News – Coober Pedy – World Class Opal

February 07, 2025

Opal Mining Life

Sunset over the self tipping hoist on the Coober Pedy opal fields.

A day in the life of Coober Pedy opal miners using a Kanga 825 loading a self tipping hoist breaking ground with a combination of explosives and spiking.
Featuring the Graceopal.pty.ltd mining brothers Lochy (worldclassopal.net) and Shannon (Kimberleyopal.com) on the relentless hunt for the BIG patch!
A huge THANK YOU to all of our customers past, present and future!

Song: Rushmere by Mumford and Sons

Posted in adventure australian opal Australian opal mine biography Coober Pedy fossicking how to mine opal mine to market miner direct opal opal mining opalmining outback opal hunters process prospecting Q&A uncut gems

November 28, 2024

BLOWN AWAY!

This trip I make the very costly mistake of not checking the drill hole dirt before shoving a bomb in it.
Busted, disgusted and war weary, with only a few chips from the drill hole to show for the several days of work, I drove to a claim I found good opal in 20 odd years ago but was way too exhausted and disappointed to bother. I decide to call it a dud trip and head back to the workshop in Adelaide.
Instead of driving south the next morning, a new day and new hope saw me down the old hole that was beckoning the day before. Boom! COLOUR!!

Posted in australian opal Australian opal mine Coober Pedy fossicking how to mine opal mine to market miner direct opal opal mining opalmining outback opal hunters prospecting uncut gems

September 07, 2024

5 years of OPAL IN THE WALL!! Highlight reels from our last half decade of Coober Pedy opal hunting

Some of our most opportune moments of opal in the wall, we love to re-live them to spur us on to DO IT AGAIN! #australianopal #opalmining #cooberpedy #outbackopalhunters

Posted in adventure australian opal Australian opal mine caving Coober Pedy fossicking how to mine opal mine to market miner direct opal opal cutting opal mining opalmining outback opal hunters prospecting rare gems uncut gems

June 11, 2024

A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SEAM OPAL IS MADE IN NATURE By Gerard Faber

The map shows the Eromanga Sea and the opal towns that exist.

Gerard Faber's paper on the formation of seam opal in nature is quite detailed and provides an in-depth understanding of the geological and chemical processes involved. The journey from Gondwana's breakup, the role of diatoms, the formation of the Eromanga Sea, and the conditions required for opal formation are explained comprehensively. Here are some key points highlighted in his research:

Posted in australian opal Australian opal mine Coober Pedy how to mine opal opal opal mining process prospecting Q&A rare gems

News / Coober Pedy

Opal Mining Life

BLOWN AWAY!

5 years of OPAL IN THE WALL!! Highlight reels from our last half decade of Coober Pedy opal hunting

A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SEAM OPAL IS MADE IN NATURE By Gerard Faber