Mining Guide

Ore Distribution by Y-Level

Different ores spawn at different Y-levels in Minecraft. Here's where to find each ore:

Coal

Y: 0 to 320 (Peak: 96)

Iron

Y: -64 to 320 (Peak: 16, 232)

Copper

Y: -16 to 112 (Peak: 48)

Gold

Y: -64 to 32 (Peak: -16)

Redstone

Y: -64 to 16 (Peak: -59)

Diamond

Y: -64 to 16 (Peak: -59)

Lapis Lazuli

Y: -64 to 64 (Peak: 0)

Emerald

Y: -16 to 320 (Mountains only)

💡 Pro Tip

For diamond mining, dig down to Y-level -59 for the best results. Use F3 (Java) or show coordinates (Bedrock) to check your Y-level.

Tool Requirements for Ores

Different ores require different tool tiers to mine successfully:

Ore	Required Tool	Drops
Coal Ore	Wooden Pickaxe+	1 Coal (up to 4 with Fortune III)
Iron Ore	Stone Pickaxe+	Raw Iron (smelt to get Iron Ingot)
Copper Ore	Stone Pickaxe+	2-5 Raw Copper (more with Fortune)
Gold Ore	Iron Pickaxe+	Raw Gold (smelt to get Gold Ingot)
Lapis Lazuli Ore	Stone Pickaxe+	4-9 Lapis Lazuli (more with Fortune)
Redstone Ore	Iron Pickaxe+	4-5 Redstone (more with Fortune)
Diamond Ore	Iron Pickaxe+	1 Diamond (up to 4 with Fortune III)
Emerald Ore	Iron Pickaxe+	1 Emerald (up to 4 with Fortune III)
Ancient Debris	Diamond Pickaxe+	1 Ancient Debris (no Fortune effect)

Essential Mining Enchantments

Enchant your tools to maximize efficiency and yields:

Fortune III

Increases ore drops significantly. Essential for diamonds, coal, and redstone.

Efficiency V

Mines blocks much faster. Crucial for strip mining and branch mining.

Unbreaking III

Significantly extends tool durability. Saves resources in the long run.

Mending

Repairs tool using XP orbs. Makes your pickaxe last indefinitely.

Silk Touch I

Mines blocks as-is. Use on a secondary pickaxe for special blocks.

⚒️ Enchantment Strategy

Keep two pickaxes: one with Fortune III for ores that benefit from it, and another with Silk Touch for special blocks like ice, glass, or when you want to move ore blocks.

Popular Mining Techniques

Strip Mining

Mine long tunnels at desired Y-level, spacing them 2-3 blocks apart. Very efficient for finding ores.

Efficiency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best For Diamonds, Ancient Debris

Branch Mining

Create a main tunnel with smaller branches going off to the sides. Systematic and organized.

Efficiency ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best For All ores, organized mining

Cave Mining

Explore natural caves and mine exposed ores. High risk, high reward, and resource-efficient.

Efficiency ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best For Quick resources, exploration

Bed Mining (Nether)

Use beds to create explosions in the Nether to reveal Ancient Debris. Highly effective but dangerous.

Efficiency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best For Ancient Debris only

Mining Safety Tips

⚠️ Stay Safe While Mining

Always carry a water bucket to deal with lava
Bring blocks to pillar up or bridge across gaps
Light up areas to prevent mob spawns
Carry food to maintain health
Mark your path with torches (place on one side)
Never dig straight down or straight up
Keep track of your coordinates to find your way back