|
 |
Opal in the face the
size is about 15mm thick and some stones were quite chunky. Notice the rust
skin that covers the stones. These stones turned out to face better from the
top which is what an opal cutter wants. |
|
Another view of the
opal in the wall with a rust coating covering the stone |
 |
|
 |
This pocket was low in
the drive as the level was diving down. In this picture I have dug out under
the seam with the jack pick and I am about to lever the stones out into my
hand. |
|
About to jack pick in
under the seam and looking at the colour in the face. |
 |
|
 |
Picking out the seam:
It peels off in a large piece and then is broken apart over the bucket so
that
no stones are missed. All the dirt and opal in the bucket is then taken home
and washed in the opal tumbler before it is sorted and snipped. |
|
This pocket is about
4ft sq |
 |
|
 |
There is still a
little trace in the wall when it is time to go home so it is covered up
behind the cutter head of the machine no evidence is seen as to what was
there. |
|
On the winch and 50ft
up to the top |
 |
|
 |
Examples of material
that was found |
|
Examples of material
that was found |
 |
|
 |
Examples of material
that was found |
