Ann: Kangan Pilbara Gold Project Update, page-375

Talking about the weather in the Pilbara is never off topic. It's a critical factor! I went gold mining near Cue after a colleague came back with a nugget the size of a quail egg. I rounded up another mate but after 2 x 43+°c days we gave in. I got wracked with stomach cramps from salt deficiency and the water became contaminated with petrol from the 2 plastic jerry's being next to each other. We froze at nights unable to sleep and woke up exhausted in the morning. We got bogged on the talcum-powder-fine sand once the 1cm thin top layer cracked and the van got hit with a dust devil on the way back and nearly flipped us. I saw a solitary cloud on the road pour a little rain and watched it turn around and rise back up without even hitting the ground. It was then I decided to leave it to the experts.