Critical Mining adds a timing-based twist to mining. As you break blocks, aim for critical spots and chain enough successful hits to trigger vein mining. Different tools and bare hands scale differently, so faster tools require sharper timing while slower tools give you more room to land crits.
Common blocks like stone, dirt, cobblestone, logs, and other everyday materials can vein mine, but only if you earn it through clean consecutive critical hits. Stop mining or miss your chain, and the streak resets.