Mining is essential in Minecraft. You probably know that. But there's 5 rules about mining. 1. Don't dig strait down! 2. Don't mine at night. 3. Always bring wood and torches. 4. Always bring tools, weapons, armour, and potions. 5. Don't play with lava. Now it's time to get to the different ores. Coal is used to smelt (cook) food and ores. Gold is used to make armor, tools, powered rails, gold nuggets, and clocks. Gold armor is the second worst armor. Leather armor is the worst armor you can get. Iron can be used to make buckets, rails, tools, minecarts, iron doors (not in p.e.), flint and steel, compass's, couldrens (not in p.e.), iron bars, iron blocks, and armor. Lapis is used to make lapis blocks, which makes your house look pretty. Next is redstone. This is used to make redstone torches, clocks, compass's, powered rails, repeaters, redstone blocks, redstone lamps, and pistons. Redstone is also a power source. Emerald can be used for trading with villagers, and making emerald blocks. Last is diamond. It's the best ore in minecraft. It can be used to make armor, tools, and diamond blocks. Now you know the basic things of mining and what you can make and do with different ores.