Cunnamulla, QLD - Australia
I'll be spending the next few days in downtown Cunnamulla (pop. approximately 1,217) helping some friends . . . then on Sunday I'll be on the plane to Brisbane, then on my way back to the USA.
I did spend time down in the mine digging and sweating . . . and, luckily, finding. The jackhammer did lead me to some pretty rocks. It really is quite a rush to discover and liberate these rare and beautiful stones. Mother nature does some amazing work.
This was a quick trip - only 5 weeks. It is a bit frustrating to open the mine, clean things up, pull out the generators, get the cutting equipment set-up, etc etc and then, just a few weeks later, have to go through the entire process in reverse - but that's what happens with a short trip. The mine shaft is closed and the generators will be quiet until I return in maybe a month or two.
As I previously mentioned my PoO (Plan of Operations) was approved. The use of an excavator has been approved. Now I need to wait for the excavator. It appears at the very latest an excavator will be digging on my lease in early September. There is some possibility digging will occur earlier. Once the open-cut begins, I expect to be smiling. Several folks have asked about the digging process - I hope to give you a few details soon.
Koroit has been very quiet. It appears that it will be a very quiet season in Koroit - not much mining and not much production - very little treasure coming out of the ground. . . . which is a bit funny, because even though most other miners will not be digging and producing this season, it looks like there is a very a good chance this could be the year of my greatest production of gorgeous opal.
stay tuned, I'll keep you informed . . .
.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
- Some Treasure, Some Sunshine
Cunnamulla, QLD - Australia
After spending a few days organizing and unpacking my camp and reattaching various electrical cords, on my first day of digging, luckily, I found some color - a few small nuts. It is always a thrill to find even a few pieces of this beautiful and incredible material which has been hiding a few feet underground for the past few million years.
I'll be spending the night in Cunnamulla tonight, then in the morning, giving a friend who has been digging opal for about as many years as I have been alive, a ride out to Koroit.
It has been raining every day for about the last week. When at the mine, rain can be very annoying and confining. When one lives in a 10ft x 10ft garden shed, being confined can be rather unpleasant. Rain also makes it muddy, sloppy and makes the ladder slippery and even more dangerous. The sun has been out today - hopefully the rain is gone.
I'll be digging tomorrow.
Again, thank you Dawn for so very much.
.
After spending a few days organizing and unpacking my camp and reattaching various electrical cords, on my first day of digging, luckily, I found some color - a few small nuts. It is always a thrill to find even a few pieces of this beautiful and incredible material which has been hiding a few feet underground for the past few million years.
I'll be spending the night in Cunnamulla tonight, then in the morning, giving a friend who has been digging opal for about as many years as I have been alive, a ride out to Koroit.
It has been raining every day for about the last week. When at the mine, rain can be very annoying and confining. When one lives in a 10ft x 10ft garden shed, being confined can be rather unpleasant. Rain also makes it muddy, sloppy and makes the ladder slippery and even more dangerous. The sun has been out today - hopefully the rain is gone.
I'll be digging tomorrow.
Again, thank you Dawn for so very much.
.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
- Arrived in Koroit, PoO Approved
Cunnamulla, QLD - Australia
I've arrived in Koroit. Luckily my camp is still intact - apparently there were some fierce winds that whipped through during my abscence, but everything seemd to be ok. It appears a city of mice took up residence while I was gone, however they now are in the process of vacating my residence.
The situation underground looked fine. A little bit of water had dropped down into the mine and had made a few slightly muddy spots, but I did not see any snakes or snake tracks.
My PoO has been approved. For those not fluent in the Queensland Department of Mines / EPA lingo, "PoO" is short for "Plan of Operation". In order to commence mining on an opal lease the leaseholder must file a plan of operation, detailing where the digging will occur and what will be done to rehabilitate the land after mining etc. I was very happy to learn my PoO had been approved so I will be able to open-cut my lease this season . . . now I just need to wait for the excavator to arrive.
A very big thank you to Dawn for taking care of things in the USA while I'm in Australia.
Time to get back to work . . .
.
I've arrived in Koroit. Luckily my camp is still intact - apparently there were some fierce winds that whipped through during my abscence, but everything seemd to be ok. It appears a city of mice took up residence while I was gone, however they now are in the process of vacating my residence.
The situation underground looked fine. A little bit of water had dropped down into the mine and had made a few slightly muddy spots, but I did not see any snakes or snake tracks.
My PoO has been approved. For those not fluent in the Queensland Department of Mines / EPA lingo, "PoO" is short for "Plan of Operation". In order to commence mining on an opal lease the leaseholder must file a plan of operation, detailing where the digging will occur and what will be done to rehabilitate the land after mining etc. I was very happy to learn my PoO had been approved so I will be able to open-cut my lease this season . . . now I just need to wait for the excavator to arrive.
A very big thank you to Dawn for taking care of things in the USA while I'm in Australia.
Time to get back to work . . .
.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
- Tomorrow to Koroit
Warana, QLD - Australia
Moments ago Suzi and Paul left to go on their honeymoon. They were married on Saturday in a very simple and charming ceremony among lush green rolling hills, almost mountains, in the often cloud and fog clad area of Maleny. I was the best-man and did have a prime vantage point of the procedings - and in part due to that vantage point, at some moments, my vision became a bit obscured, both literally and figuratively . . . the vision of this poor romantic lad was obscured by those almost-tears forming in my eyes along with thoughts, dreams and flights of fancy forming not in my mind, but more in my heart and soul . . . yes, you know those dreams . . . perhaps I've said too much, but I almost always do . . .
After the ceremony, during the reception, Andrew, a fellow Koroit opal miner and one who speaks rather freely, said to me along with several other people within earshot, "hey, Gene, you were getting all choked-up up there and almost started balling". I admitted to him he was correct.
Early tomorrow morning I will be saying goodbye to the coast and many creature comforts and will be heading to Koroit . . . please wish me luck.
.
Moments ago Suzi and Paul left to go on their honeymoon. They were married on Saturday in a very simple and charming ceremony among lush green rolling hills, almost mountains, in the often cloud and fog clad area of Maleny. I was the best-man and did have a prime vantage point of the procedings - and in part due to that vantage point, at some moments, my vision became a bit obscured, both literally and figuratively . . . the vision of this poor romantic lad was obscured by those almost-tears forming in my eyes along with thoughts, dreams and flights of fancy forming not in my mind, but more in my heart and soul . . . yes, you know those dreams . . . perhaps I've said too much, but I almost always do . . .
After the ceremony, during the reception, Andrew, a fellow Koroit opal miner and one who speaks rather freely, said to me along with several other people within earshot, "hey, Gene, you were getting all choked-up up there and almost started balling". I admitted to him he was correct.
Early tomorrow morning I will be saying goodbye to the coast and many creature comforts and will be heading to Koroit . . . please wish me luck.
.
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