New South Wales Opal Mining Fields

By Author: Ali C. Underwood
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New South Wales Opal Mining Fields
New South Wales produces the most valuable kind of opal available in the jewellery market, thereby making it the most important state in Australia, with regard to opal mining. Places like Lightning Ridge are famous for the black opals they produce. White Cliffs is also known for its seam opal, usually white or crystal in appearance.

NSW mining

Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge has become so famous precisely because of the black opals found in the area. Black opals are more valuable than other kinds of opals because they have trace elements of carbon and iron oxide within them enhancing the ‘play of colour’. Lightning Ridge is located around 750km from Sydney and has an estimated population of around 3000, made up primarily of miners. Its population varies constantly depending on the number of miners that enter and exit the area.

Geology

Lightning Ridge is particularly known for a geological feature known as the Surat Basin, which is a part of the Great Australian Basin that spans 1.7 million square kilometres. The Basin was formed when sediments settled ...
... at the bottom of a large inland sea. These sediments triggered the formation of precious opal.

Since these rocks settled at the bottom of the sea over time, the host rocks are horizontal. The rocks from which black opal is mined, are found in shallow water at the edge of the Basin.

History

Opal was initially discovered in Lightning Ridge as far back as the late 1880s. The first shaft was sunk at the turn of the 20th century by a local named Jack Murray. Over time, more miners began to appear at Lightning Ridge, having tried their luck at White Cliffs. Famous stones like the 822g 'Big Ben' and the 'Flame Queen' are said to have come from Lightning Ridge.

Tourism

Lightning Ridge offers tourists a proper glimpse of the difficult life that miners face. The region plays host to over 90,000 visitors from across the world and there are now a number of motels, gift shops and restaurants in the area. Apart from the stunning scenery that it offers, Lightning Ridge also boasts a diverse wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, possums, echidnas and a range of reptiles.

White Cliffs Opal Fields

White Cliffs claims the credit of being Australia's first fully functional commercial opal field. At the start of the 20th century, White Cliffs was considered the largest producer of opal in the entire world. Opal was first produced in White Cliffs in the year 1890. The region's white seam opal quickly entered the markets and rose in popularity. It is estimated that during the late 1890s, there were around 2000 people residing in the area, most of whom were miners. Over the years, White Cliffs has become a popular exploration ground for geologists, palaeontologists, Government bodies and hopeful miners.