other simple techniques. A player first finds a suitable area, preferably one block above the bedrock layer so that the player can easily obtain diamonds and other rare minerals. The player must also have at least 5 to 6 stone picks, one iron pick for rare minerals such as gold, and 3-4 shovels for gravel. A sword is optional depending on the players preferred difficulty settings. Once the player has found a suitable and deep area that they are confident in they may either begin or set up a small chamber near the area to store minerals and construct tools to further their mining. To begin, make a simple 1 block wide and 2 blocks high that spans roughly 8-10 blocks in length. Once this has begun, the player then uses their stone picks to mine directly in front of them where their tunnel ends, but, there is a catch. The player does not move once they make their initial 8-10 block tunnel, and mines only the above block of the two block height making a small box, 4 blocks long. Once the player makes a half tunnel 4 blocks long, the turn to their left or right and do the same; not breaking any of the blocks below the first block. (when done the concept is much more simple) After the player makes a reversed "T" shape, then the player can start to mine out the remaining areas around the tunnels, only using their reach length to clear away stone and any materials. Once the player has maxed out their reach length, they will be in small "box" that reduces risks of being suffocated by gravel or possibly lava. The player then should have a clear area, and then mines out the remaining second blocks, still avoiding the "edges" of the safety box. Once all materials are mined, the player can then break the box and gather the resources in one quick run. Once the player is done in this, there will of course be small "edges" that they not reach, and these should be mined out making a clear box. To further the effectiveness of this strategy, one may then place torches in the "frontal" corners of the area and repeat the process on each side, however this time, rotating their view to clear away all areas of their reach, so long as they are away from their initial entrance tunnel. The end result should be a very fast, resourceful, and safer approach to mining at bedrock. However, mobs may spawn in areas of the mine that are poorly lit, and lava is a factor, along with tediousness, so the player must make a commitment to a clear mine, leaving when satisfied with their bounty of materials. Like parenthesized above, this strategy is best played out rather than explained.
Amphitheater Mining
Start with a basic U-shaped mine, and make an "amphitheater" down the levels until you have a one-block space. Then, make a doorway ahead to make another amphitheater mine. This is very useful, and you can even make it decorative by adding staircases as stairs or chairs.
Wanderer mining
This is a simple mining technique, but isn't used much because of the risk of getting lost. Start by making a staircase down until you reach the level where the desired ore is most commonly found, and begin mining. Occasionally change directions and make multiple branches.If there is a rise, plow through it. If there is a fall, bridge it with cobble. the point is to cover as much area without changing your y coordinate.
Worst Case Scenario
If you fall into Lava, do not panic; try to get far away from the lava. This way even if you die, your stuff won't be destroyed by the lava. If you need to heal, eat Food and hide in a corner/away from Mobs, and make sure you use a bucket of water if you have one. If you know you are going to die anyway press F3 and F2 to find out your coordinates and take a screenshot.
If you are trapped in blocks and are suffocating, try to dig looking downwards. This could assist you in getting out of the trapped pit.
If you are fighting and are going to die, press F3 then F2.
Whatever happens, you should look back upon what you did, and analyze how you died, and what you could do to improve.
If your pickaxe breaks and you've stumbled into a cave and you have lost your way the only option is to punch your way out and this could take a while.
Best Case Scenario
Should you happen to accumulate a large amount of resources, such as, perhaps, 2 stacks of Iron Ore and 10 Diamonds you may be tempted to delve further into the cavern. Resist this urge and return to your base to empty your loot. Dumping off your goodies instead of trying to explore longer may help in the long run, and will reduce the chance of losing your loot. Having a bed at the base of your mine is also helpful; if you die, you will spawn a the base of your mine, hopefully surrounded by your chests full of goodies!
Safety
When going for a mining trip, do NOT dig when in a desert or place abundant in gravel. If you dig under gravel or sand, it will fall on you and suffocate you.
When going mining, after you are finished and you make your way back, try to go out the way you came. That way, you know you are safe and there is no risk of lava, water, gravel, or sand falling on you and killing you. Digging a new shaft to escape the underground could result in sand falling on you when it turns out you dug your exit below a desert biome. Or you could be drowned when the entire ocean floods your exit shaft.
Never take valuable items when going mining. You don't want to delve into the gorges down below while carrying tons of iron and diamonds, for if you lose them while mining, you will be sorry. A crafting table is always suggested to carry while mining, so that you may make more picks if one breaks. Use stone picks if you choose to be safe as they hack through stone quite fast and are cheap to make. Carry only at least one iron pick for mining that redstone or diamond that you stumbled upon. This way, you have less to lose. Take a diamond pick if you want to be fast and efficient for its durability. Never take your diamond sword while going mining, as you know that swords are disposable and you want to make them last, so losing it on a mining trip is pretty sad. Also, if needed, although this is rare, carrying a furnace while mining might be needed in order to smelt that iron ore you found so you can mine the diamond because your iron pick broke earlier.
Mining stone blocks is very dangerous no matter what direction it is. Mining right above risks suffocation from gravel or sand, or even mining the ceiling from a distance could risk water, lava (though blocks holding fluids above them are unmistakable for the drops of that liquid seeping through) or even hostile mobs flowing in. mining the walls risks lava flow or mobs (water flow is quite harmless in the occasion other that putting out torches and destroying rails). and mining right below you risks falling great heights or into lava. If you hear lava, it is advised you mine blocks with water covering it, turning lava into obsidian before you or drops can fall in.
Tragic Accidents like this can happen! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUpgnWTZrlM
