How to Mine Efficiently in Minecraft (Branch Mining and Cave Mining)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: For diamonds, branch mine at Y=-59: a main tunnel with side branches every 2 blocks exposes the most ore per pickaxe. For everything else, explore big caves - faster and free, just more dangerous.

What you need

An iron pickaxe or better (diamonds need iron+)
Torches, food, a water bucket
F3 to check your Y level (Java)

Step by step

Know your levels: diamonds peak around Y=-59 (bedrock floor), iron at Y=16 and in mountains, gold low in badlands, coal high in the world.
Branch mining: dig a main tunnel at Y=-59, then side branches every 2 blocks (one solid block between tunnels). You see every ore while breaking the fewest blocks.
Never dig straight down - stand between two blocks and mine one at a time so you never fall into lava or a cave.
Cave mining: the huge deep caves below Y=0 expose tons of ore for free. Bring torches, a shield and food - it is faster but riskier than tunnels.
Lava rule at diamond level: lava lakes sit at Y=-54 and below. Digging at Y=-59 keeps your head above most of it - pour your water bucket before stepping forward.
Enchant your pickaxe: Fortune III triples diamond drops; Efficiency V with haste chews through stone; Unbreaking III saves diamonds on repairs.
Inventory discipline: drop cobblestone as you go, keep one slot for torches, and return when food runs low - dying with 20 diamonds is the real cost.

Java vs Bedrock

Identical ore levels on Java and Bedrock. Only the debug screen (F3) differs - Bedrock shows coordinates in world settings.

Versions: Ore distribution has been stable since 1.18: diamonds deepest, and the Y=-59 sweet spot holds in all current versions.

Frequently asked questions

Is strip mining or cave mining better?

Cave mining finds more ore per minute; branch mining finds more per pickaxe and is far safer. Do caves early game, branch mine when geared.

Why mine at Y=-59 and not lower?

Below that you hit the bedrock floor and constant lava. Y=-59 keeps you at peak diamond density with a floor to stand on.