Lightning Ridge | Coober Pedy | Queensland
Queensland Opal Fields
The commercial production of opal in the Queensland State, eventuated in the 1890's with major fields situated at Koroit, Yowah and Opalton. The opal country of Queensland is vast, stretching 1000 kilometers in length from the Queensland border to the West of Charleville and in width stretches 300 kilometers from Blackall and Long reach.
Boulder opal is characteristic of the Queensland area and describes opal that fills the cavities of ironstone and sandstone rock. The size of the rock ranges from small pebbles to rocks several metres in length. Mining for this particular opal is largely done by excavator and bulldozer. However, in some areas the sinking of shafts is still the appropriate method.
A story told by the locals is that a miner travelling on a motorcycle, prospecting for opal ran out of fuel. While making his way home, the miner stumbled on an old abandoned shaft. At the sight, he noticed that the original prospectors had been mining for a specific type of opal known as pipe opal discarding the seam opal. At the time the mine was being operated, seam opal was considered less valuable and was often disregarded in favour of the pipe opal. However, in recent times seam opal has become highly sought after and is now as valuable. The miner attempted to relocate the old shaft but was never successful, sadly loosing the find to the vastness of the open country.
 Miners search for the opal level with heavy machinery |
 The only public telephone booth in Opalton |
 Most opal is mined using excavators on the Queensland mining fields |
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 Miners go home after a grueling day of work out in the scorching sun |
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