OPAL MINING

‘OLD TIMERS’ MINING TECHNIQUES

Mining started in White Cliffs back in 1889. The ‘Old Timers’ as we call them today had a very diffrent method of mining.

This technique is referred to as shaft sinking. The miners would be allocated a mining lease ( between 10’ to 40’ square ), and simply sink shaft down to an average depth of 30ft in the hopes of finding opal on the way down.

Once opal was discovered,some small tunnels or rooms may be dug on the level in hopes of uncovering more. The miner would then leave the shaft and chose another location and begin the process again.

The method of shaft sinking was usually done by pick, shovel and windless, often taking weeks to sink the shaft to depth, comparing to the 4 or 5 hours today using modern machinery.

There are many differing methods of mining for opal, the determining factor the budget of the miner. Many of the smaller operators use a hand held electric jackhammer to break the earth, shovel and wheelbarrow to move the mullock to a waiting hoist bucket to lift to the surface.

Larger operators may use 9” auger drill rigs to locate pockets from the surface before engaging an excavator to ‘open cut’ larger areas or use hydraulic diggers and skid steer loaders underground to mine out the Mineral Claim.

Fossickers have been known to find amazing gems mixed within the surface mullock once discarded by the historic miners. Opal fossil snails, gastropods and even opalised bones have been picked up by the lucky passer-by or with those inclined to systematically work their way through the old tailings.