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October 31, 2004
Opal Mining Update - No 43 Back Mining at Last with the new Tunnel Machine |
Carrying on from the last update, here I have put a ladder down the big shaft so we can further investigate where we got those few skin shells from, as it is just out of our reach by standing on the dump which at this stage is some 4 feet high.
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This gives you a better idea of the height and you can now see where we found the colored skin shells, but there was some more up above that and this is why we needed the ladder to have a look.
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We drilled 4 large holes with my prospecting auger, which is 4.5 inches in dia, this way it is easier to pick in the wall if there is anything in there, now we have some room to break the dirt into making it simple to get the opal out if there is any.
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Where the arrows are is where the thin material was, some skin shell and a some seam, but it was all potch and no sooner had we picked at it, than it was gone, the next level is somewhere just above this but at the stage not sure where.
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I thought this was worth a photo, been sat here for a couple of weeks now, just shows you what people will invent to try and move some dirt to find opal, how they figured this would do the job as a blower I don't know, glad I don't have to try and use or repair it, but that's the beauty of this place you will see all sorts of usual equipment around here.
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Here is the machine at home ready for going out on the field, here I am showing you what I have put on so I can tell if the floor cutters are level, as I was out of Ross's workshop and I had forgot about this until I was reminded so I have made them out of wood Dowling and the handle of a shovel that I had lying around, not sure if they are long enough but will soon find out when I get it underground.
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This is another view of the levels and also the holders that I have replaced, if you can remember they had round pipe here that used to get full of water or dirt depending where it was, now I have cut the others off and put this system on and I have brought it forward about 4 inches, now the dirt can just fall though so the Hammer and or Picks can stand up in them, not much more effort to make this setup, they could have done this in the first place.
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Well the big moment has arrived, we are going to finally put the machine downunder, here we are taking it off the trailer and will turn it around.
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Matty my new partner is handling the rough stuff, I did not tell you before but I have a broken right little toe right now and have had it for nearly a week, so although I can limp around I cannot move quick not that I was that quick before.
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Just about in position to drop it and then lift it upright.
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Now we are ready to lift it up and move it over towards the shaft.
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Matty just has to keep it steady while it is being mover across to the shaft, but he does not have much to do as the crane operator is going very slowly so there is hardly any movement on the machine.
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Now we are over the shaft, this guy had done this a few times and knows his job makes it look easy, but as this is my first time I am a little nervous I must admit, but as the machine is hanging straight this should make the job a bit easier for him and me.
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Going Down, now we hope that my welding was done right, been a lot of years since I used to do a lot of welding, but the operator like the cradle, says that all of the machines should have them, but I must admit it was not my idea I got this from my friend Bruno when I was down with him learning about the round tunnel machine he uses a cradle.
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Now we are going down, I was very happy to find out that I could use a cradle to lower this machine, this is what let me cut all of the rubbish off the back of the machine that was not needed just to lift the machine, this way is a lot easier for everybody and a lot neater and when the machine in on the bottom I will take the cradle off and put it to one side on the wall until it is needed to bring the machine back out again.
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Going, Going, so far perfect, everything is going smoothly hard to believe there is no hiccup or problems so far, I wont complain but its not down yet.
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Now she is on her way, this gives shows you how big the shaft is to the machine, I could have the next shaft drill a foot smaller in diameter, this shaft is 5'-4" in diameter, so if I get a smaller shaft drill and reamed it will be cheaper for me.
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Here she is on the way down, as you can see I have had to go under, if fact we are both under right now, the machine is creeping down slowly, its about half way here, don't forget its 79 feet to the floor, used to 80 feet but I brought the floor up a foot, because at the time I was planning to drive straight and this would have put the level around the 4 foot off the ground and just above the cutting heard or so I thought, now I am going to make the first drive up to the next level.
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Nearly down, just coming through the roof, everything has gone perfect so far, now to just let it down on the floor and take the chain off, then I have to go back up top for hooking up the other head.
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Now I have hooked on the extendable head and he has lifted it off the truck and is about to lower it down the shaft.
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Now its on its way down, this will be interesting as my first time, all I have been able to do is think about what has to be done when it gets down there and how hard it will be to put in on the machine.
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Nearly there, just have to tell the operator to move it to the left, forgot to tell you that we are on 2 way radios down here and are in contact all the time, that way he knows what is happing underground, but I did not have to tell him anything until the machine was coming through the roof and the same here we are just going to align the head up with where it fits in and then we will screw the treaded rod in which acts as a big bolt.
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Easy, the machine was in the perfect position when it was put on the floor, thought I would have to put the power to the machine and move it in position, but there was no need and it was so easy, had to lift it a couple of times to get the bolt to line up with the nut, but all in all it was a breeze, so ended my first lesson, now to go up and pay the and get a few more things ready to put down.
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Now all I have to do is connect the front hydraulic hoses on, put the cover on the machine and move it in position for where I will make the first drive, now the learning starts, how long before I master this machine I do not know, a lot of things are basic but some things can only be learnt by doing, no matter what other operators tell you, it still has to be by me and I have to get the feel in my hands, also get used to working some 7 foot back from the face, with spotlights.
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I did some practice in the drive to the left of the machine, I was thinking about making this my first drive and go underneath on old drive that is about 40 feet from the elbow, the drive as you see it here is 25 foot deep, but after going down it with everything, I changed my mind and decide to make a drive up towards an old square shaft on the side of the hill again some 40 feet away, which is in the direction the machine is pointing in, then when I have finished this drive I will bring the machine back and drive under this drive I have just done and check what is on the level I was working on.
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The shaft I am driving for is the No1 on the side of the hill, which is connected to the No3 also to the one right on top to the right, I was down the one on the top a few years ago and the drive that goes from the shaft towards the drill in the background but more to the right was almost full of mud that was dried, now I should think it would be full, but there is an ironstone level in there and that is on the other side of a big slide, they worked between 2 slides and I am working in front of one, so I think there may be a good chance there is opal on the level below where they worked, which is the level I am on as they did not go that deep in those days, only a drive or 2 will tell me.
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Well here we are starting our first drive, working the machine is easy, but controlling it is something else, I am going up at too steep an angle, I did bring the machine back and change the angle slightly to the left and I tried the make it go down but I ended up at the same angle as you see here, so I have to work this out and see what I can do to fix it.
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This is the x-Ray of my broken little right toe, I have been working with this for 2 weeks, but as it was still hurting a lot, I decided to go to the Doc and get it x-rayed, now I have to stay at home for a least a couple of weeks to give it chance to start to heal, it looks here like I have just done it, I thought that it would heal while I was working but its not going to happen, so rest it I must.
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I have had a word to a friend of mine about the machine going up too steep and what I thought was right, I did not allow for the cutting teeth on the scroll, so when I go down again I will have to take some measurements and make some new Doweling with different marking on them and see how we go, as you can see I have some learning to do, but am happy with the machine itself, although I have already found that I have to modify some things, more on that later.
This was going to be my last issue, but have decided to make at least one more, when I have got things worked out on the machine so it is working how I want it and have done a couple of drives to show you, I may stop but not before. Hope you have enjoyed this issue and look forward to the next one, hopefully I will have some more good photos to show you in the next issue and maybe some of Good Looking Opal and lots of it, I am still hoping that this will be a good year for us in mining, so stay with us over the next few months and find out what goes on in our part of the world as far as Opal Mining goes. Stay Tuned for the next Issue, who knows what I will have to report. Until the next issue.........  and wish me lots of LUCK.
Cya Later, Stuart Bird. To return back to the Archived Page for more Updates click, Here! |
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