Minecraft mining guide

Or, well, this is how I do it!
The focus is to find as many diamonds as possible.

If you are completely new to Minecraft and mining, remember: you need an iron pickaxe (or better) to actually mine diamonds. If you destroy a diamond block with anything else it will go to waste.

First, dig down to level 12. I can’t remember where I read this, but most of the diamonds are between levels 12 and 16.

Then at 12, dig a straight tunnel, 2x3, like this (top view):

Or to illustrate it better:

You can put a crafting table down there, make a room with some chests for cobblestone and redstone (you’ll get lots).

What we’re gonna do is called branch mining, which ensures we get to see every single block between 12 and 16. This maximizes our chances of finding the good stuff!

Once you have the 2x3 tunnel done, start digging 1 wide, 4 high tunnels perpendicular to the main tunnel. Like this:

By leaving a 2 block space between the tunnels, we get to see every block, like I said above. Makes sense?

The yellow lines are 1x1 “holes” between the tunnels for torches, placing them like that reduces the amount you’ll need, as 1 torch is enough to brighten up a part of 2-3 tunnels (instead of just one).
See this screenshot:

You may also bump into an abandoned mine shaft, or a dungeon. Bonus points when that happens :)

A few more tips:
Bring a good amount of food and pickaxes if you plan on staying below the ground for longer;

Bring a clock if the mine isn’t protected on the surface, to avoid running out in the middle of the night;

Additionally, bring a bed if you are playing with mo'creatures installed and want to avoid werewolves ;)

Lastly, bring a bucket of water to deal with lava.

And speaking of lava, be careful while mining!

See the little droplets on the ceiling and ground? Exactly!

I hope this guide will help you guys! If you are wondering, the texture pack is called Chroma Hills and can be found on it’s official website here, or on the minecraft forums, here.