My love for gems started as soon as I could walk and talk. I live in a country where no gems are found so it’s always been a dream of mine to visit a mine and watch the process of mining. Thank you for uploading these videos! Always a pleasure to watch 👍
I could honestly watch opal mining videos all day. I really, really, REALLY enjoy your cutting videos but watching these incredibly tough miners and the life they live is so intriguing. Thank you for filming this. So cool to see Melinda getting down there too! Your viewers will miss her, I hope she's doing great.
I’ve really been enjoying your channel! I just found it a few weeks ago. My mother had a few opals that she left to me after she passed. I cherish them. You seem to be surrounded by good people. Thank you for putting these videos out. 🙏❤️
Lots of great information and it's good to see some of you friends and where and how the opals come from. Can't wait to see the opal you found cut. Thanks for sharing.
Oh the first black opal I eversaw was a pendant owned by an Australian colleague who cameto Johannesburg to work she was travelling and working her way around the world. The opal was the 21st Birthday gift from her parents. I had never seen anything so lovely before. Wanted one ever since . this was late 70's.
Thank you for your time and efforts to show this. It was great to see some of the efforts it takes for just a chance at finding opals, especially after you said that you only found 1 decent opal from 1 load dug, carted, washed and sorted. Definitely need a another occupation to support opal mining dreams.lol. I used to have a friend in LIGHTNING RIDGE, who was an opal miner. His name was Jim and he lived there on their claim with his wife Nim, who worked at the local school. Jim passed away a few years ago now. Andy
It was so interesting to see the “back story” of where the LR opals come from! You did such a great job producing this video. Thank you for sharing your life with us Justin!
Love the education you provide of everything that takes place beforehand. Seeing an amazing cut opal is always great---knowing what happens in order to get even one is a real eye opener. This is not an easy life, and I appreciate you showing us the ropes.
Damn the opal i was fascinated by the girl...what a beauty of a Gem.. Naar guys like that Aussie deserve a million dollar rock...they won't retire though.. It's in there DNA..
That's one tough job but I'm thrilled you shared this! Thank you David, for showing your mineing operation and thank you Justin, for all your good vids!💙🌈
Oh man! You're leaving me hanging with this one lol!! It's gonna take me a week to find the video that you "reveal" the opal that comes from that nobby.
Thank you again Great Chief of Opals👑🙏 - This is exactly what I like to watch👍 Excellent filming with drone and handheld camera👌 Beautifully edited with everything important to Opal mining.⚒ And of course the Stars, Opal, Justin & Melinda and the mine owner. (Kenneth Prospecting Norway)
Everytime I see that bucket getting emptied out at this height, my heart stops beating for a while. I wonder how many amazing stones broke in half because of this procedure. Seems just too high for my feeling, but what do I know.
Thanks for your awsum videos I have learned so much of you .should be doing my own stones soon .setting the equipment up .you keep up the good work .and what a great country Australia is .bye the way I am from victoria.
That was an amazing video, Justin! Oh my goodness! I can't wait to see you cut that stone you found! Looks like it has massive potential! Such an amazing find! Good luck with the rough stone, m8. I will definitely be watching!
Can tell it's got gorgeous color already. Great video, like seeing you in the field like that. Can't wait to see the cut stone!!! Best regards to you and yours
Justin... Although I really enjoy watching you cut the stones. It's cool to see them emerge from rough stones. I like to see the how's and why's of opal mining. I had no idea of what all is involved. Would also like to see more of the science of opal formation. Keep up the good work my friend. Looking forward to another live cutting. Randy in Des Moines. 👍🌽✌
I've been waiting for your new video. Love your channel. I finally got a few stones ,I got on opel options Australia, didn't do so well, but that was my first try. Maby next time. Looking forward to your next vid. Thanks. Mark h.
I saw an episode on opal digging where the people went to tailings after dark with a black light. It really showed a LOT of stones that were missed. Have you ever tried a black light in the tunnels with the light off or gone thru the washed tailings after dark with one? I think I remember they got about $2000 in small stuff.
Lawrence Vanderpool if you put the speed to 0.25 or pause you can see he is holding a opal, I’m not sure if it is the correct stone but just pointing that out
I have done this and it is extremely exusting and hot dirty work. I have a ton of respect for those who do this for a living. I also found it at times hard to breathe as we wore respiratory masks. After one day I do not think I have ever been that tired. But when you hit a bit of opal it is like a second wind.
I know you from a channel I subscribe to, sir. Darn You Tube for not updating me anymore. - I promise to visit your channel again soon. You have some nice gold videos going on, I know.👍
Right at 7:27 there is another possible, right in the middle of the frame! God DAMN this is fascinating! Since Australia and Canada are both Commonwealth nations, it should be easy enough to migrate over to Coober Peady, eh? It's probably just a pipe dream, but a more and more tempting one every day.
Question: have the miners ever broken a really great stone by using the jackhammers? I know opal is a very soft stone, easily broken, so using powered tools seems a bit aggressive, even if it is a time and labor-saver.
Gloria Meadows 100% yes they have. Earthmoving is not a delicate process and the dirt you have to move to find the pockets are enormous. If you are slow and delicate you may never find anything 😊 good question though
@@blackopaldirect Thank you for your reply! If getting enough fresh air is never an issue either, these are nicer working conditions than I would have expected.
Hey Justin! Great Video again of the life in Lightning Ridge. one question, I see al lot of washing trucks in a sort of row. Are these trucks owned by the miners, or are they shared use. How does this exactly work?
I noticed that many of the stones coming out of the agitator were stones you could find in a stream or river bed, rounded and smooth. These stones came from that deep within the mine? Does that mean that this entire area was once water covered or are ancient river beds good areas to find opal?
Can't find the video for this opal being cut, do you have a link? I know it's a lot to ask time for something like that but if you have it handy that would be awesome :)
I got a few bids on some rough opals Lol and gonna try my hand at cutting and polishing. I seen that one video you had where a guy returned that stone he bought for 800 bucks and then asked if you could do a video on cutting it. I've been hooked since and gonna try to turn some rough into something beautiful that will be fit for some jewelry.
hi i have always wanted to get my own opal mine. can you pl tell me how someone should go to get a Opal mine :) i am from sweden. :) so someday i wanna move to Australia and dig for opals :) but i am not sure how someone would do to get a Opal mine. and how much do it cost to get a opal mine ? :) kind regards from sweden :;)
My love for gems started as soon as I could walk and talk. I live in a country where no gems are found so it’s always been a dream of mine to visit a mine and watch the process of mining. Thank you for uploading these videos! Always a pleasure to watch 👍
You are welcome I'm glad you enjoy
Dito Bandito
I could honestly watch opal mining videos all day. I really, really, REALLY enjoy your cutting videos but watching these incredibly tough miners and the life they live is so intriguing. Thank you for filming this. So cool to see Melinda getting down there too! Your viewers will miss her, I hope she's doing great.
Thank you
Not sure how I missed this one for so long. Glad Melinda stayed with you guys. Looks like you make her work hard for her money
Wowed. No way I could go under ground. Glad others can bring these beauties to the surface!
You two can post adventures like this anytime. Great stuff seeing you in the field.
Great video. Very informative on how the opals are mined. Best I've watched.
William Dawson that’s nice to hear. Thank you
I’ve really been enjoying your channel! I just found it a few weeks ago. My mother had a few opals that she left to me after she passed. I cherish them. You seem to be surrounded by good people. Thank you for putting these videos out. 🙏❤️
Lots of great information and it's good to see some of you friends and where and how the opals come from. Can't wait to see the opal you found cut. Thanks for sharing.
Those men sure do work hard. I can’t get enough videos on opals and I love seeing where they come from. Thanks for sharing! 💗
Oh the first black opal I eversaw was a pendant owned by an Australian colleague who cameto Johannesburg to work she was travelling and working her way around the world. The opal was the 21st Birthday gift from her parents. I had never seen anything so lovely before. Wanted one ever since . this was late 70's.
Thanks Justin, just got my wish of seeing opals being mined👍😁
Malinda is gorgeous!
Oh.. can’t wait to see it cut! So informative... thank you!
I love seeing you go underground it so you interesting to see where your opals come from and it cool to see you bring your young lady very cool...
Thank you for your time and efforts to show this. It was great to see some of the efforts it takes for just a chance at finding opals, especially after you said that you only found 1 decent opal from 1 load dug, carted, washed and sorted. Definitely need a another occupation to support opal mining dreams.lol.
I used to have a friend in LIGHTNING RIDGE, who was an opal miner. His name was Jim and he lived there on their claim with his wife Nim, who worked at the local school. Jim passed away a few years ago now.
Andy
Thanks, Justin, for bringing this beautiful art form to me. Great name. My sister's name is Justine
It was so interesting to see the “back story” of where the LR opals come from! You did such a great job producing this video. Thank you for sharing your life with us Justin!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
Love the education you provide of everything that takes place beforehand. Seeing an amazing cut opal is always great---knowing what happens in order to get even one is a real eye opener. This is not an easy life, and I appreciate you showing us the ropes.
Gregg Bartel-Bailey welcome and I’m glad you enjoyed
This was great! You should have this type of video on more often for those of us who are "newbies" to your channel.
I never heard of Black Opals before this channel because they are so underground
Damn the opal i was fascinated by the girl...what a beauty of a Gem..
Naar guys like that Aussie deserve a million dollar rock...they won't retire though.. It's in there DNA..
That's one tough job but I'm thrilled you shared this!
Thank you David, for showing your mineing operation and thank you Justin, for all your good vids!💙🌈
opalhopeful96 thanks for the kind words
@@blackopaldirect 💙
My pleasure.
I have learned a lot allready in your Chanel, thanx!!!
Oh man! You're leaving me hanging with this one lol!! It's gonna take me a week to find the video that you "reveal" the opal that comes from that nobby.
This is great, do more videos like this. I like the music you chose at the end, kind of like the gem was calling out to you. Very nice gem btw
Thank you again Great Chief of Opals👑🙏
- This is exactly what I like to watch👍 Excellent filming with drone and handheld camera👌 Beautifully edited with everything important to Opal mining.⚒ And of course the Stars, Opal, Justin & Melinda and the mine owner.
(Kenneth Prospecting Norway)
MrInsaint thank you
Love 💘 all your videos! Thank you for your generosity and sharing your knowledge!
This was a great video, thanks for sharing!
Amazing find can’t wait to see it going through the process
Everytime I see that bucket getting emptied out at this height, my heart stops beating for a while. I wonder how many amazing stones broke in half because of this procedure. Seems just too high for my feeling, but what do I know.
Congratulations on the color. Best of luck on quality results. Best of luck on your next dig. Be safe.
Thanks for your awsum videos I have learned so much of you .should be doing my own stones soon .setting the equipment up .you keep up the good work .and what a great country Australia is .bye the way I am from victoria.
Great video!
Cool, nice to see how it's done.
A cool piece Id like to see more of this.
That was an amazing video, Justin! Oh my goodness! I can't wait to see you cut that stone you found! Looks like it has massive potential! Such an amazing find! Good luck with the rough stone, m8. I will definitely be watching!
Can tell it's got gorgeous color already. Great video, like seeing you in the field like that. Can't wait to see the cut stone!!! Best regards to you and yours
Great video. Looks like so much fun. But looks like hard work also. Opal is so beautiful! ☺️👩🏼🏵
That is a heck of a lot of work for one stone!
Worth every bit I hope!
nope it was a flop
Justin... Although I really enjoy watching you cut the stones. It's cool to see them emerge from rough stones. I like to see the how's and why's of opal mining. I had no idea of what all is involved. Would also like to see more of the science of opal formation.
Keep up the good work my friend. Looking forward to another live cutting.
Randy in Des Moines. 👍🌽✌
Thanks Randy
It seems like opals are found in layers of smooth river rock. I wonder why that is.
Edit: they become smooth from tumbling in the processor.
Snuusnuu69 it happens in the washing machine. But opals are formed on the edges of the ancient inland sea
Great video! Thank you!
Yes the lovely bits with the fire in them
I've been waiting for your new video.
Love your channel.
I finally got a few stones ,I got on opel options Australia, didn't do so well, but that was my first try.
Maby next time.
Looking forward to your next vid.
Thanks. Mark h.
awesome bucket system for dumping in the truck. simple system but simple mostly work better then complicated. I hope he strike's it big one day.
Yes it is the most inexpensive way to move dirt. Hard labour lol
Amazing job god bless you. My friend.like trabalho incrível.deus abençoe vc meu amigo.
I saw an episode on opal digging where the people went to tailings after dark with a black light. It really showed a LOT of stones that were missed. Have you ever tried a black light in the tunnels with the light off or gone thru the washed tailings after dark with one? I think I remember they got about $2000 in small stuff.
No I have never tried that yet
That was pretty cool. 😎
Yes that one is gorgeous!
7:27 you really missed the one in the middle??? O.o
looks like it was the same gem they were looking at, just the clips were out of chronological order.
Lawrence Vanderpool if you put the speed to 0.25 or pause you can see he is holding a opal, I’m not sure if it is the correct stone but just pointing that out
@@alphazetavr1888 i see him holding an opal and the stone your mentioning in the same shot. i hope he didnt miss that she looks like a nice size
This is one of my dreams...
Excellent video, opal found and a pretty girl with a smile. Life's great in your world👍
Best entertainment
Thank you BOD
Love this adventure
cool, looks like it could hold some quality color
you guys make it look so easy :DD
anyone notice that huge shadow crawling towards the cabin of the truck @6:24
spooky! (it's the drone)
Its like a giant poisonous spider crawls...
I have done this and it is extremely exusting and hot dirty work. I have a ton of respect for those who do this for a living. I also found it at times hard to breathe as we wore respiratory masks. After one day I do not think I have ever been that tired. But when you hit a bit of opal it is like a second wind.
Enjoyed and gave a Thumbs Up also
All that was dug by hand! Wow!
Im coming out with you guys next time, and il pocket some opals without you guys knowing 🤑
Just back from there myself mate gods country got a few opals lol
I know you from a channel I subscribe to, sir. Darn You Tube for not updating me anymore.
- I promise to visit your channel again soon. You have some nice gold videos going on, I know.👍
Amazing. My dream is to rock hound Australia. Thx guys. !!!
Always the best
Big day on the jackhammers and rickshaws... where’s the digger and bogger ?!
Hamish Gledhill Dave doesn’t have any. It all manual labor
Black Opal Direct that’s how we used to do it !! Good hard honest work. I think it makes it much more rewarding when you find something too
Hamish Gledhill it def does
Oooooooh nice find 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Right at 7:27 there is another possible, right in the middle of the frame! God DAMN this is fascinating! Since Australia and Canada are both Commonwealth nations, it should be easy enough to migrate over to Coober Peady, eh? It's probably just a pipe dream, but a more and more tempting one every day.
Question: have the miners ever broken a really great stone by using the jackhammers? I know opal is a very soft stone, easily broken, so using powered tools seems a bit aggressive, even if it is a time and labor-saver.
Gloria Meadows 100% yes they have. Earthmoving is not a delicate process and the dirt you have to move to find the pockets are enormous. If you are slow and delicate you may never find anything 😊 good question though
Nice find 👍
So cool!
Does it get hot and stuffy down in the shafts or is it more pleasant than at the surface? (This Frenchman can't get over Melinda's loveliness.)
Exotemporal it’s a nice 23 degrees all year round underground
@@blackopaldirect Thank you for your reply! If getting enough fresh air is never an issue either, these are nicer working conditions than I would have expected.
Hey Justin!
Great Video again of the life in Lightning Ridge.
one question, I see al lot of washing trucks in a sort of row. Are these trucks owned by the miners, or are they shared use.
How does this exactly work?
neruelk yes they are all privately owned but share the water supply
Another good video!!
Esses videos me encantam demais..
I can hardly wait to retire. I'm going to learn the Opal cutting trade.
Why wait til retirement? Chase your dreams! Make your dreams your reality!
thats pretty amazing guys oh and I'm diggin that music to
haha glad you like
im just lookin at those stones coming out of the tumbler and wondering how well theyd skip
I noticed that many of the stones coming out of the agitator were stones you could find in a stream or river bed, rounded and smooth. These stones came from that deep within the mine? Does that mean that this entire area was once water covered or are ancient river beds good areas to find opal?
They are round from the agitator. Worn down similar to a river bed action
Black Opal Direct makes sense. Didn’t think of the mechanical action rounding the rocks. Thanks.
What was the green flash in the middle of the frame at 7:26? More opal?
MYOB Girl looks like they missed a chunck
MYOB Girl yes it was but not worthy of cutting
Wow, thank you for this! How do miners make any money? How do you get enough water for the washing? How do you know where to dig?
Watch my videos and you will find out :-)
HELLO IT IS I. DAVE , FRIEND LIKE THAT IS HARD TO COME BY!
Nice video justin
Can't find the video for this opal being cut, do you have a link? I know it's a lot to ask time for something like that but if you have it handy that would be awesome :)
Way Cool 😎👍
Minecraft mining in real life
Ned Riley 😆😆
7:28 Just above center screen, isn’t that opal?
orion khan yes it was. But just potch. There was more as well but not like the first piece
Definitely eye catching amidst all that smooth river stone !!
@@blackopaldirect So what happens to those "just potch" stones?
Will M. They will go into a bucket to be collected and sold off at a later date. But that’s not my decision it’s Dave’s mine and we were just guests
Hello Opal !
Another awesome video, thank you. Cant wait to see you cut that piece.
Hi Justin, could I get a quick link the to follow up cut of this nobby ? thanks !
Was that a HUGE spider I saw at about 6:30?
so how much was the luck find the not so good-looking massif large Knobby blue green black how much was it worth please tell the seem opal mine
I’d be constantly worrying about a cave in if down there.
I like to see all those beautiful stones, but also it hurts when I see all those holes in our beautiful planet Earth.
I got a few bids on some rough opals Lol and gonna try my hand at cutting and polishing. I seen that one video you had where a guy returned that stone he bought for 800 bucks and then asked if you could do a video on cutting it. I've been hooked since and gonna try to turn some rough into something beautiful that will be fit for some jewelry.
There is another piece of collor look at 7:28 middel of screen little bit up greenish
Wow. No wonder opals are so expensive.
Nice
So what would this opal bring in its rough form?
hi i have always wanted to get my own opal mine. can you pl tell me how someone should go to get a Opal mine :) i am from sweden. :) so someday i wanna move to Australia and dig for opals :) but i am not sure how someone would do to get a Opal mine. and how much do it cost to get a opal mine ? :) kind regards from sweden :;)
Justin, does all LR opal come out of the ground as "knobbies"?
no there is seam opal as well