Pretty sure Thaumic has the normal skyblock start with Ex Nihilo. Get some dirt with a barrel, sieve it and get stones. Make a hammer to break the stone into gravel and make a gravel pick. Or a bonemeal pick. Maybe even a wooden one works.
I solved this and gave him an answer so this should be closed if he isn't wanting any further infomation
If you said you both came to a conclusion in game and player has been helped then don't see why you shouldn't mark it as done. If the player has any further questions he/she can always do so, thread doesn't get 'closed' or locked.