Australian Opal Fields The major outcrops of opal in Australia occur along the shoreline of what was once The Great Inland Sea.
The Australian discoveries created great world interest in opal. Pioneers like Tullie Wollaston and E.F. Murphy helped develop these fields by marketing opal internationally and inspiring many to try their luck at mining. Miners worked and died in the harsh outback in the hope of making their fortune.
The important mining areas in Australian opal production over the last century have been Lightning Ridge, Queensland Boulder Opal Fields, Coober Pedy, White Cliffs, Andamooka, Mintabie and Lambina.
Lightning Ridge
It is said this field was discovered in 1905 by kangaroo shooters. The 'Ridge produces almost all of Australia's sensational black opals and today despite recent decline in production it is still the largest producer of opal by value. In the late 1980's the Corcoran field 30 km to the west of the township produced stunning black opal in great quantities. The population soared to over 8,000 people. At this time opal sold for record prices sometimes at more per carat than good quality diamond. There is not enough quality opal to satisfy world demand, and interestingly, supply increases lead to higher prices, as fine quality opals become easier to procure which fuels excitement from non-traditional buyers. Lightning Ridge opal is typically found as nodules or "nobbies". Outlying fields include The Grawin, Glengarry, Sheep Yards, and Mulga Rush, which predominantly produce dark and black seam opal.
Coober PedyThe bulk of the Worlds' light seam opal was mined at Coober Pedy. Mining extended over an area 50 kilometres long, running approximately north south. The town reached its peak in the 1970's when enormous quantities of opal were being produced and world demand was high. Illegal gambling joints were prolific-some with dozens of tables and thousands of dollars changing hands. This dusty hot outback town is home to over 4,000 people representing more than 50 Nations. Unbearable summer temperatures have resulted in most living underground in "dugouts". In 2002 Coober Pedy's production has fallen to 25% of its heyday.
White Cliffs
Commercial mining commenced in the late 1880's at the White Cliffs Field in New South Wales. The opal mined here excited the world and the town soon developed, by the 1920's it had a population of more than 3,000. White Cliffs produced fine quality seam opal in such volumes the world had not previously seen. Sadly, the main run was worked out by 1930 and the field all but died out.
Queensland fields
The Queensland fields are spread across an area in excess of 1,000sq km and produce almost all the world 's supply of boulder opal. This opal is produced from scattered locations in the vicinity of Yowah, Eromanga, Quilpie, Jundah, Opalton and Winton.
Almost all the opal is won by open cutting. Large and small ironstone boulders are split in the search for that illusive opal vein.
Andamooka
Andamooka is in the harsh desert and located near the edge of Lake Eyre. It was discovered in 1935 and is famous for producing brilliant crystal seam opal. It reached its peak in the 1960's when the population reached 3,000. Unfortunately this field is worked out with very little commercial production since the 1970's. Today much of Andamooka's population is employed at the nearby uranium mines of Roxby Downs.
Mintabie
The fortunes of Mintabie came and went within a decade. In 1978 a group from Coober Pedy found nice quality black opal. Within a few years the population grew to 1500. Large powerful equipment was needed to rip the hard sandstone. More than 75 large bulldozers and many scrapers, excavators, etc quickly mined out this very rich outcrop. Mintabie produced fine quality light and black seam opal. This material was extremely hard, some able to scratch agate! Today there is only very limited mining activity.
Lambina
This field has steadily grown when a scheme of arrangement was agreed with the Farming Landholder. In 2002 this is perhaps the only shinning light in the South Australian opal fields with over 300 miners working with bulldozers and excavators. The material is typically light and dark seam opal. Most of the original material was incorrectly termed "alluvial" as it appeared to be in disjointed chunks coated with dirt on all sides rather than the usual seam, which is coated top and bottom. This rough was usually found comparatively shallow levels.
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The Australian discoveries created great world interest in opal. Pioneers like Tullie Wollaston and E.F. Murphy helped develop these fields by marketing opal internationally and inspiring many to try their luck at mining. Miners worked and died in the harsh outback in the hope of making their fortune.
The important mining areas in Australian opal production over the last century have been Lightning Ridge, Queensland Boulder Opal Fields, Coober Pedy, White Cliffs, Andamooka, Mintabie and Lambina.
Lightning Ridge
It is said this field was discovered in 1905 by kangaroo shooters. The 'Ridge produces almost all of Australia's sensational black opals and today despite recent decline in production it is still the largest producer of opal by value. In the late 1980's the Corcoran field 30 km to the west of the township produced stunning black opal in great quantities. The population soared to over 8,000 people. At this time opal sold for record prices sometimes at more per carat than good quality diamond. There is not enough quality opal to satisfy world demand, and interestingly, supply increases lead to higher prices, as fine quality opals become easier to procure which fuels excitement from non-traditional buyers. Lightning Ridge opal is typically found as nodules or "nobbies". Outlying fields include The Grawin, Glengarry, Sheep Yards, and Mulga Rush, which predominantly produce dark and black seam opal.
Coober PedyThe bulk of the Worlds' light seam opal was mined at Coober Pedy. Mining extended over an area 50 kilometres long, running approximately north south. The town reached its peak in the 1970's when enormous quantities of opal were being produced and world demand was high. Illegal gambling joints were prolific-some with dozens of tables and thousands of dollars changing hands. This dusty hot outback town is home to over 4,000 people representing more than 50 Nations. Unbearable summer temperatures have resulted in most living underground in "dugouts". In 2002 Coober Pedy's production has fallen to 25% of its heyday.
White Cliffs
Commercial mining commenced in the late 1880's at the White Cliffs Field in New South Wales. The opal mined here excited the world and the town soon developed, by the 1920's it had a population of more than 3,000. White Cliffs produced fine quality seam opal in such volumes the world had not previously seen. Sadly, the main run was worked out by 1930 and the field all but died out.
Queensland fields
The Queensland fields are spread across an area in excess of 1,000sq km and produce almost all the world 's supply of boulder opal. This opal is produced from scattered locations in the vicinity of Yowah, Eromanga, Quilpie, Jundah, Opalton and Winton.
Almost all the opal is won by open cutting. Large and small ironstone boulders are split in the search for that illusive opal vein.
Andamooka
Andamooka is in the harsh desert and located near the edge of Lake Eyre. It was discovered in 1935 and is famous for producing brilliant crystal seam opal. It reached its peak in the 1960's when the population reached 3,000. Unfortunately this field is worked out with very little commercial production since the 1970's. Today much of Andamooka's population is employed at the nearby uranium mines of Roxby Downs.
Mintabie
The fortunes of Mintabie came and went within a decade. In 1978 a group from Coober Pedy found nice quality black opal. Within a few years the population grew to 1500. Large powerful equipment was needed to rip the hard sandstone. More than 75 large bulldozers and many scrapers, excavators, etc quickly mined out this very rich outcrop. Mintabie produced fine quality light and black seam opal. This material was extremely hard, some able to scratch agate! Today there is only very limited mining activity.
Lambina
This field has steadily grown when a scheme of arrangement was agreed with the Farming Landholder. In 2002 this is perhaps the only shinning light in the South Australian opal fields with over 300 miners working with bulldozers and excavators. The material is typically light and dark seam opal. Most of the original material was incorrectly termed "alluvial" as it appeared to be in disjointed chunks coated with dirt on all sides rather than the usual seam, which is coated top and bottom. This rough was usually found comparatively shallow levels.
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