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Trip to Australia, 2004
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This day we burned some 50 litres diesel
without finding a significant, precious
opal. But we found lots of smaller opals and
potch, this are opals without colour. You
can be rich very quickly if you have a
'strike', but the miners must have the
resources to survive the periods without
success. There is no school for miners; you
have to learn it yourself through trial and
error. Experienced miners have no interest
to make you wiser about opal mining. It is
rather dangerous down there and George was
willing to take us down on the condition he
was not liable for anything. We agreed to that,
but were very alert. Suddenly we heard a
loud rumbling and everybody ran as fast as
he could to the shaft. The reason was not
clear until we were up. A thunderstorm was
close. It stayed dry but it rained close to
us. If a torrential rain occurs, the shaft
is flushed with water and stones are raining
down. You patiently have to wait then till
it's over, at a safe place deep in the mine.
Here George is ascending out of the mine.
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