Over the last couple of years, I have been giving Divining Rods a try. Now, I don't know why or how, but I have been able to use them to locate underground pipes or perhaps its the water inside the pipe. Last year on the gem fields, we heard how people there, use divining rods to find sapphire. This year we heard how people use them to find the depth of the wash, where sapphires are located. The guy who owns the drilling rig that digs the 900ml shaft, brings another guy with him with the rods. Now get this... The diviner walks around the property with the rods pointing away from him, to the front. When he finds where the wash is, the rods cross over. To find the depth of how far the driller has to go down, the diviner stamps one foot, again and again until the rods uncross and the number of stamps equals the feet of depth, and it works. The stamping, apparently breaks the magnetic signal from the wash to the rods. The wash is where water used to flow.
I spoke to another digger who has a claim at Sapphire while we were both waiting for water at a stand pipe. I asked if he was from around here and he said yes, I have a claim over the hill. How far are you down? oh, the wash is at 42feet but we're finding enough on the surface at the moment. How do you know it's 42 feet? Divining rods...
Last year, during our tour of the Old Timers Mine at Coober Pedy, there were divining rods hanging in reception. When I asked about there use, it was to find opal. This year we found out how people use divining rods to find opal in and around Quilpie and Winton. Opal is chrystalised water droplets held in seams between layers of rock. Apparently, out Quilpie way, the bearded guys have more success divining than those without beards.All very interesting.
