Opal Mining Mfuw Wɔ Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge yɛ Black Opal a wontumi nhu no fie a agye din, na ɛde kurow ketewa a wotu fagude no ahyɛ asase mfonini so. Nnipa pii gye di sɛ aboɔden abo a wɔntaa nhu yi yɛ kurow no ho sɛnkyerɛnne a edi mũ, efisɛ sɛnea Lightning Ridge ne emufo te ankasa da so ara yɛ ahintasɛm te sɛ Black Opal ankasa.

ƐHE NA BLACK OPALS FI?

Wodii kan huu Black Opal wɔ 1870 mfe no mu; nanso, ɛyɛ 1900 mfe no mfiase ansa na asɛm no trɛwee wɔ Opal foforo a wohuu wɔ Lightning Ridge no ho. Wɔn a wotu fam pii a wofi Opal kurow a ɛbɛn hɔ, White Cliffs, de nantew twaa kilomita 700 kɔɔ Lightning Ridge, a na wogye di sɛ wɔn ahonyade da hɔ a wɔretwɛn. Charlie Nettleton a efi saa bere no wɔagye atom sɛ ɔyɛ adwumayɛfo atitiriw a wɔyɛ adwuma wɔ adwuma no mu no mu biako no nso faa akwantu no wɔ ɔpɛ a esii wɔ 1902 mu no mu na ɔsan kɔɔ White Cliffs afe biako akyi sɛ ɔrekɔyɛ gua ama Black Opal.

Wɔdaa adi sɛ na adwumaden a ɛyɛ nwonwa a wotu fagude yɛ adwuma wɔ 1800 mfe no awiei ne 1900 mfe no mfiase mu hɔ. Ná wɔn a wotu fam no de wɔn ho to nsa a wɔde yi nneɛma ne sofi so de tutu nnua a ɛwɔ afã ahinanan, na wɔforo kɔ mu na wofi adi a wɔde wɔn akyi ne wɔn nan abɔ nkyɛnkyɛn a ɛnyɛ nea asiane biara nni ho. Ɛnnɛ, wɔn a wotu fam no de dade antweri ne mfiri a wɔde twe nneɛma di dwuma wɔ asase ase de ma asase a ɛboro so so fi ɔtopae no mu kɔ soro.

Mfonini 1: Lightning Ridge- Black Opal fie

Lightning Ridge abakɔsɛm yɛ nea basabasayɛ ne ahoɔden a wɔde gyina ano na ɛda nsow. Efi akuw a wotu fagude a wɔhyehyɛe na wɔpaapaee mu, kosi sɛ wɔde wɔn a wotu fagude guu wɔn nsam, wɔde awuduru guu nsu a wɔnom mu ne akasakasa a emu yɛ den a wɔne Sydney mmoayɛn nnwumakuw akɛse abien a wɔasi wɔn bo sɛ wobegyae opal a wotu no sɔre so no, na kurow no mfiase mfe no nyɛ mmerɛw koraa. Nanso, ɛyɛ abakɔsɛm a basabasayɛ wom yi mu na Lightning Ridge nyaa nkɔso bɛyɛɛ kurow a edi mu a wotu fagude a ɛyɛ nnɛ no.

ƐKA HENA NA WƆTUTUO OPAL?

Opal a wotu wɔ Australia no anya nkɔso wɔ mfe no nyinaa mu. Nna a na nea ohia ara ne sɛ obegye dɔla 20 ne pick and shovel a ɔde betu fam wɔ mpɔtam hɔ no atwam. Ɛnnɛ, wɔhwehwɛ sɛ wɔde bɛboro dɔla 250,000 to hɔ na ama wɔatumi ayɛ ɔtopae a wɔtaa yɛ a wɔabue mu na anyɛ yiye koraa no, wɔde sika mmɔho abien na ama wɔatumi ayɛ Opal ɔtopae a wɔabue mu. Ne saa nti, wɔtaa hwehwɛ sɛ wɔn a wotu fam no ka nsɛm pii a wɔka bom, na mpɛn pii no ɛda adi sɛ ɛyɛ den.

Bio nso, mmara foforo hwehwɛ sɛ wɔn a wotu fam no yɛ Opal a wotu fagude ho adesua a ne bo yɛ dɔla 2,000, a ɛfa mmoa a edi kan, anyinam ahoɔden ho haw ne mfiridwuma mu ahobammɔ ho nhyehyɛe ho. Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wotu fagude nso nam Department of Minerals so bisa Opal a wotu fagude ho krataa na wodi nneɛma a atwa yɛn ho ahyia ho akyinnyegye a emu yɛ den so, a afifide a wɔbɛsan adua wɔ beae hɔ wɔ da a asɛm no bɛba awiei akyi ka ho. Mfe pii a atwam no, saa asɛm yi bo akɔ soro fi dɔla 435 akodu dɔla 1230 a ɛyɛ nwonwa. Wɔ afe 2013 mu no, ABC News yii asɛm bi adi a ɛkyerɛkyerɛɛ nokwasɛm a emu yɛ den ne ɛka a wɔbɔ wɔ Lightning Ridge a wobɛtra sɛ obi a wotu fam no mu kɔ akyiri, a wubetumi akenkan wɔ ha .

Ɛnyɛ mmerɛw mma ‘abɔntenfo’ sɛ wɔbɛtɔ na wɔasisi Opal a wotu wɔ mpɔtam hɔ, efisɛ Opal a wotu a wɔtɔn no ho yɛ na na wɔtaa tɔn wɔ mpɔtam hɔ. Wɔtɔ Opal atuo a eye sen biara no pii wɔ mfaso kyɛfa ase sen sɛ wɔbɛtɔn no nyinaa. Eyi kyerɛ sɛ owura no da so ara betumi anya mfaso ɔha biara mu nkyem biako afi Opals a ɛhɔnom adwumayɛfo tu no mu.

Lightning Ridge ankasa asetra mpo bo yɛ den. Da biara da nneɛma a ɛyɛ fɛ ho yɛ na na ɛkame ayɛ sɛ pɛtro bo yɛ kurow no bo mmɔho abien. Ɛho abehia sɛ wɔn a wotu fango pii yɛ adwuma foforo wɔ fango a wotu wɔ mpɔtam hɔ no mu na ama wɔanya sika a ɛkɔ so daa. Ɛmfa ho nsɛnnennen no, wɔn a wotu fam no pii hu sɛ osuahu no so wɔ mfaso araa ma wɔsan ba afe biara.

OPAL NHWEHWƐMU

Prospecting ne asɛmfua a wɔde kyerɛkyerɛ opal a wotu mu. Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wobetumi atu fam no bisa “Opal Prospecting License” anaa Mineral Claim ansa na wɔafi ase ahwehwɛ nneɛma. Ɛho hia sɛ yɛhyɛ no nsow sɛ ɛsono sɛnea wɔhwehwɛ nneɛma mu kɛse wɔ nea wotu fagude ho.

Wɔma kwan ma wɔde tumi krataa a wɔde hwehwɛ nneɛma mu wɔ mmeae akɛse na ɛnyɛ den koraa sɛ wobenya bere a wɔde toto aboɔden abo a wɔhwehwɛ ho, a mpɛn pii no ɛhwehwɛ sɛ wɔde nkrataa a wɔde bɛbɔ bosea no toto ho no. Mpɛn pii no, Opal Prospecting License 50 kosi 100 na ɛwɔ hɔ a wɔpene so afe biara. Mmeae anan a wɔakyerɛkyerɛ mu a wɔhwehwɛ aboɔden abo wɔ Narran-Warrambool akorae no mu, a wɔde too nkyɛn sɛ ɛbɛboa ma wɔakora ahwehwɛfo nketewa atetesɛm so sen sɛ wɔbɛkɔ so ama aboɔden abo akɛse a wɔhwehwɛ. Wɔmma kwan mma wɔnhwehwɛ nneɛma mu wɔ ɔman no mmɔnten so atrae anaa mmeae a wuram mmoa wɔ.

Mfonini 2: Amammerɛ mu Opal Hwehwɛ

OPAL PROSPECTING AKWAN A WƆFA SO YƐ

Opal a wɔhwehwɛ betumi ayɛ adwuma a ɛyɛ ɔbrɛ, a wotu fam na wɔtetew pii wɔ asase ase atopae a wɔde nsu a wɔde siw nsu ano na ɛkura mu no mu. Ɛnnɛ, akwan horow pii wɔ hɔ a wɔn a wɔhwehwɛ nneɛma betumi afa so anya Opals:

• Shaft Sinking: Ansa na wɔde drill no sii hɔ wɔ 1987 mu no, na shaft sinking ne ɔkwan a agye din sen biara a wɔfa so hwehwɛ Opal mfuw mu. Nea ɛyɛ awerɛhow no, na shafts a wɔde nsa bɛmene no bo yɛ den na egye bere pii.

• Auger Drilling: Ɛnyɛ sɛ drill a wɔde bae no maa adwuma a wotu no yɛɛ ntɛmntɛm nko, na mmom ɛmaa wonya ɔkwan a ɛho ka sua a wɔfa so de nsu a wɔde siw nsu mu no nso mae. Auger drill a ne kɛse yɛ nsateakwaa akron no boaa wɔn a wotu fagude no ma wɔsɔɔ anhweatam hwɛe ansa na wɔrekɔmem abotan bi, sen sɛ wɔbɛyɛ adwuma anifuraefo wɔ beae bi.

• Percussion Drilling: Percussion drilling te sɛ Auger drilling, nanso ɛyɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ kɛseɛ ɛfiri sɛ ɛma ntokuru nketewa na nea ɛfiri mu ba ne sɛ ɛyɛ ɔkwan a ɛyɛ adwuma yie a wɔfa so hwehwɛ na wɔsɔ nhwɛsoɔ hwɛ.

• Sirotem: Saa nnɛyi kwan a wɔfa so tu fagude yi ne ɔkwan a etu mpɔn sen biara a wɔfa so sɔ asase kɛse bi hwɛ. Ɛdenam anyinam ahoɔden a wɔde susuw anyinam ahoɔden a ɛko tia ɔbotan no so no, wɔn a wotu fam no betumi ahu baabi a mfomso anaa anhweatam betumi aba wɔ mpɔtam hɔ.

LIGHTNING RIDGE NKYEKYƐMU

Nnipa dodow a wɔwɔ Lightning Ridge no sakra bere a mmere no te. Wobu akontaa sɛ nnipa a wɔte kurow no mu daa bɛyɛ 1,200, na nsrahwɛfo bɛboro 80,000 na wɔde ka ho afe biara. Saa nnipa dodow a ɛkɔ fam bere nyinaa yi da adi wɔ nnipa dodow ho sɛnkyerɛnne a ɛwɔ ɔkwan kɛse no so, a agye din sɛ asɛmmisa agyiraehyɛde bi wɔ so—a ɛkyerɛ sɛnea kurow no de wɔn nsa ahyɛ ase no. Nsrahwɛfo pii ba hɔ wɔ asram a awɔw wom mu na wofi hɔ wɔ ahohuru bere mu, bere a ɔhyew a ano yɛ den ma ɛhɔfo binom mpo kɔ no.

OPAL MFURO A ƐGYE DEN NO AKWANKYERƐ WƆ LIGHTNING RIDGE

Opal mfuw bɛboro 200 na ɛwɔ Lightning Ridge, nanso wɔabobɔ mfuw a agye din sen biara no din wɔ ase ha:

• Bald Hill: ‘Walk-In’ atopae biako pɛ a ɛwɔ Lightning Ridge no mu biako, wohuu Opal a ɛsom bo a wohuu wɔ beae yi no mu dodow no ara fii adwumayɛbea atitiriw no mu wɔ beae a ne kɛse yɛ mita 120 ne mita 30 pɛ! Nsrahwɛfo betumi afa ɔtopae no mu fi anɔpa 9 kosi awia 5 da biara a wɔn ankasa bɛkyerɛ wɔn kwan anaasɛ wɔde kar akɔsrasra mmeae ahorow.

• Deep-Four Mile: Wɔ 1930 mfe no mu no, wɔn a wotu fam no yii Opal a ɛyɛ papa fii mmeae anum a wɔde too gua wɔ Deep-Four Mile, na na abon a emu dɔ sen biara no trɛw bɛboro mita 28.5.

• Hawks Nest: Ná nsu a ɛkɔ fam wɔ beae yi fi mita 1.2 kosi mita 12, na na ahwehwɛ a ne kɛse bɛyɛ mita 2.7 da so ara wɔ hɔ, na ɛma wonya Opal a ɛsom bo a ɛyɛ papa. Wɔ shafts no bi mu no, na Opal bearing lenses abiɛsa a ɛwɔ mita 3.6, mita 6.9 ne mita 12 twaa mu.

• Nebea Hill: Wohuu saa beae yi wɔ 1973 mu, na wosusuw sɛ ɛyɛ mmeae a wotu fagude a ɛsow aba sen biara wɔ mpɔtam hɔ no mu biako. Wobuu akontaa sɛ nsɛm awotwe a wɔkae no ma wonya Opal a ne bo bɛboro dɔla 3,000,000 wɔ mfe abien mu. Akwan a wɔfaa so tu fagude a wɔde dii dwuma wɔ beae hɔ wɔ mfe no mu no fii ase denam tu a wotu kɛse a wɔabue so, na ɛno akyi no, wotutuu fam wɔ asase ase.

• Chum Foforo ne Chum Dedaw: Wohuu Opal ɔbo bi a ne kɛse yɛ karat 100 fii New Chum mpɔtam hɔ wɔ beae no, bere a wohuu Opal float wɔ abotan mu wɔ koko no so wɔ Chum Dedaw no mpɔtam hɔ.

• New Rush (New Nobby): Wotutuu beae yi wɔ 1960 mfe no mu a na abon no mu dɔ sen biara yɛ mita 12, na ɛmaa Opal a ɛsom bo no san bae, na ɛmaa wɔde ahopere kɔɔ mpɔtam hɔ na abon bɛyɛ 100 memee.

• Akwansin Akron: Mfuw a wɔyɛ adwuma wom sen biara a wɔda so ara yɛ adwuma nnɛ no mu biako, na nsu a ɛwɔ koko no atifi no mu dɔ kodu mita 12. Wohuu Potch sɛ ɔne Opal abɔ mu wɔ saa beae yi.

• Rouses-Six Mile: Wɔnnim beae pɔtee a saa beae yi wɔ; nanso wonim sɛ wɔato mu ama McDonald’s Six Mile. Nsɛm abien pɛ na ɛmaa Opal dodow a ɛho hia bae wɔ saa beae yi na na Opal no fã kɛse no ara yɛ Black Nobbies akɛse.

• Belars a Ɛnyɛ Den: Sɛnea edin no kyerɛ no, saa afuw yi mu nnɔ koraa, na emu dɔ yɛ mita 0.3 kosi mita 3.6. Wɔasan anya Opal a ɛyɛ papa wɔ saa beae yi na na ɛyɛ opalised bivalves.

• Nobby Dedaw no: Wɔde nnua a edi kan a ɛwɔ Lightning Ridge afuw no mu biako memee wɔ Nobbys na mfiase no wohuu Opal wɔ abotan a ɛwɔ abon no ase no mu. Ɛwom sɛ abotan no yɛ den yiye na ɛyɛ den sɛ wɔbɛyɛ de, nanso wɔasan anya Opal dodow bi afi ahwehwɛ a emu dɔ yɛ mita 6 mu.

• Akwansin Abiɛsa no: Afuo yi yɛ mmeae a wotu fagude a agye din na wɔyɛ adwuma boro so no mu biako, na nnipa bɛboro 1,000 na wɔde wɔn ho ahyɛ Opal a wotu mu wɔ hɔ bere koro mu. Ɛde besi nnɛ no, ɛyɛ mmeae a ɛsow aba sen biara wɔ afuw no mu biako, na wɔatu fagude a wɔabue mu kɛse wɔ nnansa yi mfe mu.

• Akwansin Nsia: Wɔsan frɛ no McDonald’s Six Mile, na emu dɔ a ɛkɔ Finch dɔte anim no fi mita 9 kosi mita 12 wɔ koko no atifi ne mita 1.8 wɔ koko no ase, na Opal a eye sen biara a wohu no wɔ fam tɔnn.

• Thorley’s Six Mile: Wodii kan tutuu saa afuw yi wɔ 1902 mu fi mita 6 kosi 12 na afei wɔn a wotu fam no san huu wɔ 1970 mfe no mu, bere a afuw no kɔ so yɛ Black Opal a ɛyɛ papa no.

ASETENA WƆ MFURO SO: DA BIARA WƆ Nnɛyi TUMIFO A WƆTUTUO NSƐM MU

Asetra a ɛwɔ opal mfuw mu nnɛ yɛ atetesɛm ne nnɛyi nneyɛe a wɔadi afra. Bere a wɔn a wodii kan hwehwɛɛ nneɛma no honhom da so ara hyehyɛ da biara da asetra no, nnɛyi wɔn a wotu fam no de wɔn ho to mfiri, ahobammɔ ho mmara ne mfiridwuma ho nimdeɛ a wɔwɔ wɔ black opal a wotu mu so de yi aboɔden abo fi asase ase bun mu.

Nna taa fi ase ntɛm na wɔakwati ɔhyew no, na wɔn a wotu fam no hwɛ nsu a wɔde tu fam no mu, wɔde nneɛma a wɔde ma nneɛma so di dwuma na wɔde ahwɛyiye yi nneɛma fi hɔ de hwehwɛ nhama a opal wom. Nnɔnhwerew tenten, tew a wɔtew wɔn ho ne adwenem naayɛ yɛ adeyɛ no fã, nanso hokwan a ɛwɔ hɔ sɛ wobehu opal tuntum bi a ɛsom bo no kɔ so twetwe wɔn a wotu fam no san kɔ mfuw no mu, a akatua a wɔntaa nhu a ama Lightning Ridge agye din wɔ wiase nyinaa no kanyan wɔn.

TOtɔ OPAL BLACK A ƐHO HYƐ NA WƆ OPAL AUCTIONS

Black opals a efi Lightning Ridge no ho yɛ na soronko, ɛda kɔla ahorow a ɛyɛ nwonwa adi a aboɔden abo foforo biara nsɛ wɔ hyerɛn, ogya ne nsusuwso mu. Wɔ Opal Auctions no, yɛka wiase nyinaa Opal ho abenfo a wogye wɔn di bom. Sɛ wowɔ adetɔnfo ɔhaha pii a wɔagye atom a wofi wiase nyinaa a, wubehu biribiara fi opal a ɛyɛ den so kosi abo a wɔatwa no pɛpɛɛpɛ so. Hwehwɛ yɛn nneɛma a yɛaboaboa ano nnɛ na hwehwɛ opal tuntum bi a ɛkasa kyerɛ wo.

Lightning Ridge Crystal Opal Stones

Nsɛm a wobisabisa nkurɔfo

So wubetumi akɔsra Lightning Ridge na woakɔhwehwɛ opals?

Pɛpɛɛpɛ. Lightning Ridge ma nsrahwɛfo akwaaba, ɛwom sɛ ankorankoro nsɛm a wɔka sɛ wotu fagude no yɛ nea wɔmfa anohyeto mma de. Mmeae a wɔakyerɛ sɛ ɔmanfo de mmoa a wɔsɛe nnɔbae no ma nsrahwɛfo tumi hwehwɛ mullock akuwakuw ne potch mu a wɔwɔ anidaso sɛ wobehu opal asinasin nketenkete anaa kɔla ahorow a ɛhyerɛn.

So opal pii da so ara wɔ Lightning Ridge?

Bere a wotutuu opal a wɔde asie a wotumi kɔ hɔ sen biara no mfe pii a atwam ni no, Lightning Ridge kɔ so yɛ opal nnɛ. Nnɛyi wɔn a wotu fagude hwehwɛ asase a emu dɔ ne mmeae a kan no na wɔnyɛ adwuma, ɛwom sɛ nneɛma akɛse a wohu no ntaa mma koraa sen mfiase no de. Saa nneɛma a ɛho yɛ na yi yɛ ade biako nti a opal tuntum a ɛyɛ fɛ a efi Lightning Ridge no abɛyɛ nea ɛho yɛ na na ɛsom bo kɛse no.

Dɛn ne "nobby" opal?

Nobby kyerɛ opal a ɛyɛ den a ɛda nsow a ɛkame ayɛ sɛ wohu wɔ Lightning Ridge nkutoo. Sɛ́ anka saa opal ahorow yi bɛyɛ tratraa no, nyin sɛ ntini a ɛyɛ kurukuruwa anaasɛ ɛte sɛ dɔn. Wɔatwitwa opal tuntum a agye din sen biara wɔ wiase no pii afi nobbies akɛse mu.