Support Beams, Prospecting Pick and Digging Up

[terraCatalyst 0]

So, I understand that support beams work within a certain radius around the placed beam, some places I've read 5x1x5, others I've read 9x1x9, I'm not very specific on what that is. Regardless, I understand their use and application in preventing cave-ins. The problem is when you're digging for ores sometimes you find that you might have to head upward, utilizing the prospecting pick ascertains that ores are above me. The problem is, digging upward on the y-axis isn't covered by support beams as far as I'm aware; remember that 5x1x5 (x x y x z) that should only cover the same level as the placed beam? So, fellow TFC-ians, how do you I go above excavating up without putting myself at risk of cave-ins?

[Ryudo 0]

That's actually one of the most dangerous parts of mining. I've had several cave-ins during my playtime, and ALL of them happened because I was digging either up or down. Most recently, I found a huge vein of limonite on a cave, but it was somewhat below me. While digging the stairs down, I had a cave in which basically ruined all of the ore on the ceiling (good thing there's a lot more on the ground and walls )

[Deviator 51]

Horizontal beams support the layer they are on and 1 above, none below. It extends 4 blocks in each direction making a 9x9, 2 high area supported.

[Truculent 2]

I've never had a cave-in from digging a 1 block wide vertical shaft up, so long as the rest of the blocks around it were supported by beams. I simply dig up 3-4 blocks then 1 block over for a vertical + horizontal beam and start carving out from the top down.

[terraCatalyst 0]

Horizontal beams support the layer they are on and 1 above, none below. It extends 4 blocks in each direction making a 9x9, 2 high area supported.

So, you're saying that horizontal support beams hold a radius of 9x3x9? Ss that official or individually found?

Then what about vertical support beams?

I've never had a cave-in from digging a 1 block wide vertical shaft up, so long as the rest of the blocks around it were supported by beams. I simply dig up 3-4 blocks then 1 block over for a vertical + horizontal beam and start carving out from the top down.

So, digging 1-wide shaft up or down shouldn't put me at risk? If that's the case I would dig up then set beams and head in a horizontal direction.

[Truculent 2]

Digging down can be bad, as there might be a cave below you that you'd break through into or cause a collapse into. I've dug into caves more than a few times, but never triggered a collapse from it. Keep in mind with the recent terrain generation, the fall itself can easily be fatal. So don't stand on the block you're mining and you're almost always safe, that's Minecraft 101 knowledge though...

Digging up seems less risky as long as you have the ceiling supported. The immediate ceiling can't collapse, so the blocks above it won't collapse. Only the stone above the 1x hole you are digging could have a collapse. It could trigger nearby unsupported areas to collapse, but as long as you have full support coverage in the important areas, it shouldn't cause you trouble.

[IHaTeD2 3]

I hope we will get some mechanical Powers coming with the Mills like in BetterThanWolves to create some sort of primitive elevators.

I like to dig out straight down a larger Area while supporting the Top and using "bridges" to get over (which will have a cool view to the bottom!).

Pretty safe so far but you need a Stairwell which is still risky.