Let's stop all this a-fussin' and a-fightin'.
We recently put out some changes to the way mining works, which prevented multiple players from mining the same rock. This was intended to correct a case where a rock was mined out by one player, causing others also mining it to lose energy without gaining any rocks. Unfortunately, the end result was that players would get 'rock blocked' by whoever was the fastest miner around, which was generally frustrating and no fun. In fact, mining seems to have been a source of animosity between players for a while, engendering bitter feuds resulting in nothing but hurt feelings.
But no longer!
Now you can mine cooperatively with other players. When you approach a rock to mine it, if there are any other players present you will have the option to 'help mine.' When you help mine, you mine as normal and always receive your normal amount of rock chunks (no matter what!), but everyone already mining the same rock receives an additional bonus.
So now there's still an advantage to being first to get mining (more bonuses, especially when many players are helping), but anyone can mine any rock available to them, and no one gets left empty-handed.
Everybody's happy!