A mining exploration near Winton will feature in a new television series on the Discovery Channel in February, called Outback Opal Hunters.
The show will set out on a treasure hunt with miners from Opalton Queensland, Lightning Ridge (NSW) and Coober Pedy (SA), on a journey to unearth a fortune in Australia’s harshest and remote landscapes.
The Discovery Channel explains the show as a “rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak as we delve deep inside the world of opal mining to find out just what it is that has our crews hooked on the hunt.”
The series features Opalton miner, Col Duff, who has partnered with Aaron Grotjahn and Greg Geran (known as ‘Col’s Crew’), to mine for Boulder Opals in North West Queensland.
Col worked as a Telecom Technician throughout the 1980’s and while in Western Queensland installing Solar Powered Radio telephones, he began exploring old opal mining areas on the weekends.
He resigned in 1990 to become a full-time miner after developing a passion for opal mining.
Col sees opal mining as a love affair and considers it the ultimate treasure hunt. His technical background has allowed him and his crew to take the opal hunter detective quest to new heights.
Outback Opal Hunters showcased Col and his team living as simply and cheaply as possible at their camp, using whatever they can get their hands on to create the camp.
Col’s Crew target is $20,000.
The Discovery Channel will air the television series on Thursday February 8, 2018 at 8.30pm (AEDT).