How to Mine Safely and Avoid Hazards with X-Ray Active

When normal ground blocks are completely invisible, it is easy to accidentally dig straight into a hidden cavern, an underground river, or a falling pocket of gravel. Use the blocks that the X-Ray Texture Pack leaves visible as landmarks to dig safely.

Using Visible Gravel to Avoid Cave-Ins

Unlike dirt and stone, gravel remains fully visible when the X-Ray Texture Pack is enabled. Before you dig toward a valuable ore vein, always check the space directly above the ore and along your planned tunnel path for gravel pockets.

1. Spot the gravel clusters hanging above your target path.

2. Dig around the footprint of the gravel rather than directly underneath it, or keep a torch in your off-hand ready to place at your feet if you must break the bottom block of a gravel column.

Navigating Around Structural Blocks and Fluids

While natural dirt and stone are hidden, constructed blocks like stone bricks, mossy stone bricks, wooden floors, bookshelves, and torches remain visible. You can use this to your advantage while mining:

• Place torches or wooden planks at your feet to mark a visible floor path through invisible stone tunnels.
• Never dig straight down toward an ore vein, as the invisible stone beneath you makes it hard to judge drop distances into open caves.
• Mine in a staircase pattern and periodically disable the pack in your settings to check your footing.