Lightning Ridge is home to the world’s largest black opal mining which is the reason it’s become a well known town in Australia. But there’s so much more which brings tourists to this remote part of NSW. Think hot springs, a unique underground sculpture gallery, a beer can house and so much more! There is […]
Boulder opals are only found in Queensland, Australia. Primary opal fields include Winton, Opalton, Quilpie, Yowah, Eromanga, Cunnamulla, and Longreach. They are easily distinguished by their layer of solid brown ironstone left on the back of the stone. As the name suggests, this variation of opal is mined from large ironstone boulders under the ground. […]
Andamooka is one of the oldest known opal fields in Australia, with opals from this region famously having been used in the Queen’s jewellery. Unlike any other Australia opal, Variations of Andamooka Opal can be treated with sugar or acid to turn it black and improve the Opal play of colour. The word Andamooka is derived from […]
Coober Pedy (derived from the Aboriginal words ‘Kupa Piti’ meaning ‘white man in a hole’) produces the most white opal and at the Good Opal co, our favourite type of white opal is Coober Pedy white opal fossils-shells.
Mintabie opal is arguably some of the most unique opal in Australia. The mines of Mintabie produce white, crystal and the illustrious black opal but the layering of colour bars is unique, making picture stones that are often sliced against rather than along. The town of Mintabie is the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara in South Australia. […]
When the first opal mine shafts in Australia were being dug, they didn’t have the diesel equipment used to drive mine shafts and test opal dirt like they do now. In the early days of opal mining, shaft sinking with a pick, shovel and nothing but a candle for light was the way of the […]
At The Good Opal co. our favourite opal material to cut is Lightning Ridge Opal. We know! The GOC (Good Opal co.), and every other person and their dog! But if you’ve read About Us: https://dev.goodopalco.com/about-the-good-opal-co/ you’d know that a trip to Lightning Ridge is what started this dream, but it’s not just the prestige. […]
So, you’d like to learn about investing in opal? Well, For years people have been investing in alloys and metals such as gold and silver. So, why invest in opal? Because unlike silver and gold, the value of opal does not depend on stocks and fluctuate in such a manner. Opal is a rare commodity […]
So, you want to learn how to value Opal? You’ve come to the right place! Opal is the most difficult of all gemstones to value. Why? Because each opal is a unique one of a kind piece, each pattern and colouring different in its own way, not to mention a number of other factors. Today […]
Gathered and googled over years of curiosity, we have put together some important facts vs fictions we have come to learn about opal over the years here at The Good Opal Co. to help you, our customers learn about opal! Time to learn about opal… Fiction: Opals need to be soaked in water to prevent […]
