Opal dirt is transported to the "agitator" using tipper trucks.

Conveyor belts send the opal dirt into the agitator where it is washed with water.

After the opal dirt is washed we are left with a product called "the tailings". We can then sift through the tailings to find the opal rock which contains the gem quality material.

A bush pub on the opal fields of Glen Gary.

A crossroads in Lightning Ridge giving directions to the various opal fields and attractions in the area.

The dry and dusty road leading to Lightning Ridge.

The use of mini underground diggers is becoming more common now. This is one we use on some sites.

A dug out area in the mine. The large pipe is a part of the "blower". This is a method of retrieving the opal dirt from the mine to be sent for washing.The blower is like a giant vacuum cleaner that sucks the dirt out of the hole into a waiting truck. A miner takes a breather waiting for his turn on the jackhammer/pick or mini digger.

A mini digger at work.

A member of the opalstop points to an exposed seam of opal.

The digger at work under lights.

Time for a breather.

All work is done under lights.

Through this small shaft everything comes in and out of the mine. The mini diggers have to be dismantled and then put back together under ground.

The blower is parked at the top of the shaft and spits the opal dirt directly into the back of a truck.

A cable hoist is also used to remove opal dirt from the mine. A bucket is filled at the base of the shaft and the hoist transports it the surface and into the back of the truck.

The year 2006. This is one of the opalstop's camps where we live on the fields.

Another of our mines where we do not use the mini digger but small jackhammers and picks and shovels.

Chiseling out from the opal seam.

Opal hoists perched over their mines.

This area is called "lunatic hill" , which is the scene of open cut mining in Lightning Ridge. Please see our mining opal section for more information.

An old mining offering to sell his pieces to any passer by. Unfortunately for him they are very few and far between out here.

Another miners camp.

Some opal fields that have already been worked and left dormant. Could these still yet contain undiscovered gems?

Once the precious opal has been exposed by the mini digger it is removed using gentler methods so as not to damage any gem quality material. It's not uncommon to find the wives of miners pulling their weight with the men underground and loving every minute of it.

Some "rough" opal being prepared to be cut and polished into the finished product by an opalstop member.

The head miner of the opalstop starts the process of cutting unwanted material from the piece of rough.

Cutting and polishing the stones.

Close up of some opal rough.

A very old miners hut that lies in the middle of the township of Lightning Ridge.

A sign post nearing the town of Lightning Ridge.