One Of The Rarest Finds In Opal Mining History ‘The Nest’ A Plate Of Three Opal Pineapples!
Ойын-сауық
This week I had the fantastic opportunity to witness some history in the making.
In my father Graeme Dowton’s ‘Naatji’s Nest’ opal mine, I was present for the discovery of not only one of the finest opal pineapple specimens ever found, but also a World First. Three pieces successfully excavated intact as a whole piece. Wow!.
This discovery is also significant to the mine as it is one of the last opal pineapples this opal mine produced before closing down the Opal Pineapple levels due to safety concerns.
Seam opal will be pursued in the higher levels, although no more pineapples are expected to be uncovered from the mine that has produced ALL of the World Finest pieces. With the level exhausted, this closure means the White Cliffs opal field isn’t likely to see any more pineapples of this quality for a very long time if ever again, due to increasing restrictions on mining and government bureaucracy.
Seeing the skill and care as this astounding piece was unearthed and cleaned was truely astounding. I look forward to hearing where it ends up in the future, as a unique piece in my opinion it belongs in a museum or the centre of a World Class Collection!
For any inquiry’s about this piece or others, please contact Graeme Dowton via the information below.
Pineapple enquires:
Email:
redearthopal@bigpond.com
Facebook:
graeme.dowto...
Instagram:
redearthopa... ( redearthopa...)
We hope you all enjoyed the video, please leave us a comment and tell us what you would like to see more or less of.
If you wish to support us by purchasing Opal, feel free to check our Etsy store, simply click on the link below.
Each opal we sell keeps us out here digging and helps us dedicate more time to creating content!
Shop:
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Contact Us:
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Email: redearthopal@bigpond.com
About Us:
Our names are Jaymin Sullivan, James Caruana and Noah Mcdonough we are the ‘Young Guns’ Opal Mining Crew from Discovery Channel tv show ‘Outback Opal Hunters.’
Our love for treasure
hunting led us to quit our jobs and move to the desert in search of precious Australian Opal!
It’s a bad day to be a rock!
Пікірлер: 329
I think it is amazing how you spotted that and recognized it for what it was. That took a very skilled miner. Congratulations!
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
He definitely has a life times worth of experience reading the ground and spotting these opal pineapple I definitely wouldn’t have haha
@jfk64kennedy95
4 ай бұрын
they used to looking for, They notice even a lil glint, reflection, color...something that doesn't belong to the tan/brown back drop..it like salt water fishing...you can't see the fish, but can see evidence they there
@TheSilmarillian
3 ай бұрын
@@jfk64kennedy95 Yep hello from outback Australia opal miner here.
@richardraymond9108
3 ай бұрын
Colors?
@PreservationEnthusiast
Ай бұрын
@@younggunsopalhunters But what if you just extracted all the opal and broke it down into individual stones and nodules? Would you get more money like that or more just selling as one piece with 3 pineapples?
I'm impressed with how skilled this guy is in operating all his equipment.
Keeping on the matrix is a brilliant decision! Museum quality!
Amazing to think that's been sitting there in the ground all this time. This is the most up-close-and-personal opal mining episodes I've ever seen. Good job. 👍
I’ve seen it in person … such an incredibly rare and amazing specimen - truly one of a kind, Well done to Graeme the Pineapple King !
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
⚡️⚡️
@justinlewis899
4 ай бұрын
@@younggunsopalhunterswhat is it you are mining thought? Shale? Sandstone? Clay? Or just dirt?
@justinlewis899
4 ай бұрын
What is it you are minding though? Sand stone? Clay, shale, or is it just dirt
@CenPapi
2 ай бұрын
@@justinlewis899sandstone and clay probably
I took gemology in college. Our professor had an opal buyer come to class with two large suitcases full of over a million dollars in opals. First thing I thought was what the hell is he doing walking around with such valuable material? When he opened his cases it absolutely blew my mind. Never thought much about opals but it educated me. He had some of the most beautiful and large opals I’ve ever seen. He had one worth 90,000 alone. It was gorgeous and made me want to go to Australia and dig myself. Most people would never get to see these incredible opals. All I thought was I hope he gets back to wherever he was going after class as it was nighttime when he left.
@LM-zh9lf
7 күн бұрын
Probably because lates it low key and unassuming. Safest bet.
i hope the viewers understand just how amazing this is.
@maryhirsch7170
25 күн бұрын
I doubt anyone watching would be just watching with no knowledge at all
Congrats on this amazing pineapple cluster! Would love to see it once you've finished working on it. Cheers.
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
Omg that little loader is so cool too!
This is so cool! Just seeing the excitement on his face tells you it's incredibly rare. The three pineapples also have very round shapes to them, congratulations!
This is so COOL! I really loved this video: the description and demonstration of the mining process, the editing and visual perspectives throughout. It was fun to watch you go from that heavy digger to a tiny pick. Great job getting it out of there in one piece. But certainly the cameraman helped carry it, right? Anyway, I met you in Denver at the 2022 gem show and am so glad I did! Again, THANK YOU for mining, and to all opal miners. Without you guys there wouldn't be any rough for us to play with!
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
Thank you very much for watching and taking the time to comment! It’s a dream job and being able to share it with the world is something we consider a privilege :) hopefully see you around again some day. Will be a Tucson this year :)
@ThatOpalGuy
4 ай бұрын
@@younggunsopalhunters Not sure I will be going to Tucson this year. There is a total eclipse in April that I will be trying to go to, so not sure I could afford Tucson as well. Which is a shame, it would be awesome to get to talk to you, and to Justin Thomas, again. Maybe next year.
@user-tt3rj8pp1b
4 ай бұрын
I live in Tucson!! Will definitely be visiting your stand at the Gem and Mineral Show. See u there!
That’s awesome Graeme , must be hard to call a mine “done” and move on after a find like this but who knows what’s waiting for you at the next mine? Keep the videos coming, cheers👍🍻
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
Always hard to close them down but eventually you must, better to be safe then sorry! We still have some of the upper leaves to work for seam opal but the pineapple leaves are done
Master miner with priceless experience, was a pleasure to see somebody with the understanding of the exotic geology that goes with a very special opal formation. Well done sir.👏👏👏👏
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment it was definitely a unique find!
Hey Grahm looking good mate!! It was even better looking in person when I came and got a tour of you mine many years back! So happy to see your still at it!! Thanks for sharing your gems with us!!
The apples didn't fall far from the tree 🙃 What a spectacular find! Super stoked for you!
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
Hahaha not a bad find that’s for sure!
Incredible! Great you documented finding it.
Just amazing guys! Great work, great video. Always enjoy seeing the old fella do his thing
Great video. Learnt a lot more in less than 15 minutes about opal mining and the hardship but it got me thinking what it must have been for the miners before all this machinery.
Absolutely stunning. What an incredible find. Left there, just for you to find. 👊🎉🙌
Amazing specimen.
Wow! Gorgeous!!
What a gorgeous cluster!!❤
Howdy mate, amazing find for you,totally different mining to what we do in WA for gold, my partner and myself done a tour through your mine last year and we had a great time we hope to get back this year so if you need a hand at all would be happy to help just for the experience, happy and safe hunting 👍⚒.
Some amazing pieces.
Love the loader cam!
You truly have a miner's eye for the faintest of signs in the wall. Yes, luck comes into it but the skill in knowing what you are looking for, and spotting it when it arrives. Well done! Da iawn a dal ati, as we say in Old South Wales. Well done and keep on!
What a wicked find! Well done guys
Thanks for sharing. Opals are just amazing. They remind me of my Mom! She passed in 1983....she would have loved your channel!!!
Well done, you deserve a find like that esspecially as youre working soo hard and risking youre life in the process...
that digger is quite a contraption. It pulls itself along and everything. Love it. This video is amazing. Love seeing the process.
brilliant work! cant wait to see how it turns out as finished!
INCREDIBLE!
Graeme! What an amazing find! I so admire the commitment and hard work you've put into mining all these years. And can I say, it was a THRILL to meet you and talk in Tucson this year!
Nice pineapples boys!
That's going to look beautiful when you're done with it! Great find
Those are so beautiful
Lots of hard work to show this/ Thank You.
It was Awesome to meet Graeme today at the Tucson Show and I cant wait until next years show as I’m gonna have to start saving for a size able piece of Pineapple!! Can’t wait to see more videos!!
Great work, amazing specimen and patience
Oh wow! what a brilliant find!
What a beautiful find!
Absolutely fascinating. Great find....
That is an incredible cluster of pineapples!
Graeme what a find! I so appreciate all your hard work and commitment to mining all these years. It was a THRILL to meet and talk with you in Tucson this year! Best of everything to you moving forward! hannah
SO CHUFFED!!!!!! Great for you!!!!! ❤
Stoked ✌️👏
Good for you. How exciting. Hope you find more
Outstanding!!!❤
Wow those looks awsome
Wicked find love it, can't wait to see it all finished up and ready to display. ❤it 😊
WOW That's amazingly beautiful pineapples!!!! I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
Absolutely amazing
Spectacular find and congratulations to you 🫶🏼👏🏻🫶🏼👏🏻🙌
I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It is incredibly beautiful. Congratulations.
Wow, excellent video. Thanks for sharing your talent.
That is fascinating, thank you.
Mate Graeme's showing the years of skill on the tools, nice work.
I loved every single minute of this video.
That is an amazing specimen!!
Fantastic specimen well done getting it out all together.
What a process and how amazing to find that cluster!
Congratulations on the find of a lifetime Graeme. It would be hard letting this one go mate but I imagine that with it being such a rarity that it would be worth a considerable amounbt of mulla. Once again, congratulations mate.
Wow what a excellent Find keep up the great work
I feel it in the dirt, I hear it in the earth. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it. Great video! 👍
@joanneblowey3001
3 ай бұрын
Tolkien
awesome! if you Aussies put out more videos a month I can't imagine how many subscribers you'd have! can't wait to see the next vid. big fan from USA! cheers!
Nice job Old gun!!!😎😃
I'm gust amazed by how quiet and seemingly peaceful his work conditions are. Every mine I've ever seen was noisy as hell with drilling, jack hammering, blasting, makeup air, water pumps, and all the machinery.
Obviously, it is a very delicate process.
Wow. That’s pretty impressive. Congratulations
Wow, beautiful. Justin at Black Opal Direct sent me over to check out your page. I am loving it.
I was just thinking mate it was time for a video from you guys. What a great find! How much is a pineapple cluster like this worth??? Hope to see another video much sooner. Great job mates & Happy New Years!
Amazing find!
Its brilliant watching someone who knows what they are doing 👏 👌...Stunning rewards for hard work...
Amazing find and a lot of hard work...
thats amazing work ❤
That was fabulous! thank you so much for sharing! I would be willing to come and volunteer to dig!
Between this awesome video and Justin's hot crystal cut, Monday has turned out to be a VERY GOOD DAY!
Awesome cluster find
Every opal is one of a kind and that's why it's my favourite silica gem ❤
Thats crazy, 3 pineapples all right there, all 3 fantastic!
Amazing 👏 pineapple 🍍 opals churr bradas
Outstanding! Or as you guys say, Good onYa Mate!
Awesome!!
Imagine how many have been smashed in the digging process 🤭🤭 Amazing piece, thanks for sharing
Great find 🎉
That last part makes me enthusiastic again for dremeling opal myself :)
So amazing!!! And rhey look like flowers!!! ❤
I have literally never seen anything like this!!! Amazing 💥🌅🎆🎇😎
Thanks For Sharing😊USA❤
I love the little loader!
That little loader is so cool. Looks like it would be a lot of fun to operate
You would have to have nerves of steel. I would completely freak out trying to get that out in one bit. Amazing.
It's been too long!!! We missed y'all !!!
Nice one! Our family had a mine in White Cliffs and unfortunately I never got to even see it despite myself being the main gemstone fossicker in the family. I don't think we had that cool digging machine though. What a cool toy!
I wish you well and best of life for what you discover. Your persistence paid off well. 🎉🎉🎉
I am truly impressed at how quiet the digger thing is. I am so excited to see the end result of "The Nest". It's going to be beyond amazing! *Congratulations*
@MickH60
4 ай бұрын
It's because the engine running it is above ground, the machine has very long hydraulic lines..
@AngieJames4172
4 ай бұрын
@@MickH60 Thank you for the information 🙂
@younggunsopalhunters
4 ай бұрын
Often if we hit opal with the digger we will hear the opal break so very handy it runs so quiet :)
@whatilearnttoday5295
4 ай бұрын
It's not quiet on the surface ;)
@AngieJames4172
4 ай бұрын
@@younggunsopalhunters Thank you, it's great to know you can actually hear the Opal break! What interesting information 🙂
Have you done a video on how to build that digger you have? That would be a money maker.
Wonderful ❤
I don't know if you saw it but at 11:53 there is opal shining when he is carrying it out. You can just see it at the bottom right of the screen
@imcocolate9961
4 ай бұрын
think thats called a blue light mate
@hiddentruth1982
4 ай бұрын
@@imcocolate9961 could be. I watched it a second time and was wondering.
Mate this makes me resent the constant noise of running a 360 all day. Seems relaxing and dangerous at the same time.