1. It might have been filled in but there's still plenty to be found at 'Deuces Wild'!: This is our very own lease situated about 70 km from the caravan park. To get there you travel directly west along the bitumen for about 60 km and then you turn left at ‘Pinkilla Station’ and travel along 10 km of dirt. Before you depart we give you a detailed mudmap showing how to get there.

2. Opal Mine: ‘Deuces Wild’ is a rehabilitated opal mine. About 10 years ago it was a fully operational open cut mine. At least one million dollars worth of opal was extracted from it. Miners are required by law to rehabilitate the area once they have finished mining. This doesn’t mean there is nothing left!! The original miners certainly took a lot of the spoils but they left behind many fragments of precious opal that is now mixed up with the dirt. This is known as mullock. By digging through the mullock you have the chance of finding your own ‘big one’.

3. This Opal was found by Wendy and Athol McMullin of Palmwoods, Queensland. They had the opal cut and polished locally and has been valued at $180 by Sunrise Opals, Quilpie.

4. Smoko at Deuces Wild – If you like you can do a self drive tour to the mine. This is probably the best option for those who have fossicked extensively before. For those new to the game we suggest first taking a look at our fossicking area within the park and then undertaking one of the organised ‘tag-a-long’ tours to the mine. Here is a group enjoying smoko under the shade of a couple of mulga trees.

5. Tour Deuces Wild – Here’s another group getting into it. Obviously the more dirt you shift the better your chances of finding some opal. Be warned though! Fossicking is hard work and hot work. There isn’t much shade out there so be sure to drink plenty of water. Due to the heat of summer we do not operate any tours to the mine during the months of November to February.

6. Opal and Fossicker holding opal. This fantastic specimen was found at ‘Deuces Wild’ in April 2006.

7. Opal – Here is another beauty uncovered at the mine in May 2006 by Cam and Tracey Griffiths of Tenterfield, NSW. They also had their specimen cut and polished in Quilpie and was valued at $1000 by Sunrise Opals. This just goes to show that if you are prepared to put in the hard yakka, your efforts might just pay off!

8. Fossicking – this visitor to the mine is doing just as we have suggested. He is moving as much dirt as he can – digging down to about 75 centimetres or so and looking for ironstone rocks amongst the mullock. Boulder opal is found in the ironstone. These rocks are dark in colour and when you tap it with your pick you will hear a noticeable ‘ching’ sound. Look for seams of opal on the outside of the rock.