Grimrock

I'm trying to figure out if I've buggered up the game.

I picked up a pickaxe at some point, carried it round for a while, and when I started having problems with encumberance dumped it somewhere - it just looked like a (poor) weapon.

I'm now looking at the rocks scattered about and wondering if I'm supposed to be using the pickaxe on them or something to open new paths?

Problem is I've looked everywhere all over the map multiple times, every mine, every chest I've visited, every bush etc.. and I cannot find where I dropped the bloody thing. =(

hasn't worked on any rocks I have tried it on so far.

it is not "useable" from the inventory like the shovel is.

that said, I haven't visited the mines yet. that's the only reason I'm still carrying it around.

I have been to the mines and tried it quite often on rocks and walls to no avail. I too hung onto it because it was randomly placed and I had a far better weapon when I picked it up so I assumed it was a utility.
I am not 100% certain it is not yet but it does not seem like it and I have been fairly thorough searching out secrets and digging with the shovel.
I would be happy if someone proved me wrong about the pickaxe though.

I kept it for most of my playthrough and eventually dropped it because I don't think it actually has a use, it is just a weapon.

Thanks very much folks.

I can continue playing trying to find wtf I'm supposed to do next in the knowledge I'm not at a genuine dead end!!

Love the game btw, sent the Grimrock folks a Twitter message, potential GotY so far for me, loving it. It's the same amazing experience I had on the Amiga playing Dungeon Master.

quite dissapointed that you cannot pick up some cave-ins (especially in the mines).

Is there an update, or is the pickaxe still not involved in any secret?

No. Its unfortunately only a weapon.