Opal Mining
The largest Black opal gemstone in modern times was found next-door to my open cut and is documented in the Guinness book of records, it is over 2000 carats and was named the Halley's comet, there was a few more large gem multicolour opals were discovered with the Halley's comet, there all so was a number of beautiful high-quality gem red opals and they were worth millions of dollars, the claim was owned by the Barclay's Terry and his younger brother Lance. I was the last man to work with Terry before he retired, I have taken up the challenge and gambled two years of my life and finances and open cut myself this famous opal claim and would be the only man alive who still owns a Opal lease on this old famous three-mile lightning Ridge mining lease.
Coober Pedy -two - The bulk of the Worlds' light seam opal was mined at Coober Pedy. Mining extended over an area 50 kilometres long, running approximately north south. It was here that Andrew Cody's opal affair commenced: as a 12-year old school boy on a school excursion. In 1964 opal miners found it difficult to sell lower grades and often threw the opal away in disgust. Walking down Coober Pedy's main Street he filled his pockets with this opal, took them back to Melbourne and made a tidy sum! 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.
Mintabie -three - 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 -four - 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.
White Cliffs-five - 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 had a population of more than 3,000. White Cliffs produced fine quality seam material 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 -six -The Queensland fields are spread across 1,000km 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.
Lightning Ridge -seven -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". Grawin & Glengarry, Outlying fields include The Grawin, Glengarry, Sheep Yards, and Mulga Rush, which predominantly produce dark and black opal seam opal.