Underground with Lightning Ridge Mining Legends John & Jan, Part 1 of 3

[@marcussmart3275]

When guys like this talk, just listen and react. Shut your trap and learn his wisdom. I regret not listening more when I was younger. There were so many bits of wisdom that fell on deaf ears because I needed to talk.

[@AandSOpalsDotCom]

That's what I've been doing for quite a few years now mate. It's my job to carry all this knowledge onto and educate the next generation in this industry and others I've been involved in. I love picking the brains of old timers because they don't talk about things that you'll here any other way. I actually had a chance to catch up with John when I was down in the Ridge a few months ago, he's still got plenty to share 😉🤣

[@oscilation5678]

That was pretty awesome, thanks for uploading. I've watched loads of videos on opal mining and lightening ridge but rarely do they inform you on anything, they just show themselves chipping away at walls and sometimes pulling a bit of colour out. So it was really nice to actually get to hear some insightful stories from someone who has been in the game for a long time.

[@adamsawicki316]

I met up with John again on my last trip. He's still getting on ok and still got the stories 😉 I have probably 25 more from the last trip when covid started but have to get them edited because of some colorful Ausi language before I can put them up here. Gotta make things PG nowadays I guess.

[@oscilation5678]

@@adamsawicki316 I watched through all three parts of this and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I'm assuming from the quick reply that this is your upload but under another name. But honestly, this was uploaded just after 2017, and I checked your website out and saw you had some nice opal up on there so I just thought great, you're still involved out there and making it happen and living the dream. John sounds like a great guy and it is always nice to see those with knowledge passing it on to the next generation. Hopefully they will be mining opal out there until I die because I would love to get out there at some point and have a go myself.

[@adamsawicki316]

Yes, sorry I guess it switched ot another account, I have 4🤣 aandsopalsdotcom is my business one. My business has been going on for a few years before that video even. The whole new series I shot is all pretty informative but we also do some digging and find some good color as well. Hopefully I can make them public soon but don't have an easy way of editing anymore. I mostly do gem shows now and that's why I don't have too much up on the website anymore. Allot of cutters and jewelers that I've met at the shows just contact me directly nowadays when they're looking for something. My inventory is pretty large nowadays in both rough, rubs, and cut stones so please just let me know if you need anything or have any questions. Sometimes we do get other people down mining in the Ridge but it's pretty difficult right now 😕 Cheers Adam

[@oscilation5678]

@@adamsawicki316 That is great, I am glad things are going well for the two of you. I have found myself fascinated with this for the last few years, and then also found out that as a libran my birthstone is opal, it's like I was drawn to it. I want to get out to coober pedy and lightening ridge some day, once the savings allow for it, but in the mean time I have been thinking a set of nova wheels and a few bags of rough could potentially fill the void so I may hit you up at some point to see if I can get a some rough with a little bit of colour in it.

[@AandSOpalsDotCom]

@@oscilation5678 no worries mate 👍 I'm always happy to get people organized with a cutting setup that works best for them. Rough opal is always ready and able to be shipped whenever. Cheers Adam

[@ResortDog]

Thanks for sharing.

[@robertjackson8280]

Resort dog the merimma is an amazing dog we have one in Queensland Australia mate.