Into an opal mine at Coober Pedy

We decided to do one tour so we chose the Old timers Mine...for obvious reasons!

This is what all the miners are looking for...a seam of opal.

This is what it looks like when its chopped out of the wall and cleaned up a little.

This is part of a large seam that led to a large opal deposit worth over $20000.

He's not sleeping on the job, he's a gouger ...once the down shaft was dug the miners would follow the seams no matter where they led.

Many tools were adapted to help gouge out the harder to reach areas.

A fossilised sea shell, its starting to opalise.

Opal samples.

Told you the locals were creative. Carvings in the mine walls.

Azurite also found in these mines.

 There's no easy way to get up and down sometimes! Personally a I think a door would have been easier.  Some cut steps and handholds into the walls if they want.

 They chop and gouge and fill the bucket and then pull it up the shaft to where they can check it and clean it.

Coral has also been found in the mines along with many opalised insects and shells.

How the other half live!  Many people still build their houses into the hills and underground to escape the extreme temperatures of the area. Much of this display featured old timer stuff, but many folk in the area still live in a similar manner but with more modernised conveniences and furniture of course.

This is a more modern bathroom and toilet.

Check out the natural patterns and colours in the walls. Better than wallpaper, However you are continually dusting and sweeping the chalky powder from the sand/limestone.

No internet, computers or tv back in these days, kids!

Even the post office and shops were underground at one stage.

I leave you with this thought....Maybe the original miners were descended from Hobbits. They lived in underground homes too.  to take this thought further...maybe Hobbits are really aliens!  The locals seem to have a penchant for creating very artistic and unusal items.