South Australian Opal Mining Fields

By Author: Ali Underwood
Total Articles: 39
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If one was to value opal only by weight, South Australia would be largest producer of opal in the country. The region is particularly famous for the production of white and crystal opals that come from opal fields like Coober Pedy, Andamooka, Mintabie and Lambina.

Coober Pedy Opal Fields

Coober Pedy is known for producing the majority of white opal in the world. The opal mining areas in Coober Pedy lie on South Australia's outback, approximately 750km north of Adelaide. The extremely hot conditions in the region means that most of the locals choose to live underground, where temperatures are lower in summer, and higher in winter. The lack of rainfall and infertile soil that the area experiences does little to spur the growth of plant life in the region. Opal was first discovered here in 1915.

Andamooka Opal Fields

Opal was first discovered in Andamooka by two boundary riders in the year 1930. Changes in the global political climate meant that the field was slow to develop. However, by 1962, it is estimated that over 800 miners had settled here. The Andamooka Fields are located around 520 km north ...
... of Adelaide and spans over 52 square kilometers across the Arcoona plateau. Opal is mined from anywhere between three and ten meters down to the ancient seabed. The climate in the area is typically pleasant between the months of March and November. The months between December and February see a significant rise in temperature, and the occasional dust storm.

Mintabie Opal Fields

Opal was first discovered here by a well sinker named Larry O'Toole in the 1920s. Although Mintabie was identified as an opal field during the start of the 20th century, it only became fully active during the late 1970s. The region of Mintabie is located around 180 km south of the Northern Territory Border, 300 km north of Coober Pedy. Mintabie has a difficult climate that is made worse by the lack of water in the region. Temperatures in the area can range from below-zero to the high 40s. This was one of the chief reasons why mining in the area was delayed for so long. Mining in Mintabie takes place via open-cut methods.

Lambina Opal Fields

Opal is rumored to have been discovered in the Lambina opal fields as early as 1930. Extensive mining took place in the late 1980s, but the field has experienced lesser traffic since then. Legislation disallowed mining in the area during the 1990s, but the field has been opened for mining again.