Rough Opal Parcels, Cut Stones,Jewelry
Rough Opal Parcels, Black Opal from Lightning Ridge Australia. Queensland Boulder Opal. Cut Opal. Opal Jewelry Direct from Miner
Australian Opal Earrings Silver Inlay Stud Jewelry Gem Gift 8mm 6.75ct J07
These genuine, Australian opal earrings have been inlaid with quality Coober Pedy (Olympic field) crystal opal, in solid sterling silver with butterfly pushbacks. Vivid cascades of penetrating emerald green / gold sparkle from this highly visible pair. After 30 years … Continued
Australian Opal Earrings Silver Inlay Stud Jewelry Gem Gift 8mm 6.35ct J06
These genuine, Australian opal earrings have been inlaid with quality Coober Pedy (East Pacific field) white based red opal, in solid sterling silver with butterfly pushbacks.Classic pinks and reds with hints of green sparkle on all angles from this lovely … Continued
Large Australian Opal Doublet Pendant Leather Boho Mens 14k Jewelry 24.4ct I70
This genuine, natural Australian opal pendant has been created with a Coober Pedy (Donna’s Rush) opal boulder backed doublet and a heavily crimped, cleaned and deeply set solid 14k bail and black leather neckband to create a unique chunky boho … Continued
14k Rose / Pink Gold Australian Opal & Diamond Pendant Red Gem Gift 6.95ct J00
This genuine, quality Australian opal pendant has been inlaid with a Coober Pedy (New Olympic field) opal on a Queensland opal boulder backing (inlaid doublet) in a solid 14 karat rose gold setting with a genuine 2 point diamond. Red … Continued
Australian Opal Earrings Sterling Silver Genuine Inlay Jewelry Gift 9.4ct J04
This genuine Australian opal we mined on the New Olympic opal field of Coober Pedy Australia, has been inlaid in solid sterling silver with a Queensland opal boulder ironstone backing (inlaid doublets) here at Star Mountain Gems Australia. Shimmering green … Continued
Large Genuine Australian Opal & Diamond Pendant Fine Jewelry Gift 10.7ct I79
This genuine, quality Australian opal has been mined by us on the world renowned Olympic opal field, inlaid on a Queensland opal boulder backing (inlaid doublet) in a solid 14 karat gold setting with a genuine 3 point diamond here … Continued
Rare Australian Floral Opal & Diamond 14K White Gold Pendant Gift 4.8ct I95
This genuine, quality Australian opal pendant has been made with a stunning Coober Pedy (Old 15 Mile field) opal doublet made with Queensland opal boulder backing in a solid 14 karat gold setting with a natural 1.7mm diamond. Cut from … Continued
Genuine Australian Opal Doublet Pendant 14k Gold 3.1ct I69
We recently mined this natural Australian light crystal opal on the Old 15 Mile field of Coober Pedy. After attaching it to natural Queensland opal boulder ironstone with strict quality controls we create a doublet, then shape, polish and set … Continued
Australian opal is referred to as sedimentary opal because it forms in sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic lost Eromanga Sea which became the Great Artesian Basin. Australian precious opals usually contain around 3-5% water and consist of small silica spheres arranged in a regular pattern.
Opal Fossils Occur throughout the Australian Opal Fields
Australian Opal Shell Fossil Cockle Collectors Specimen 33ct H96
This opalised Cretaceous fossil cockle bivalve was mined by us on the Dead Horse Gully opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, … Continued
Australian Rough Opal Shells 85ct Rare Fossil Collectors Gems H65
These rough opal shells were recently mined by us on the Hans Peak opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we … Continued
Rare Australian Opal Shell Gastropod Fossil Collectors Specimen 23ct H58
This opalised fossil was mined many years ago by us on the Southern Cross Opal field of Coober Pedy Australia.The ancient Cretaceous Gastropod was a voracious predator in the vast shallow inland Eromanga sea in what is the central Australian … Continued
Genuine Australian Opal Belemnite Fossil Pendant Surf Boho Jewelry 12.5ct G58
This genuine, natural Australian opal pendant has been created with a Coober Pedy (Old 15 Mile) opal belemnite we mined many years ago and leather neckband to create a unique raw, native opal pendant in it’s ‘as mined’ state apart … Continued
Rare Opal Shell Gem Australian Collectors Specimen 75.4 ct F81
This opalised Cretaceous fossil was mined by us on the opal fields of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we love the colourful … Continued
Rare Opal Shell Gem Australian Collectors Specimen 43.5 ct F80
This opalised Cretaceous fossil was mined by us on the opal fields of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we love the colourful … Continued
48.9ct Coober Pedy Specimen Australian Rough Opal Rare Fossil Bivalve Gem #D19
Click to see the VIDEO! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TfiXar9snA) This extremely rare crystal opal bivalve full shell specimen/gem was mined on the Old 15 Mile opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. Collectors specimens like this are increasingly rare due to the major fields being mostly … Continued
25ct Rare Australian Opal Fossil Belemnite Pipe Specimen Top Color Crystal #A66
Click to see the VIDEO! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpXYxy0y22E)This very rare, natural Australian fossil opal Belemnite Pipe collectors specimen was mined on the Old 15 Mile opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. We have polished … Continued
What is special about Australian Opals?
80% or more of the world’s gem opal is mined in the remote outback of Australia, where geologic processes caused the formation of opal near the margins of the ancient lost Eromanga Inland Sea. Australia is the world’s leading source of Gem Quality Opal.
Australian Light Crystal Rough Opal 125ct 25g Coober Pedy Stones / Rubs I62
This rough opal was mined by us on the Olympic opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we love the colourful … Continued
Australian Rough White Red Opal 86ct Coober Pedy Un-Touched Stones I39
This rough opal was mined by us on the Donna’s Rush opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we love the … Continued
Australian Rough White Opal 130ct Coober Pedy Un-Touched Stones I40
This rough opal was mined by us on the Donna’s Rush opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we love the … Continued
Australian Rough Crystal Opal 37.5ct Coober Pedy Olympic Rubs I38
This rough opal was mined by us on the Olympic opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. After 30 years in the opal business, we firmly believe opal can be the most beautiful gem on Earth, and we love the colourful … Continued
Uncut Gems Style Rough Opal Australian Precious Specimen Talisman 570ct H55
This rough opal specimen was mined on the 4 Mile East Pacific opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. A world class sample of precious, gem quality white based opal in it’s host rock that would easily star in most mineral … Continued
48.9ct Coober Pedy Specimen Australian Rough Opal Rare Fossil Bivalve Gem #D19
Click to see the VIDEO! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TfiXar9snA) This extremely rare crystal opal bivalve full shell specimen/gem was mined on the Old 15 Mile opal field of Coober Pedy Australia. Collectors specimens like this are increasingly rare due to the major fields being mostly … Continued
Lightning Ridge
Black Gems were first discovered in Lightning Ridge in the late 1880s, the value was not recognized until Charlie Nettleton sank the first shaft in 1903. Charlie sold the first parcel of gems later that year. Then the town dramatically expanded with the influx of miners from White Cliffs, another world-famous mining area in Australia. By 1909–1910, when the local population rose to around 1,000, mining operations had expanded to about 10 km west of the town. The moderate production was quite stable between 1910 and 1920. After 1920 the mining fields were very quiet, with little production recorded.
The reactivation of opal production happened in 1958 with increasing demand and the introduction of machinery mining. The increasing price further expanded underground mining and made open-pit mining possible around 1970. The heyday of black opal came in the 1980s and 1990s, when the Japanese fell in love with the gem. As the demand from Japan started to fall, the Chinese gradually learned more and more about opal, and China has the potential to become a major opal consumer. From GIA
Lightning Ridge is an important paleontological site, with fossils dating back to the Cretaceous period, 110 million years ago. The sandstone rock once formed the bottom of a shallow inland sea, where the remains of aquatic plants and animals were preserved. The site is especially important as a source of fossils of ancient mammals, which, at that time, were small creatures living in a world dominated by dinosaurs. The fossils are sometimes opalised and discovered by opal miners. Important discoveries at Lightning Ridge include the ancestral monotremes Kollikodon ritchiei and Steropodon galmani. In June 2019, a new species of dinosaur, Fostoria dhimbangunmal was described from fossils retrieved from Lightning Ridge. The plant-eating species lived at least 100 million years ago. It is the most complete dinosaur fossil to be found preserved as opal
Since August 1992 when the Mining Act 1992 commenced, fossicking licences have not been required for fossicking in New South Wales.
Under the terms of this act, fossicking may now be carried out anywhere in the state providing these conditions are met:
- No other act or law applies which would prevent it
- The landholder’s consent is obtained
- The consent of any public or local authority having the management, control, or trusteeship of the land is obtained
- The titleholder’s consent is also obtained, where the location is covered by a current title under the Mining Act 1992[20] (This title may be an exploration licence, assessment lease, mining lease, mineral claim or Opal Prospecting Licence).
Thermal Bore Bath
Lightning Ridge has an abundance of hot water from a bore spring into the Great Artesian Basin and offers two hot-water pools for bathing. The Bore Bath is free of charge and always open,
Coober Pedy
For thousands of years nomadic Aboriginal people walked through this desert area as hunters and gatherers, the availability of water determining their presence.
Opals were first discovered in February 1915 by members of the New Colorado Prospecting Syndicate, following 14 weeks unsuccessfully prospecting for gold. The number of miners making their way to what was first named the Stuart Range Opal Field was sporadic, owing to the lack of surface water and extreme isolation. But by 1920 following good rainfall, miners had increased in number to a few hundred. There was a store, a Post Office and plans for an underground water tank, which became a reality in 1922. In 1920 an official name of the opal field was needed and the Progress Committee voted that it be ‘Coober Pedy’, an aboriginal term meaning ‘white man in a hole’.
The number of miners on the field continued to fluctuate, as it still does to this day, dependent on the market demand and price of the gem. During the depression, prices plummeted and production almost came to a standstill, a state which continued during WW ll.
Typical of Coober Pedy’s history of boom and bust, in late 1945, Tottie Kendall an Aboriginal woman and her partner Charlie Bryant made a sensational find at the 8 Mile which resulted in a rush to the field and a renewal of interest generally.
The late 1960’s was the start of growth in Coober Pedy, due in part to a greater demand for gems but also to the influx of many European migrants with the dream of making their fortune in this land of opportunity. It was the beginning of mechanisation on the field as well which continued unabated through the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s resulting in gem mining developing into a multi-million dollar industry and Coober Pedy becoming a modern mining town.
In 1980, with a population of over 3,000 people and an ever increasing reliance on the Coober Pedy Progress and Miners Association, a formal approach was made to the Minister of Local Government to establish a Select Committee to investigate the provision of Local Government in Coober Pedy. The outcome of the report was the creation of the Coober Pedy Act of 1981 which was tailored to the needs of a unique outback town experiencing problems of administration that are not normally encountered in other long-established Local Government areas. The first Council election was held in January 1987.
The introduction of local Government in Coober Pedy at first caused considerable controversy, but people understood that the more formal town administration established facilities that could not, in the past have been provided.
Over the last 10-20 years the health of the mining industry has been affected by a drop in prospecting activity and a decline in the number of active miners. In 2019, the continuing development of Coober Pedy now depends more on the increasingly important role of tourism to and through the town and its recognition as a major regional centre for the Outback.