Opal Mining in Mintabie SA
Result of heavy rain after pal mining, Mintabie The Opal mining township of Mintabie is three hours drive north of Coober Pedy. visiting there is like moving to a different world. Opal mining has its own time, its own language and its own rules. The way of life attracts all types of people and from all nationalities. The miners are colourful, hard working, basically honest and very tolerant. They almost always have to work as part of a team in open cut mining at Mintabie, so any grievances, misunderstandings or arguments need to be settled quickly. Mintabie opal field is unique in that it is situated on Aboriginal freehold land. This means the miners have no ownership of their homes. Most choose to live in converted tin sheds, though some have built from local stone, concrete and some live in transportable units. The housing therefore is a colourful and as individual as the miners themselves. Sadly opal mining at Mintabie has almost ceased. Mintabie’s best mining days are well past now and very few miners are finding opal. Those miners that are left will probably see out their days there by putting in a couple of days a week mining underground as they are able to raise enough money for fuel and explosives. The mining field is set in comparatively scenic country when compared to White Cliffs, Andamooka and Coober Pedy. The surrounding area is mostly small sand hills covered in mulga and other vegetation. During the spring and after rain the beautiful and unique Australian wildflowers cover every flat or open area around the opal fields. The pure white sandstone of the mullock heaps contrasts beautifully with the rich red of the sand hills and the almost violent blue of the sky. The weather is almost always fine and a cold windy day is fairly rare. The summers however are very hot and very long, broken occasionally by thunderstorms of tropical intensity which flood the surrounding country and the mines and isolate the township for up to a week at a time. Everything in Mintabie has been achieved by a hardy unselfish group of volunteers, fighting government bureaucracy, lack of funds and the harsh climate to build up and run a small town with a character all of its own. Those making the effort to visit and stay in Mintabie for a few days will be rewarded with genuine hospitality, warmth and assistance. Visit the pub first, have a couple of drinks and someone is sure to come up to say hello. They will soon find someone to show you around and give you an insight into the opal mining days of Mintabie. Don’t forget to buy him or her a beer. Most of these people are struggling now but too proud to let on.
45 tonne Excavator Working at the 75-foot Level
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