Noob questions on the mining system

[Sevenless]

Are mining supports 100% required? I saw someone digging a pattern like this (x is mined spot) and claimed that you don't need supports
OOOOO
XXOXXX
OXXXOX
OOOOO

Does anyone else use this system? I'm a beginner in the mining world and don't have any metal to speak of.

[Mashadar]

Yes, you can mine without supports using that pattern, as far as you want.
However, mine supports are fairly cheap. So once you get some metal with that method, you should use supports, in order not to waste any ore.

You might already know this, but you should mine ore with a character that has full industry belief, as it greatly increases your chance to get a metal bar when smelthing the ore.

[Sevenless]

My girlfriend has gone full nature to maintain our farm, I'm intending to go full industry once the mine is constructed (already maxed peaceful/barbarian and just topping off life now). As is... wax is limiting my ability to make hard leather. In the meantime I'm gathering knowledge on what to do.

Thanks for your help

[MagicManICT]

Yes, you can mine without supports using that pattern, as far as you want.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I've been getting cave-ins occasionally with that pattern now. Could have been a stealth fix to prevent this. It's hard to say.