Coober Pedy Opal mining. We say goodbye to one claim and hello to HUGE GEMS in another..

  Рет қаралды 51,480

worldclassopal

worldclassopal

2 жыл бұрын

The Grace Opal brothers, AKA Lochy and Shannon from World Class Opal and Kimberleyopal respectively, embark on another week of outrageous adventure in the dying weeks of May 2022.
Fortunately only the weeks died, but we survived and lived to tell the tale of rare and massive precious opal shells that appeared in the least expected place, as is often the case..
We pillarbash a lovely small vertical on Donna's Rush on day one..
On day two Shannon continues to grind out the last of the shell run we have been working on East Pacific, literally taking out pillars with the kanga and staying well clear of any potential collapses, although the roof is very strong in the area. You will see a couple of small shells we managed to eek from the last bit of fluffy shell ground but i did lose one through a hole in my old worn out mining pants! (Could've bought a whole rack of new ones with that opal..)
Day three I head over to an old claim I was curious about for over 25 years! Thanks to full (to the brim) flooding and some collapsed areas, there were a couple of miracle shells in a small pocket, the likes of which i've only seen a handful of times over 30 years.
From there we wrap up the remaining spots with the Kanga and settle in to enjoying friends and family around town and some stunning wildlife..
One of the last bastions of freedom, if you can visit Coober Pedy, you won't regret it!
MUSIC: The Opal Miner, by Shannon Lloyd
AKA Kimberleyopal.com

Пікірлер: 102
@michaelprue9024
@michaelprue9024 4 ай бұрын
I’ve watched a complete shitload of Opal cutting and mining videos over the last year and a half. I mean a shit load of them. This video has got to be the best one so far. No BS. And the song was the icing on the cake so to speak. Glad you had a fruitful journey that day, and was able to bring home some really nice material. Thanks bud
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 4 ай бұрын
Thanks mate, that really means a lot. Hopefully we can make even more authentic adventures. Just gotta keep the camera rolling and the opal fields always have bloody awesome surprises, or at least stories.
@donniebooth8478
@donniebooth8478 3 ай бұрын
Absolutely beautiful specimen
@johng.alexander6723
@johng.alexander6723 8 ай бұрын
Amazing to learn more about the effort that goes into the search for the beautiful opals offered at World Class Opal! 🤯
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger Ай бұрын
Thanks for watching mate! T
@SaraJean85
@SaraJean85 2 жыл бұрын
How can I buy those little stones u would throw out? I love my dad.. he is the strongest man I've met! Happy fathers day to all of you great dads and fathers! Without yall this would be a very sad would! U r so needed and appreciated but never told... so today I'll say it- thank you for all you do for us!
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Hi! We sell some parcels including some lower grade practice and beginner material here: opalauctions.com/stores/graceopal Thanks for watching!
@SaraJean85
@SaraJean85 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks
@aaronfiander4650
@aaronfiander4650 2 жыл бұрын
Love opal mining wish I could be there
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching mate! We always marvel at how miraculous the opal fields are and especially that we find ourselves in the right geopolitical situation where the little guy can have a go at finding something. I think if the opal fields were only discovered now it would either never be worked or only big companies could dig it up, just like diamonds..
@aaronfiander4650
@aaronfiander4650 2 жыл бұрын
I have always been fascinated with geology and deposits I live in nova scotia Canada and not much here for deposits...bit of gold and amethyst lots of fossils... my girls re 8 and 9 and I just got them metal detectors so we can hit the beaches. Keep working hard mate God bless you all
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
@@aaronfiander4650 Awesome! Hope you all find heaps!
@Patriot-rising
@Patriot-rising 2 жыл бұрын
I collect uncut opals. My father in law and his brother were second gen opal miners at Lightning Ridge. And they introduced to another old time who also mined for well over 40 years. I did some trading and some cash thrown their way and have quite a bit of black opal, and opal crystals and end nips I believe you all call them. I have been trying to get a good shell and let me tell you those are easily the finest shells I have ever seen. I must have missed the Belemnite opal cleaned up? The pipes are always cool. Being from the states myself I have to admit I didn't know much about opals.. But once I had a few in my hands I knew I have found a lifelong interest. You guys be safe. And thank you for the awesome upload. Being stateside again this is about my only fix for new opals coming out of the ground. Once again thank you.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! How cool to have a heritage at the Ridge, Ive never been myself but would love to see it. The belemnite unfortunately had the tip of the perfect termination point chipped off while in the mining ute and i havent cleaned it up any more since. We are hoping to make the first million dollar opal run documentary LOL, watch this space!
@donaldwilson2548
@donaldwilson2548 8 ай бұрын
Way to go!!! You have a bright future, stay the course.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 8 ай бұрын
Thank you Sir! We have the added advantage of being hopelessly addicted to the game so it helps us to keep going! 😁
@adventuresamNfam
@adventuresamNfam Жыл бұрын
Opals and fossils are my two favorite thing’s! Opalescent fossils!!! ❤️❤️❤️
@clydecox2108
@clydecox2108 2 жыл бұрын
Rewatching because DANG....
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Haha, thanks mate!
@gaylemitchell5872
@gaylemitchell5872 2 жыл бұрын
Great video presentations. Love the music!
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Written and performed by Kimberleyopal.com
@V27RV
@V27RV 2 жыл бұрын
Wow amazing beautiful vibrant video guys Plus as a hip hop r&b artist I loved that country opal song..probably because I love opal and rainbow lattice sunstone
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, much appreciated! It's a song written and performed by my super talented bro Shannon @kimberleopal and is based on the true story of how our family came to Coober Pedy and became infected with outback opal fever! All the best with your music mate!
@donaldwilson2548
@donaldwilson2548 8 ай бұрын
Sorry, the comment I sent was meant for a different video. That being said i know I will enjoy your video. Thanks.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 8 ай бұрын
No worries!
@Phoenix_Enterprises
@Phoenix_Enterprises 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
And thank you for watching! 🙏😁
@Phoenix_Enterprises
@Phoenix_Enterprises 2 жыл бұрын
@@Opaldigger Thank you for sharing the song opal miner.
@andrewstory9763
@andrewstory9763 Жыл бұрын
The singer missed his calling... He should have been an opal miner!!
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger Жыл бұрын
Working on it ATM, as you know! 😅
@theopalmills
@theopalmills 2 жыл бұрын
Great to see good opal still coming out from old mines, and someone willing to climb in a hole to get it. Thanks for filming. 🤪👍
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Cheers mate, I’m still anxiously awaiting that 20k per oz pocket you’re going to dig out and film in great detail.. Very possible!
@redeyestones3738
@redeyestones3738 2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely epic video, mate! One of the most enjoyable digging videos I've seen. And I mean everything about it. From the AMAZING fossils, video quality, and overall stoke. Now I'm fantasizing about being 30 meters down a hole.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you again Sir, that fantasy is exactly what we aim to invoke as it's sooo addictive and fun, and just too good not to share!
@Bang_Akik_CHANNEL
@Bang_Akik_CHANNEL 2 жыл бұрын
very beautiful stone color. like rainbow colors.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Yes, rainbows for sure mate. Love it.
@anthonymcclain6475
@anthonymcclain6475 2 жыл бұрын
Truly living my dream....I truly envy you guys... thanks for sharing...I'll have to make sure by just living vicariously through you 😂
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Haha, thanks for watching mate, I’m very grateful to have been born and raised in this part of the world and at such a great time of opportunity. All the best!
@user-gv4ps2hc3c
@user-gv4ps2hc3c 2 жыл бұрын
Hello guys. Totally best opal program on the planet. Keep safe down there
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
WOW! Now that’s a compliment! Well, we are trying. Hopefully one day we will document and produce a million dollar find. But until then we are happy chipping away! Haha, thanks for watching!
@user-gv4ps2hc3c
@user-gv4ps2hc3c 2 жыл бұрын
Your very welcome and thank you. You will hit that million dollar pocket by the hard work you all put in and great ground you cover. . I dig for a living too but on the highways nothing as exciting as opals I find but I'm always on the lookout for treasure lol
@terrystewart2070
@terrystewart2070 2 жыл бұрын
Great show! Man you got some beautiful material there! I spent the night in Coober Pedy 20 years ago while driving south from Alice. Almost blew up the cave hotel we stayed in LOL. I love Australia, and would love to visit again, but not likely at my age now, so I much appreciate your great content. Thank you!
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! I haven’t lived there full time for over ten years but it will always be home to me, and ya can’t blow up too much sandstone IMO. Lol.
@patrickkillilea5225
@patrickkillilea5225 2 жыл бұрын
Freaking Cool! I hope you guys find buckets full of that new material!
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much mate! It was only the vertical and those couple of shells but we are extremely grateful for that! The long term aim is to get into a claim with virgin ground that produces regularly, it’s pretty tricky to achieve these days with everything so thrashed..
@markholland5767
@markholland5767 2 жыл бұрын
Wow that is incredible. Well done guys
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks mate! Much appreciated!
@jeffholmes1362
@jeffholmes1362 2 жыл бұрын
Great job, what beautiful shells, thanks for sharing and congratulations on the find
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It is our pleasure! 😊
@Djjdynomike
@Djjdynomike 2 жыл бұрын
Bloody nice shell you got ... Greetings from the USA
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks mate! And greetings from the Aussie bush!
@sharky1317
@sharky1317 2 жыл бұрын
great video guys. Very much enjoyed that
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@pkgoldopalhunting
@pkgoldopalhunting 2 жыл бұрын
great stuff man top looking spot
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks guys! It was a beauty! Can’t wait to get back already.
@sobel4511
@sobel4511 2 жыл бұрын
Drilling pillars. 🙄 Aka "Aussie Roulette".
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Haha, pretty much..
@SirRocksAlot
@SirRocksAlot 2 жыл бұрын
real nice vid. dont find shells like that here but we do have some beautiful beaches
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Well, beautiful beaches is what we are all about. If we find the right patch we may be able to live near one!
@samroberts8365
@samroberts8365 2 жыл бұрын
Dollar dollar bills! Dollar dollar bills 💵💵💰💰
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Need some to keep digging!
@marciaclark3408
@marciaclark3408 2 жыл бұрын
I've loved watching the opal hunters and fell in love with the stones in 1969, There was a tiny shop in San Francisco in North Beach owned by PaulGee and he made me a wedding ring from opal which I still treasure. God what a bitch of job this is. The only relief from the damn flies is underground which is where you're likely to be killed. How did they get rid of the flies during filming. I also like gold hunters and when they were hunting gold in Australia their faces were covered with flies. You should include these little buggers because they could be the hugest annoyance of all the tough life this men and women live. Ask anyone from Naked and Afraid and bugs and their bites could be a #1 complaint. You Aussie's have the face swipe down. A constant hand movement to get them off your face and out of your eyes and mouths. What you go thru to get these gems is so well earned. Going up and down those rickety ladders with risk of snakes etc is so brave and amazing I do admire your tenacity and love of the color to do what you do. Forever a fan of those brave enough to do this these days. Good day mate.
@marciaclark3408
@marciaclark3408 2 жыл бұрын
PS-I was shocked at how hard it was to find an appropriate tree to cut down to shore up the walls in the mine. You all are challenged at every corner to keep doing what you must be born to do. Opal fever is as addictive as gold. My first opal purchase (besides my wedding ring) was an opal in situ.. To see the glory of color peeking out of claylike material was life changing for me.and I'll treasure it forever.. Your show makes it all the more valuable to me to see just how hard it these days to find these illusive beauties. Have you ever met an old timer who mined these areas before they were gutted. it musthave been like finding a lake packed with trout without end. Now that it is no longer sustainable I've got to give you my full respect for what you are willing to do on a daily basis (ie equipment failure etc) to reach your goals.. How long do you think that those precious areas will remain productive. I guess I answered my own question or this show wouldn't exist. I will watch and admire you all as long as you do what you do. Thank you so much for the peek into your lives.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
@@marciaclark3408 Thank you! Yes we know a lot of the old timers, many who have passed and some still spinning yarns about the glory days. And we certainly experience the mixed emotions of hope and despair knowing what used to be in a mine and hoping it's not all gone.. Thank you for watching!
@marciaclark3408
@marciaclark3408 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for a look at the 1st Harlequin opal I've ever seen. Awesome. Wish Icould send a case of cold beer to enjoy when you hit the high temps outside the mines. How hot is it down there or is it cool. thanks. Sorry for so many words but this excites me.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
@@marciaclark3408 Not at all, it is about 18c in winter and 26c in summer, varying with the mines depth, water content, ventilation and air flow etc. But when it's 45c up on top, 26c underground is downright heavenly!
@CooberPedyOpal09
@CooberPedyOpal09 2 жыл бұрын
Great job boys those shells were absolutely amazing. Do you ever get scared when cutting through pillars/pillar bashing? We are going up in the holidays and hoping to try going down some shafts to try our luck.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Hey thanks mate! Yeah, scared ALL THE TIME haha, that's kind of how we manage the risk, just by always thinking that the ground will kill you if you don't pay close attention to it.. Good luck with it! I'd love to watch video of you guys digging out gems.
@eyespliced
@eyespliced 2 жыл бұрын
Do you ever put in timbers/supports before knocking out those pillars? Some of those shots you showed looked pants-ruinly terrifying. I trust your experience and all, but oof. I hope you guys stay safe down under.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Not generally required in Coober Pedy, although some fields could certainly have used them like Olympic as the ground is much more blocky and unstable there. Having said that, Olympic was often mined at about 65 feet then another level would make every 6 feet up for up to three or four levels, so rooms were opened up and then ‘dropped’ with explosives to check the top levels. This is distinctly different to Lightning Ridge where they mostly work the clay stone underneath the sandstone and it’s often only 30 or so feet deep and sometimes very blocky. Our claim where you see is knocking out pillars is loose and blocky from about 58 feet (the shell level) down. But above that is vertically integrated weathered sandstone with gypsum webbing. With the exception of the odd corner or lump developing that could kill us, the roof is generally incredibly strong there and if there were more opal we could probably easily double it’s span quite safely. It’s all on a case by case basis, it’s possible that just 50 metres away the ground is very dangerous and this couldn’t be done. But no, generally we don’t prop in Coober Pedy. Thanks for watching!
@reverimaldonado4063
@reverimaldonado4063 2 жыл бұрын
This is why get sink holes!
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
🤣
@ozyprospector
@ozyprospector 2 жыл бұрын
Thats a bloody deep and narrow shaft 🙈 id stick to and excavator i cant handle confined spaces 😯. Whats brand is your shortwave light?
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
A lot of people do like open cuts, but down the hole the weather is pretty good all year round. It’s a convoy 365nm, they’re bloody great.
@redeyestones3738
@redeyestones3738 2 жыл бұрын
Killer opening montage. I'm only 3 minutes into this video, and already loving it. Is that opal digging song available to listen to on KZfaq? I really dig it. Pardon the pun 😆
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Haha, thanks mate, much appreciated! Yes you can see the full original here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pbl_iLyLt9elp3U.html
@redeyestones3738
@redeyestones3738 2 жыл бұрын
@@Opaldigger thanks!
@marciaclark3408
@marciaclark3408 2 жыл бұрын
Dear Red Eye Stones-I kept hearing the song "I come from a land down under, where women roar and men thunder" by Men at Work" I loved that song. Your pun was appreciated, I dug it!
@redeyestones3738
@redeyestones3738 2 жыл бұрын
@@marciaclark3408 thanks. The question had already been answered. But thanks for reaching out! Good to know there's still good folks about.
@adellemoffatt6901
@adellemoffatt6901 2 жыл бұрын
Who is singing through it they sound fantastic
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
It’s written and performed by my big little bro operating the machine in the video, he is co-director of our mining company Graceopal with myself and owner of Kimberleyopal.com
@augustyoung7063
@augustyoung7063 2 жыл бұрын
👍👍👍🇮🇩
@masterofreality1552
@masterofreality1552 Жыл бұрын
Please omit music next video.
@juliedunlap4096
@juliedunlap4096 11 ай бұрын
This was a great video thank you for sharing. I have loved opal for more years than I care to admit. Now that I have KZfaq and Google I'm learning much much more. You were calling those few Stones you found shells. Were those actually shell fossils that had turned into opal??!!!!! I have never heard of that but I am totally intrigued! Just out of curiosity how much would one of those shells sell for?
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 11 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching! Yes they are indeed fully opalised cockle (bivalve) shells that are thought to have lived approximately 120 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. We sliced one and it made approximately 30k worth of jewelry while the other is about a 20k stone that we haven’t set yet.
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 11 ай бұрын
But to be clear, if we sold those shells on the opal field the week of finding I think they would have been around 8-10k max.
@juliedunlap4096
@juliedunlap4096 11 ай бұрын
@@Opaldigger thats not a bad find!!!!!! Cleaned up Im sure they would bring more. If you were able to part with them!!!!! I dont think I could! I mean, I know opals aee a business but those finds are tremendous
@lisacompton4453
@lisacompton4453 2 жыл бұрын
Do you find black opal in this mine too or is it all crystal? Was that broken one a knobby?
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Hi! No real black opal in these claims, all white, light and crystal. And no nobbies either, that naturally split piece is a fully opalised sea shell.
@danielkemp4187
@danielkemp4187 2 жыл бұрын
Love this video 😎 What type of black light do you use?
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
Cheers mate, its a convoy S2 356nm
@danielkemp4187
@danielkemp4187 2 жыл бұрын
@@Opaldigger 356 or 365? Looks not overly purple on the uv. Perfect for those gems. I haven’t seen a 356
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
@@danielkemp4187 sorry typo, yes 365.
@danielkemp4187
@danielkemp4187 2 жыл бұрын
@@Opaldigger sweet all good thank you. Can you get this light in Aus? Or only U.S cheers
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger 2 жыл бұрын
@@danielkemp4187 we got ours from China. Not sure if they’re still available sorry.
@trptrungblogs
@trptrungblogs Жыл бұрын
⭐❤️❤️💎❤️💎🇻🇳
@christiroseify
@christiroseify Жыл бұрын
I hope you guys got some new microphones....
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger Жыл бұрын
I understand, only we are just mining with a phone in pocket most of the time, any extra equipment just gets in the way of finding opal! Thanks for your feedback all the same, I do appreciate it as there are things we can do to improve the sound quality wherever possible. Thanks heaps for watching! 😁
@christiroseify
@christiroseify Жыл бұрын
@@Opaldigger I truly don't know anything about making videos but please trust I was not trying to be harsh. But not being a miner, it really matters to the video to be able to hear what y'all are saying...lol.. God be with you and keep you safe in your journey, thank you for sharing with us poor city dwellers....
@Opaldigger
@Opaldigger Жыл бұрын
@@christiroseify All good mate, I agree! It’s a constant work in progress I guess.. Thanks again and God be with you also! 🙏
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