DECEMBER 2013 - JANUARY 2014

December was a busy month mainly continuing to move lots of dirt from the northern end of the hole. I eventually got the hole back to where I consider the cut-off of opal bearing dirt should be according to the drill results. It was then time to put a ramp in at the northern end so I could get down into the hole and start organizing to get to the bottom level. The photos below show the progression of the hole with the ramp in.




The hole is finished for now with the ramp in.

Nearly back to where I want the hole to end



another nice pendant stone on the website.

The temperatures were very high during this month with readings of over 40 degrees C on many occasions and highest reading was 46 degrees in the shade so it has been very hot down in the hole. I was mainly working only from early morning to around lunch time as the machines start to get too hot. That then gave me time to continue slicing and cutting during most afternoons and then into the airconditioning to cool off later on in the day. The heat doesn't seem to worry me too much as long as I drink plenty of water but trying to keep the water cool during the day is most of the problem. There has been no rain at all for most of the last year and the country is very dry with stock on the property getting very poor. This adds to the heat when there is no vegetation and the ground is exposed to the elements and when the temperatures are over the 40 degrees for a number of days the nights also stay very hot - only getting down to mid 30s. Anyway, I don't have to work under these conditions but do so because I continue to enjoy it every day.


I finally got the hole ready to start on the bottom level just before Xmas - had a small trial run and have reached the level easily as shown in the photo. The level is only band where I went down but it shows how thick the level is going to be and when it hardens up it will be a lot of slow work going through it - I am looking forward to starting as soon as it cools off a little.



Looking from the ramp down to the working area

The hole showing the machine ready to take
the bottom level at 40ft ( 12m )
 




The bottom level with clay underneath

Lyn and I enjoyed Xmas at the mine as we do every year and the temp was very kind with a cool 35 degree day. Our feature Gidgee tree in the middle of the camp has died much to our disappointment - we enjoyed sitting under it most afternoons. I cut it back in the hope that it may reshoot and Lyn spent some time hanging lights on it for Xmas night.

Our favourite Gidgee tree looking very sick

We gave it a good haircut

Sitting under the lights on Xmas night.

We then headed for the Sunshine Coast for New Year with my family and enjoyed a week or so there. It was great to see Mum and Dad looking so well - both are in there 80's, Dad turning 88 this year and still playing golf 3 days a week. It was then off to Agnes Waters for a few days with Simmo and Kelly, miners from Koroit. They have a beautiful spot on the coast and we enjoyed our visit there as we always do. They do the turtle research on their local beach and are quite passionate about it - great to see as it is all volunteer work. It was then back to Toowoomba for some shopping before heading home to hot Cunnamulla around the middle of Jan. I have since visited a friend of mine in Tamworth for a few days and am now home and ready to start mining again.

Lyn and I having breakfast at Noosa with Mum,
Dad, brother Michael and his wife, Louise

Simmo and Kelly recording and marking another turtle lay
on their local beach at Agnes Waters.



This lovely specie now resides at Simmo and Kelly's -
a gift for good friends.

That is about it for this couple of months - hope to have plenty of news on the opal front next post.

I wish all those that take the time to read this all the best for 2014.