Mintabie Opal Field home page - Mintabie, South Australia

WELCOME TO THE MINTABIE OPAL MINING GUIDE. THIS INFORMATIONAL GUIDE IS DESIGNED TO HELP ANYONE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT HOW OPAL MINING IS CARRIED OUT IN MINTABIE.

This opal mining guide focuses on the Mintabie Opal Field and surrounding areas. Each opal field in Australia has its own individual geological formations, and idiosyncrasies. Within the Mintabie field, each group of diggings has its own particular characteristics. Such is the nature of opal fields, each is unique, even down to the look of the opal that is found in each field. This guide hopes to explain how mining is carried out in Mintabie. Some of this information could be applied to any opal field in South Australia, but much of it is meant for the Mintabie field.

Step 1	Apply for Precious stones prospecting permit (PSPP) from local PIRSA (Primary Industries and Resources) office.
Step 2	Pick up PSPP, plastic tags and new or second-hand pegs.
Step 3	Study PIRSA literature and other information in relation to mining regulations, safety and legal requirements etc.
Step 4	Talk to locals about mining areas within the field. Also talk to locals at all times about levels, slips, verticals, hard-bands, cap-rock, types of sandstone etc, it will all make sense after a while.
Step 5	Select a vacant area to peg, (either 50m x 50m or 100m x 50m), This should be a square or rectangle. Take compass bearings of claim boundaries and write them down. Locate and note the number of the nearest Mines Department survey peg and record distance and compass bearing to your nearest claim peg. All information on how to do this is available at the local PIRSA office in Mintabie.
Step 6	Using this information, register your claim at the local PIRSA office for 3 months initially, then at 12 month intervals if you wish to continue working the claim after the three month period.
Step 7	If you intend working underground with explosives you will need a blasters license , and a permit to mix and to carry explosives. (Locals and departmental staff wilt help you with this)
Step 8	Start mining underground or prospecting above ground. Most prospecting is done with auger or air drills. Drilling usually costs around $1.50 to $2 per foot. Most holes are between 45 and 75 feet, (at a cost of approximately $60 to $l50 per hole). Drilling may also be done on a percentage basis whereby you would make an agreement to give a percentage of any opal subsequently found in return for drilling.
Step 9	Keep records of all holes drilled and samples of any opal or potch found. Locals -will advise you if samples are worthwhile or not. Get a few opinions on every thing you do!
Step 10	Most open cut mining is done on a percentage basis. For example, if you had drilled good opal in a few holes you could probably contract a bulldozer owner to open cut the claim in return for 60% to 70% of the opal found. This may sound like a high percentage to pay, however the cost of completing a large open cut mine are in the order of 10's of thousands of dollars. Most equipment, labour and associated expenses are available on a percentage basis if your prospects are really good.
Step 11	Once you find your opal you will then be able to learn how to clean and grade it ready for pricing and selling!