diff --git a/mine.lua b/mine.lua
index 18b2598..09a6224 100644
--- a/mine.lua
+++ b/mine.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ local FUEL_RESERVE = 800
 local FUEL_REFUEL_UNIT = 8 -- how many items to refuel with at a time
 local FULL_CHECK_SLOT = 14 -- slot to check for "fullness"
 
+-- what size of a dimension is considered big enough to split into medium-size
+-- pieces
+local BIG_DIM = 7
+
 local V_ZERO = vector.new(0, 0, 0)
 local UNIT_X = vector.new(1, 0, 0)
 local UNIT_Y = vector.new(0, 1, 0)
@@ -69,6 +73,10 @@ local Block = {
             vector.new(self.v1.x, self.v1.y, self.v1.z),
             vector.new(self.v2.x, self.v2.y, self.v2.z)
         )
+    end,
+    tostring = function (self)
+        -- TODO revisit?
+        return string.format('%s %s', self.v1:tostring(), self.v2:tostring())
     end
 }
 
@@ -266,9 +274,27 @@ function splitHorizontal (block)
     -- Future work: potentially split a large block into smaller blocks
     -- based on currentPos (think splitting down the middle instead of
     -- splitting off of one end)
-    -- Future work: decide whether to take a slice off of the x or z direction
-    -- (criteria?)
-    return block:take(1, "x")
+    local bigBlock = function (block)
+        return (block.v2.x >= BIG_DIM) and (block.v2.z >= BIG_DIM)
+    end
+    local inMiddleOfBlock = function (block)
+        local middle_of_x = differentSigns(block.v1.x, block.v2.x)
+        local middle_of_z = differentSigns(block.v1.z, block.v2.z)
+        return middle_of_x or middle_of_z
+    end
+    local inMiddleOfBigBlock = function (block)
+        return bigBlock(block) and inMiddleOfBlock(block)
+    end
+    if inMiddleOfBigBlock(block) then
+        -- TODO
+    end
+    -- decide whether to take a slice off of the x or z direction
+    -- (criteria: take the dimension with the smaller length)
+    if block.v2.x <= block.v2.z then
+        return block:take(1, "x")
+    else
+        return block:take(1, "z")
+    end
 end
 
 function split (block)
@@ -287,10 +313,10 @@ function process (stack, starting_point)
     -- fuel and go to starting point
     refuelUntil(FUEL_RESERVE)
     mode.mine = { forward = true }
-    moveAbs(starting_point)
     -- TODO
     if #stack == 0 then return nil end
     local working = table.remove(stack):orient(getCurrentPos())
+    print("Working:", working:tostring())
     if canMine(working) then
         checkAndDropOff(starting_point)
         mine(working)
@@ -299,7 +325,7 @@ function process (stack, starting_point)
         table.insert(stack, remainder)
         table.insert(stack, new)
     end
-    return process (stack)
+    return process (stack, starting_point)
 end
 
 function run (v1, v2)