Discover the Hidden Joys of the Earth
Opales Exciting Places in Australia and the World
Explore fascinating sites where opals, precious stones with a thousand reflections, are extracted from the depths of the earth. Discover their beauty and unique history.
About Extraction Sites
Australia is known for its rich fields of opals, including Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge and Andamooka. These iconic places are known for producing opals with vibrant colours and unique patterns. Across the world, other notable sites include Mexico, Ethiopia and Brazil, each offering distinct varieties of this precious stone. Our mission is to make you discover the diversity and splendour of these extraction sites, while preserving their natural and cultural heritage.
Visual Collection of Extraction Sites
Image Gallery of Opals and Places of Extraction
Characteristics of Opals
Australian opals
Australian opals are renowned for their vibrant colours and outstanding quality, mainly from Lightning Ridge and Coober Pedy.
Ethiopian opals
Ethiopia's opals are distinguished by their spectacular color play and unique structure, often found in the Wollo area.
Mexican opals
Mexican fire opals are famous for their ardent hues and transparency, extracted mainly from Querétaro.
Evidence
« Lightning Ridge's opals are a national treasure. Their brightness and colour diversity are incomparable. »
Dr. Pierre Lemoine
Expert Gemologist
« Working in the mines in Ethiopia is a unique experience. The opals we discover here are breathtaking beauty. »
Alem Tesfaye
Minor of Opales
« Mexican opals captivate by their inner fire. They are a true jewel of nature. »
Maria Gonzalez
Specialist in Gemmology
Blog Articles
Opale brute ou dégrossie : quelles différences entre nobby et rub ?
Lorsque l’on souhaite acheter une opale australienne brute, certains termes peuvent prêter à confusion. C’est notamment le cas des expressions anglaises opal rub et nobby opal. Pourtant, ces mots ne désignent ni deux variétés d’opales ni deux catégories opposées. Tout...
The History of Opal Researchers in Australia: The Outback Pioneers
George Lowe, opal researcher in his mine at Lightning Ridge 1953. Source: National Library of Australia The history of oopal researchers in Australia is made of adventure, patience and sometimes extraordinary discoveries. Since the end of the 19th century,...
Mining field Allawah : history and opals of Lightning Ridge
The Australian Black Opals are among the Gemstones the rarest in the world. For over a century, Lightning Ridge, in New South Wales, is considered the world reference for the production of these exceptional gems. Yet...
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