Had a great time at Coober Pedy. Visited underground opal stores and an underground bar. Amazing construction. Also went noodling for opals in big piles of dirt but didn’t find any. The weather has been kind, not hot but not too cold. There was no water available at the caravan park and showers cost 20c per 3 minutes. We bought water in the town to top up the van tanks. There was a set up similar to a petrol station but it only sold water. You put coins in the slot to get the water. There were a few other vans there getting water.
Great blue skies.
Great photos…..one of the Iconic places in OZ…a must visit.
Oohh yes, it comes up beautifully. I love it. What are they – white mounds of dirt/rock ?
Yes, dirt and rock. They went for miles either side of Coober Peddy.
When searching for opal, they use an auger (drill) on the back of a truck.
The first hole is only about 1ft diameter.
If they find traces of opal, they change to a 3ft diam drill – and sink a shaft.
Into this shaft they lower a small, powered digging machine, and tunnel following the opal band. A powerful air blower sucks the rock.powder away from the machine and up to the surface. A miner in town, gives a talk and demonstration of the equipment.
Vast areas around Cober Pedy look like a moonscape with thousands of holes (and mounds).