Dangers Of Opal Mining

[erica]

I've just recently become interested in Opals and have been reading all the posts here the last few days or so and i do have to say the ones on Opal mining are my favorite to read. I have great respect for people that risk their own personal safety for things they are passionate about.

[petersopal]

So good to hear that Erica
It really helps to understand how these opals are mined and it is dangerous and miners risk their lives everyday so to bring pleasure to people all over the world to see what beauty opal beholds,,wow i sound like poet now..might get into fight in pub if my mates read this !! lol

[opalplus]

your gateway to ABC North West Qld

More About ABC North West QueenslandSearch ABC North West

ABC North West Qld | Local News | Story

Search fails to find opal miner
Tuesday, 21 November 2006. 13:00 (AEDT)Tuesday, 21 November 2006. 12:00 (ACST)Tuesday, 21 November 2006. 12:00 (AEST)Tuesday, 21 November 2006. 13:00 (ACDT)Tuesday, 21 November 2006. 10:00 (AWST)
A two-day search in remote bushland in western Queensland has failed to find any trace of a missing opal miner.

Police and State Emergency Service volunteers have searched an area west of Winton looking for local man Paul Laba, who has not been seen for a year.

Acting Inspector Gary Brayley says police will now finalise some inter-state enquiries, before reporting to the coroner.

"I guess we can't rule out any possibility, but there's nothing that we've identified at this point of time that would suggest any foul play, so it's probably a case that he's walked off and, well, we don't know what's happened after that, but he certainly hasn't made it back to his camp or the township of Winton," he said.


THIS AREA IS IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND AND VERY DRY N HOT ,HOPE HE IS FOUND SOON

[petersopal]

Yeah they found him mate
bloody lucky guy!

[erica]

Where did they find him? Was he okay?

[petersopal]

Yeah i just heard on radio that he was found,he got disorientated,easy to happen in bush as hard to get bearrings in flat country.
just loose track n ur goner in bush.
I have seen tourists do silly things
once meet guy in VW small car wiht his wife n 2 kids ,kids both under 5 i think
he drove 500 k north winton in Jan visiting outback,temp was so hot,3 hours with out water and kids would die,,he said his VW was super car and no worries ,he had only one days supply of water n food ,,so crazy to risk ur family.
Another time in Winton in sept meet japanese couple just married in early 20s and his car was a wreck ,could buy for few hundred dollars and he wanted to drive to the opal mines ,evry one tried to talk him out of it but he would not listern and drove off early one morning..
that night he was back in town ,he had hit a kangaroo and smashed his car up ,thye were not hurt and lucky drover was heading into town n took them back.
These tourists were lucky,summer heat is a killer,thats why im not working today!!!

[petersopal]

Robert lost his leg in mining accident and his mates preserved his leg for all to see and was kept it museum at lightnign ridge ,which is now closed and no eone knows where his leg is
So he is legless...

[daveczar]

That has got to be one of the strangest things I've ever seen...

[jlr44usa]

I have been mining opals for about 11 years now.im 26 years old
Its dangerous occupation and lot people dont realise we put our lives at risk everyday to find opals.
2 years ago i lost good mate ,he was only 18 and we were propping up to support the roof,this envolves timber supports and caps to stop roof from falling in.
There was a big fault line going up at 45 degrees in the roof that slid out and buried him alive ,and took 5 hours to get him out.
we were devastated.
It was 12 months before and someone else got kiled in the same claim..
it has good opal in it,but we sometimes pay with our lives.
About 2 people each year die mining and so many bad mining accidents every day.
The SES,state emergency service,do great jop in helping people injuried,but mines are in the outback and takes long time to go out.
every year i go to few funerals so next time you think opals getting expensive think of my mates

Peter hi my name is Jim i live in Idaho I havent had the pleasure of meeting you but you sound like a very nice person i hope to do some buying from in the near futher. I have already done some buying from
your Dad&Mom they sure seem like they are nice folks. Ps please you all
keep all those storys comeing in. Best Regards Jim.

[petersopal]

Mate im not in town now n dont have internet .Actually we dont even have electricity,45 minutes to town out here..Its been so hot so dont get in town but will post some stories later.Greta u enjoy our opalas ,come out mate n il show u around n do some digging !!!

[mick]

The biggest danger opal mining in the 70s when I was last anywhere near an opal mine was"

A. Being thrown down a shaft for being a crook.

B. Blowing yourself up with unstable gelly.

C. Being shot by the copper that had 2 x 45s on his belt.

I think the copper no longer has 2 x 45s, I think the other two risks are alive and well.

[jackie]

Guys i love your opals but please consider your health.
Mining accidents do happen and i understand that
But if you work in dusty places or cutting opals you must consider your health n lungs
Just wear mask and dont care what ur friends think Just do it
its called quality of life!
jackie

[Queenie]

Jackie dear heart, you sound a bit like me, you turn into people's mam at the drop of a hat. I can see where you're coming from, solid opal lungs, not a good accessory.
Coming from what was largely a coal mining community I should imagine the dangers are quite similar and a lot of health problems are just now being attributed to having been a miner. My dad is as deaf as the proverbial pittlepot (pot that one pees in), has chest problems and little feeling in his hands from using the machinery. He started mining at 15 and gave it up at 30 to become a driving instructor as he thought it was safer! This is why at the age of 41 I still cannot drive.
But on a serious note, one of my dad's best mates was killed down the pit when a roof just fell in on him, he was just a young man with a wife and 2 kids. The lads who stayed down the pit longer than my dad did have some dreadful health problems now. It is all very scary s**t.
So listen to Auntie Jackie, ear defenders and dust masks, you may feel like a proper tit but you will be able to both hear and breathe later in life. Trust me, when you can't you really miss it!

[jackie]

Hi Queenie,We all have different attitudes now compared to years ago.health n Lifestyle important,why die early for few more stones!!!
I saw Blood diamonds last night and upset me..movie says 15% of Diamonds from conflict areas in Africa,movie showed the misery it causes in local population..Familys ripped apart...Than the company they mentioned is clearly De Beers
Im happy i enjoy opals not Diamonds.. :

[Queenie]

I want to see that film myself at some point. It will no doubt just reinforce my belief that a large number of people suck. Apparently women in LA were seen leaving the cinema removing their diamonds as they did so, I wonder how long it lasted though? Sell the buggers! Buy Opals instead, they're far prettier.