The Australian opal mining regions are scattered throughout the western regions of Qld, NSW & SA namely located in hot, dry & sometimes moonlike landscapes where temperatures can get very hot in the summer months. A lot of our younger generation are unaware that Opals are our most treasured national gemstone having being officially declared so in Federal Parliament in 1993. They have a very fascinating and mysterious history dating way back to the days of the Roman Empire where many believed they brought their carriers good fortune, possessed magical properties as well as being a very rare beautiful gemstone. The mining of opal in this country also has a very colourful & rich history which dates back to 1868 when the first precious opal was discovered at Listowel Downs Station south of Blackall in Western Queensland. Today opal is mined namely in 3 regions:

Coober Pedy Opal Festival & Gem Trade Show
Contact: Steve Staines on +61 8 8672 5579 or
sstaines@nrdb.com.au
  www.opalcapitaloftheworld.com.au

Lightning Ridge Opal & Gem Expo
Call on 0407 455 413 or email angela@outbacknow.com.au
www.outbacknow.com.au

International Opal Jewellery Design Awards
Call Lyn Carney on +61 2 6829 4488/0428 292 11 or email ojdaa@bigpond.com
www.outbacknow.com.au

Western Qld is the home where Boulder & Sandstone Boulder opal is mined from a stretch of some 600klm long & 300klm wide from Kynuna, Winton, Opalton, Jundah right down to Quilpie, Eromanga & Yowah near the NSW border. Most boulder opal is found in ironstone boulders which can be the size of an apple to many feet in diameter. Boulder opal can be found in many different forms & colour where its surface can be smooth or uneven. Unlike the SA & NSW mining regions Opal Mines in Western Qld can be many hours drive to a major service town and be very isolated and cut off during the wet season rains.

Most of mining is done by way of open cut above the ground and some mines even close down in the hot summer months for a bit of well deserved R & R. Many towns like Yowah, Quilpie & Winton stage their own annual opal festivals and expos which sees many of these mine owners, opal cutters and buyers converge on these towns all hoping to strike a few deals. We are sure come next April lots of our winning Fashion Bash entrants are going to be wearing some of the most stunning opal jewellery pendants home around their necks all designed from opals mined from many of these 3 state major opal mining regions. We hope this above information and these images has given you a bit of an insight into the Aust Opal Mining Industry!