Miners scramble to make fortune
by Samantha Baden
February 23, 2005
From: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12347944-26618,00.html
OPAL miners in the central Australian town of Coober Pedy are scrambling to stake their claims after the discovery of a rich seam of the precious stone just outside town.
Traces of valuable semi-black opal have been found at an opal field dubbed Allan's Rise, about 50km south of Coober Pedy, prompting a flurry of miners to start drilling the area, town mayor Steve Baines said.
Mr Baines, who also runs the local post office, said he wasn't too surprised about the discovery "which is pretty much a monthly occurrence up here", but he admitted there was a feeling someone might strike it big.
"At the moment there are quite a number of opal miners moved down there with their drills," he said.
"Then again I think miners have that feeling every time they go to work. It just sometimes doesn't eventuate."
The prospect of making a fortune would probably attract city slickers to try their luck on the opal fields, about 820km north of Adelaide, Mr Baines said.
"Especially with this one because it (the seam) is not as deep under ground as others so you're not going to need the conventional mining machinery," he said.
"Basically somebody could pay to have the first 20 feet of dirt out and then mine it by hand."
Mr Baines said after ambitious opal millionaires registered for a Precious Stones Prospecting Permit (PSPP), they could "go out, peg a claim, register it" and then mine the site for three months.
Even if someone did strike it rich on the fields, tight-lipped opal miners would probably keep it secret, he said.
"Everyday you hear rumours but how much of it is true and how much isn't is something you've got to work out for yourself.
"There's plenty of opal out there, there's just plenty of dirt in between it and it's a matter of just finding the right place and that's why miners are continually prospecting."
Coober Pedy's 2500 residents are famous for living in underground houses to shelter from the extreme summer heat and cold winters.