It's got the mechanized bucket retrieval, the tumblers (aka dead concrete trucks) which we think are for washing the broken up clay (the opal shines when it's wet) and all the other assorted odds and ends that do we know not what! This is a big step up from the hand windlass mechanism and ladders used by the early miners.
@fbailey Hi FB - They have tried open cut mining in one section - but it's all mined out now and the only leases available cover a 50m X 50m claim - which is only big enough for hand (and jackhammer nowadays) digging. They are a tough lot out there! :)
@suzanne234 Definitely - and they are scattered everywhere. But it's OK - they now have a rule that says you have to either fence off or cover the old shafts - a bit of metal grid pegged down usually does the job! LOL :)