Gemstone Miners' Living Conditions Today (not in 1850)

[Joe S (AK)]

Some here know that I have friends in Australia while others know that I also help on a very small forum there, as well.

A Gold and gemstone miner friend of mine, from that forum, posted this news article on gemstone miners' living conditions in an area where the rigors of that life make the living - tough.

It'll make you stop and think ................................


https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane ... d=msedgntp

Joe

[Geowizard]

I get it;

Australia has Social Security similar to the U.S.

https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdes ... ralia.html

I meet people all of the time that live out in the desert. That's their choice.

It is unfortunate for many people that struggle with sociopathic behavior. They may be physically well, however, they decide to get away and stay away from others. Many others struggle with a multitude of psychological disorders. Australia recognizes these issues. Here, in the U. S. homeless people live on the street. Homeless camps abound around major cities. Has nothing to do with gemstones. It has the appearance of being a way of staking out ground to move onto. That's the reason that here, in the U.S. you cannot stake a mining claim and decide to move onto it.

Gemstones?

If there aren't sufficient gemstones to make enough to buy food or gas, then we have to drill down on the question of WHY do these people choose to stay there. It's the same reason people would stake a mining claim here and move on to it if they could.

Now, I get it.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Closer to home;

Another case is based purely on the economic crisis faced by many Americans right here at home.

https://www.wired.com/2014/04/sarina-fi ... ty-niners/

Normal people;

We have people that loose their jobs, then their homes and are forced into a situation of survival. This is similar to the depression era mining that has been seen in America where people had to go out and find GOLD and Silver in order to buy food to eat.

So, we go through a period of economic prosperity and overspending that ends with economic downturns. Nature takes it's course with the abundance of CASH and segregation of the Mineral resources in the Public Domain away from the Public and eventually jobs disappear, normal people have to do what they have to in order to survive.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Here's the situation;

Here's a pdf that shows the location of Gemfields (50 kilometers west of Emerald. The scale on the map gives a close approximation. The boundaries shown were redrawn this year (2020).

https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/ass ... cision.pdf

Hang on, there's more.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Sapphire demographics;

I was interested in the demographics and found this link;

https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.a ... /UCL321099

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Designated Fossicking Lands;

Fossicking information for you fossickers...

http://www.lapidaryworld.com/maps_QLD.html

Scroll down to Central Queensland. Maps, information and permitting requirements.

Happy fossicking!

- Geowizard

[chickenminer]

Joe ...
Have you ever been over there? I always wanted to go to Coober Pedy and check out the opal mines.

[Geowizard]

Worlds largest sapphire fields;

The article focuses on Rubyvale.

https://www.queensland.com/nz/en/places ... 7-rubyvale

Interesting place!

- Geowizard

[Joe S (AK)]

Yes Sir, Dick, I have.

Last day of Feb this past spring I left for a month there - visiting with and staying with fellow miners I had 'met' over the net over the last 20 years. One thing about Australia is that, exactly like Alaska, it's BIG. Without any actual references it's hard to just eyeball distances since a map always fits in the 'Puter's screen. I really had to rely on friends to explain exactly what was near and what was days away.

I didn't get to visit Coober Pedy but I did see Major's Creek, Tuena and Oallan Ford and while I did do some panning it was just at the end of the big fires there as well at the end-ish of a many months long drought. The fires were devastating and the only good news is that a better than I expected number of trees were coming back. Sort of like willow, birch and spruce (ok, spruce seeds) recovering after big fires you might have seen in your neck of the woods.

Great guys, a lot of sitting around at night while camping and a lot of sightseeing in the region around Canberra.

I had to cut the trip short 10 days early due to systemic general panic in the aviation community about that mutated SARS-2 virus. By luck I just managed to get a return ticket on the last day that Quantas flew internationally. What a goat-rope that return trip was. It took twice the time to return due to the fractured flight schedules and the worst part was that I lost out on those last 10 days.

If you get a chance to go visit there do not be reluctant to give it a go - GREAT folks and the sort of astonishing things that memories are made of are all around you. A bit of a variation on English but everyone is bi-lingual and very patient.

I have pictures but I am severely disadvantaged in the black magic practice of posting pictures on the net - the tragedy of a mis-spent youth, I guess.

Did you have an OK season this summer? Equipment hold up? Any cool stories?

Joe

[chickenminer]

That is so cool you got to go down there ! But what a bummer on the timing ... all that expense just to
have it cut short must have been painful ! Look forward to hearing some stories one of these days.

Had a good season. Not much of a summer though, lots of cool wx and rain.

One of these days I'll start a thread on my season.