Mining (or digging) is a big part of Minecraft, especially if players want to use materials in the Survival Game Mode. Mining is impossible in the standard superflat world since the ground level is only three dirt layers above the bedrock layer. Also, always take a ender chest if you can find one. Because if your in a cave, you can put your valuables inside the chest to make it easy. Like Diamonds or Armour, Golden Apples, Anything of value should go inside an ender chest.
Ore Mining[]
A player will need to mine ores to do lots of things in Minecraft.
Be Prepared[]
The following are some useful things to bring while mining:
- Armor (for protection)
- Pickaxe (for mining stone and ores)
- Shovel (for mining dirt and gravel)
- Sword (for defending a player against hostile mobs)
- Torches (for light)
- Bucket of water (to turn lava into obsidian, or to harm endermen (if not on peaceful mode))
- Invaluable blocks (dirt, cobblestone, etc.)
- Food (if a player gets low hunger)
- Wood (for crafting tables, sticks, and to craft more tools and torches as needed)
- Furnace (for smelting ores immediately, a Blast Furnace is good to bring as well)
- Shield (To protect a player against skeleton arrows and creeper explosions)
- Bed (if one plans to spend several days underground)
- Sticks (for creating torches and tools)
Where to Look[]
Ores and other resources generate at specific levels:
- Gravel is found below y=111.
- Coal Ore is found below y=128.
- Copper Ore is found below y=96 (in 1.17)
- Iron Ore is found below y=63, but is more common below y=58.
- Gold Ore is found below y=33, but is more common below y=29.
- Lapis Lazuli Ore is found below y=31, but is more common between y=13 and y=16.
- Emerald Ore is found between y=4 and y=32, but it only generates in mountain biomes.
- Redstone Ore is found at and below y=16.
- Diamond Ore is found below y=16, but is more common between y=5 and y=13.
Strategies for Mining[]
Mining can be one of the most difficult tasks in Minecraft, but there are a lot of ways to mine (examples are below). Certain strategies lead to certain ores quickly while others can be time-consuming. Each strategy depends on the situation and the active status effects of a player. Regardless of the type of mining, players should avoid digging straight up or down, and they should build spiral staircases instead. This prevents a player from being crushed by falling blocks, such as gravel, (upwards digging) as well as preventing a player from falling into lava or caves (downwards digging). Some consider this to be "the golden rule" of mining, and it's so important that it sometimes appears as text in the grey box on the loading screen.
Spelunking[]
Cave
'Spelunking' (exploring caves) is by far the most efficient method of obtaining ores. Caves can be considered the least time-consuming and far less exhaustive on resources. Although ores are plentiful, caves are naturally-generated which means that they have their drawbacks. Some caves are minuscule and short, and they do not break through all depths where ores can be found. Another threat created from mining in caves is the low lighting. Hostile mobs are capable of spawning in the darkness. These are most often zombies or skeletons, but the most fatal can be a creeper or a swarm of creepers that approach an unsuspecting player. Low lighting can also hide many obstacles to a player, such as deep chasms.
Staircasing[]
'Staircasing' is one of the safer methods of mining, and it can be used in combination with all other methods. A strategic player can quickly reach all ore layers which will grant them access to the depth at which each type of ore can be found. Players can then create miniature mines at each level as a resource for obtaining each respective ore. 'Staircasing' is the quickest and safest method of reaching bedrock easily.
Strip Mining[]
Strip mine
'Strip Mining' is the easiest method of mining, and it's typically paired with "staircasing". 'Strip mining' can be done at a single level by creating a 1x2 path for a player to navigate. Paths can either be enlarged or numerous paths can be created. The most successful 'strip-mining' strategy is to create a system of passages at the various ore levels (Y=12 most recommended for finding all ores). 'Strip mining' can also be done by alternating one tunnel every two blocks.
Cliff Mining[]
A ravine to go cliff mining in.
'Cliff mining' is one of the most primitive types of mining, and it usually supplies minuscule amounts of ores, particularly iron and coal. 'Cliff mining' is usually performed in ravines that are either above ground or below (typically above since lava frequently spawns in underground ravines). This method is carried out by creating a staircase to one of the ravine's various overhangs. Overhangs on adjacent sides can be connected by building a simple bridge while lower levels are traveled to by descending the wall with a staircase.
Blast Mining[]
'Blast mining' is one of the least time-consuming methods of mining. It is also considered the most dangerous method as well. 'Blast mining' requires TNT as well as a means of activating it, via flint and steel or any sort of Redstone device. 'Blast mining' is the fastest way to descend to the lower depths of a world, but it will yield very few resources alone. This is due to the massive strength of an explosion caused by TNT since many blocks get destroyed as opposed to dropping as items. Although seldom used, the large blast radius is very helpful for finding caves. Bear in mind that TNT can be expensive to make, as you have to hunt a lot of Creepers to get enough TNT.
Pit Mining[]
This may be natural, but this is an example of pit mining.
'Pit mining' is performed by simply digging a large hole in the ground usually starting at the ground level of an area. It is the slowest way of reaching lower depths, but it is often very useful in yielding the necessity ores, such as coal and iron. 'Pit mining' is usually done in an open, uncovered space and usually over a wide area which can be descended by ladders or a staircase. On occasion, 'pit mines' can be 'closed off' with a roof overhead to prevent hostile mobs from assaulting players. To quickly make a pit, detonate several blocks of TNTs.
Splash Mining[]
A player who just extinguished a lava pool
'Splash mining' is a variant of 'spelunking' that is done only in lava caverns. The main tool used for splash mining is a bucket of water. The water is used to transform the lava into obsidian which is a valuable resource. Lava caverns generally spawn at the deepest depths of any given world. Frequent finds in lava caverns are diamonds, iron, gold, and Redstone.
Deep-Sea Mining[]
Underwater ravine to go mining
'Deep-Sea Mining' is the rarest of all mining types since it is performed in the elusive "blue holes" scattered beneath the ocean floor. This type of mining is very time consuming, and it does not yield as many ores as 'spelunking' does. All tools should be enchanted for improved use underwater. This type of mining is very dangerous since a player is underwater, but it is also an effective method for mining obsidian.
Dive Mining[]
'Dive Mining' is the newest type of mining. It can be effective, though it also can't because the player's mining in a 1-block space, thus allowing less of a chance to find ores. A player places a trapdoor under a 1-block space and closes the former on their head (Java Edition only). This will make them go into the swimming animation, which allows them to go through 1-block spaces. On Bedrock Edition, you can swim after putting a block of water down, allowing it to flow, then sprint into the water, then go into the 1-block space you mined. After, you can collect your water, and start mining normally.
Trivia[]
- Some commands can help you replace blocks with another kind (diamond ore is the best), and that can excavate spaces. Find them in commands.