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Shovelling dust 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 dust from 12 metres underground whereas engaged on their sapphire mine in Queensland’s Gemfields.
The couple first bought the mining declare after Mr 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 approach to life simply took over,” Mr Smith stated.
“Persons are fascinated by what we do as a result of we simply cannot do this type of stuff at residence.”
The pair depart NZ each winter to hunt for treasured gem stones in Australia after which return to their lives when the climate warms up.
Whereas Ms Bailey is a enterprise advisor, her husband works in NZ’s upkeep business.
A ‘enormous studying curve’
Ms Bailey stated their lives couldn’t be extra completely different after they have been dwelling on their mining declare.
“In New Zealand, we have got an acre [0.4 hectares], we have got a model new home, we have got all of the bells and whistles … over right here we now have an extended drop,” she stated.
“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 got sizzling water for a bathe and meals within the cabinet, it is all we want.”
Mr Smith stated 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 guide job.
“She crashed each night time,” he stated.
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, Mr Smith stated they’ve solely had about 5 days with out discovering a gem.
“I usually inform folks which might be visiting us … after they choose a sapphire out on the finish of the day and maintain it as much as the sunshine, that stone hasn’t seen daylight for possibly 50 million years,” he stated.
“You are saving that little stone from being caught at the hours of darkness for the remainder of its life.”
How do they mine it?
Whereas small-scale mining claims will be purchased in Queensland, using heavy equipment is restricted to common mining and exploration.
Small-scale claims are additionally presently topic to a state authorities dialogue paper, with proposals to reform the sector.
Mr Smith stated their mine had a rounded roof with pillars to assist it in some sections.
He says on the coronary heart of it, the couple “simply shift dust.”
“We will not use equipment however we will use jackhammers, so it is jackhammer the dust off the wall, break it up … to about fist dimension, so it goes by the plant higher,” Mr Smith stated.
The pair load the dust right into a wheelbarrow after which ship it up their mine shaft by a pulley system to be sorted above floor.
Ms Bailey stated they aimed to maneuver about 20 wheelbarrows value a day.
“We’ve followers circulating within the space, so we have at all times acquired contemporary air down there,” she stated.
“It is at all times 23 levels [Celsius]. Even when it is a moist day we will come down right here and have a dig.”
Pioneers in ‘tummy tunnels’
Whereas the Bailey’s operation permits for some energy instruments, small-scale mining has come a good distance because the days of its pioneers.
Michelle Jarvis works as a vacationer information at Miner’s Heritage in Rubyvale, which provides the most important underground walk-in sapphire mine tour in Australia.
Ms Jarvis stated the mine, which is 440 metres lengthy, consists of authentic “tummy tunnels” that date again so far as 1906.
At the moment, miners would dig with a choose 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,” Ms Jarvis stated.
As an alternative of ladders, Ms Jarvis stated miners would shimmy up and down the mine shaft utilizing their again, arms and ft to maneuver.
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