Shovelling filth is a far cry from Lynette Bailey’s extra glamorous enterprise consultancy work in New Zealand.

However, with husband Gregg Smith, she digs and strikes as much as 2 tonnes of filth from 12 metres underground whereas engaged on their sapphire mine in Queensland’s Gemfields.

The couple first bought the mining declare after Smith toured the area on a visit round Australia in 2013, after which they determined to get off the company “hamster wheel”.

“We acquired a contact of gem fever to start out off, after which the life-style simply took over,” Smith mentioned.

“Individuals are fascinated by what we do as a result of we simply cannot try this kind of stuff at residence.”

The pair depart NZ each winter to hunt for treasured gems in Australia after which return to their lives when the climate warms up.

Whereas Bailey is a enterprise advisor, her husband works in NZ’s upkeep business.

A ‘enormous studying curve’

Bailey mentioned their lives couldn’t be extra totally different after they had been dwelling on their mining declare.

“In New Zealand, we have an acre [0.4 hectares], we have a model new home, we have all of the bells and whistles … over right here we now have an extended drop,” she mentioned.

“We’re off the grid, the world actually stops and it is like [how it was] 100 years in the past.

“So long as we have scorching water for a bathe and meals within the cabinet, it is all we’d like.”

Smith mentioned after they first started chasing sapphires eight years in the past, it was a “enormous studying curve for his spouse” as she had by no means labored a handbook job.

“She crashed each night time,” he mentioned.

In 2021, the couple discovered a 52-carat sapphire valued at about $29,000.

Within the a number of years since they purchased their declare, Smith mentioned they’ve solely had about 5 days with out discovering a gem.

“I typically inform folks which are visiting us … after they decide a sapphire out on the finish of the day and maintain it as much as the sunshine, that stone hasn’t seen daylight for perhaps 50 million years,” he mentioned.

“You are saving that little stone from being caught in the dead of night for the remainder of its life.”

How do they mine it?

Whereas small-scale mining claims will be purchased in Queensland, the usage of heavy equipment is restricted to common mining and exploration.

Small-scale claims are additionally at present topic to a state authorities dialogue paper, with proposals to reform the sector.

Smith mentioned their mine had a rounded roof with pillars to help it in some sections.

He says on the coronary heart of it, the couple “simply shift filth.”

“We will not use equipment however we are able to use jackhammers, so it is jackhammer the filth off the wall, break it up … to about fist dimension, so it goes by way of the plant higher,” Smith mentioned.

The pair load the filth right into a wheelbarrow after which ship it up their mine shaft by way of a pulley system to be sorted above floor.

Bailey mentioned they aimed to maneuver about 20 wheelbarrows price a day.

“We’ve followers circulating within the space, so we have at all times acquired recent air down there,” she mentioned.

“It is at all times 23 levels [Celsius]. Even when it is a moist day, we are able to come down right here and have a dig.”

Pioneers in ‘tummy tunnels’

Whereas the couple’s operation permits for some energy instruments, small-scale mining has come a great distance for the reason that days of its pioneers.

Michelle Jarvis works as a vacationer information at Miner’s Heritage in Rubyvale, which gives the most important underground walk-in sapphire mine tour in Australia.

Jarvis mentioned the mine, which is 440m-long, consists of authentic “tummy tunnels” that date again so far as 1906.

At the moment, miners would dig with a decide and shovel.

“Again then, it was all on their abdomen and in very low-roofed tummy tunnels. It would not have been a lot enjoyable,” Jarvis mentioned.

As an alternative of ladders, Jarvis mentioned miners would shimmy up and down the mine shaft utilizing their again, palms and toes to maneuver.

-ABC