Minecraft wiki entry for Survival_in_an_infinite_desert, associated text: As noted above, while tediously digging down through the sandstone, you can persuade creepers to help you by exploding. As a bonus, they convert the destroyed sandstone to collectible items (useful for building your bottom shelter perhaps). However, it's debatable whether this is worthwhile, as it increases the risk of being killed by a creeper for not much gain. The creeper destroys a wide area outside your 1 block wide staircase (or shaft), so the useful work is only probably 3-4 extra blocks. You must also rebuild or reshape your staircase, so overall possibly not worth it unless you are extremely confident with safely triggering creepers.