The discovery of opal

The first discovery of Australian opal should be attributed to the eccentric German geologist Professor Johannes Mans. /kloc-in 0/840, he discovered a common green opal in gaston, about 80km north of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. 1868, a truly valuable opal was found at Listo Weir Station in the west of Queensland and south of Blackwell. 187 1 year, the first opal mine registered in Australian history appeared in the southern town of Quelpai, which was called the "proud mountain range" in history, and this was the real beginning of opal mining.

1873, the precious opal was found on the mountain in Berkro district, and it was soon known by the world, and it was called "Berkro opal". These Pingdingshan Mountains are located160km north of Tacoma Ying Da and east of Listowel. This is also the birthplace of Boluo River, and its tributaries flow to the west intermittently. More opals were found around Kennana, extending northward by nearly 100 km. Hobert Bond, an entrepreneur, tried hard to push Opal to the international market, but it was not very successful. Until the end of 1970s, Joe Brad, a pioneer in mining, mined the whole opal-opal composite mine in Si Tong, Keppola Mountains, northwest of Quelpa and south of Vitola, and then Toure Coulombsvet Worleston brought it to London in 1890.

1894, the first commercial opal base in Australia was discovered. This remote opal base is located in the arid northwest of New South Wales, about 850 kilometers from Sydney and 200 kilometers northeast of the Broken Mountains. It was not until 1899 that Viat Clifford gradually became the main birthplace of opal in the world, and light opal, deep opal and crystal opal were exported at home and abroad. 1899, opal buyers from other countries came in droves, and after a dangerous and long journey, they entered the Australian outback to buy opal made in Viat Clifford. But by 19 14, with the outbreak of the first world station, the commercial exploitation of opal almost stopped there.

Later, an important discovery was made in Ningrich, Leiden, where three-quarters of the precious dark opal was produced. It was discovered by a group of children playing near murray river. Opal is based in New South Wales, and opal mining continues to this day.

By 19 15, Opal's mining focus shifted to South Australia, Australia. A boy of 14, Willie hutcheson, became an important figure in the history of opal discovery by chance. As a result of this accidental discovery, a small town named "Cooper Petty" quickly formed around it, which was later called "Opal Capital of the World" and is the largest opal mining base in the world at present. Because the local climate is very dry and hot, most miners from afar live in cave-like houses. According to the local indigenous language, Cooper Pedy means "white people are in caves". Cooper Pedy is located on the Sechet expressway, 838km north of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, Australia. Another famous mining area, named Amy Luo Kai, is also located in South Australia, 240 kilometers north of Cooper Pedisi and 520 kilometers north of Adelaide. It was discovered by a mining expert at 192 1. Mantabi, located on the west bank of Lake torrance, is a mining area discovered by 1930, and the largest producing area in Australia from 1985 to 1989.

The exploration of Aobao base has never stopped in Australia. The discovery of Leiden Ningrich, Lambina in the north of South Australia and Cauquelin in the west of Hobor made the opal mining industry in Australia continue to enter 2 1 century.

Opal mining area, Australia

1, quilpi

Quilpi is a town famous for its opals. It is often called the hometown of "Shi Shuo Opal" because this area is the most important producing area of this kind of opal in the world. It is located 980 kilometers west of Brisbane and 208 kilometers west of charleville. Quilpi is the commercial center of Quilpi County. The name of the town comes from the indigenous word "Quilpeta", which means stone snipe. Quirpi was declared as an officially recognized town on April 29th, 2007. The telephone number is 1965438. Quilpi is located on the famous Buluo River in western Queensland. For example, cattle and sheep grazing, oil, natural gas and opal mining. In addition to these major industries, there is also a passionate and talented art community in Quirpi County.

Winton

Winton, formerly known as Pelican Pool, first became a colony in 1875. The most famous event in this town was 1895, when Banjo Paterson wrote the song "Waltz Matilda" outside Dagworth Station in Winton. It is reported that the first performance of this folk song was on April 6 of the same year at the Gregory Hotel in the north of Winton. Winton is regarded as the "hometown" of Australian jungle poetry, and the national literary prize "Bronze Award for Vagabond" is held there every year. Qantas was established in Winton on June 1920+0 1, and its first board meeting was held in Winton Club on February 192 1. During the general strike of wool shearers in the 1990s, 500 wool shearers camped in the south of Winton, which was the legal starting point for the establishment of the Labour Party. Winton is located in the center of Mathilda Village, with gorgeous colorful canyons running through the huge Mitchell grassland. Tourists are often shocked by the huge natural undulating plains and terrain. There are all kinds of animals and birds living here, and it is generally the best place to watch the dusk and dawn scenery by the path and railway track.

3. Aupart.

Aupart Dunton mining area is one of the largest producing areas of opal deposits in Queensland. Located in the west of Queensland, it is a typical Opal village, where visitors have the opportunity to experience the feelings experienced by Opal miners directly. Most of the mining activities in the mining area are restricted, and only small-scale manual mining can be carried out, but there are also some large-scale operations using heavy machinery in the surrounding areas. Aupart attracts a large number of tourists every year. Tourists generally think that opal fragments or iron ore cornerstones can be found there from the surface or from the waste rock piles in the previous mining area.

4、Yowah

Yowah Opal mining area, including the nearby famous area named "Black Gate", is the southernmost Opal mining center in West Queensland. It is widely welcomed by tourists and gold diggers because its main roads include shops, fuel, telephones, RV parks and permanent water supply. With the cooperation of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Paro County Council and landowners, Yowah Gold Rushing Area was established to provide necessities and entertainment for travelers. Yowah is located about 160km west of Cunnamulla. There are two routes to get there: first, go to Thargomindah, turn right about18km to the West Eulo on Yowah/Toompine road, and walk along Alroy Farm for 48km to the Yowah-Quilpie fork road. Continue driving for 23km to Yowah；; The last 23 kilometers are unpaved roads; Secondly, drive from Quilpie 1 10km, cross Toompine, turn to the Eulo/Yowah fork, turn left, then drive along this main road for about 56km, reach the Yowah fork, and then continue for the last 23km as mentioned above.

Levente Jova mining area is a precious opal in the production of siliceous iron ore condensate, which is usually called Levente Jova nut. These opals are about 5 mm to 200 mm in diameter and are spherical or ellipsoidal. Sometimes the core of these nuts happens to be a precious opal. Nuts exist in the iron sandstone stratum 20 meters underground (the thickness varies from 150 to 600 mm), and are usually connected by mud blocks or balls.

There are four active opal mining areas in South Australia: Andamooka, Coober Pedy, Lambina and Mintabie. In terms of output, South Australia is the largest producer of opal, rich in albumin and light opal.

5. Cooper Petty (Cooper Petty)

Coober Pedy produces more than half of the world's white opal. Coober Pedy's Opal mining area is located in the inland area of South Australia, and the town is located 750 kilometers north of Adelaide. It is a rocky and treeless desert area on the edge of Stewart Mountain. Many local people like to live in underground bunkers which are warm in winter and cool in summer. Because there is little rainfall and poor soil in this area, few plants survive. The opal there was discovered by a boy of 14 years old, who was camping with his father's gold exploration team. 19 16, opal was established as the main mining area. After the First World War, the influx of opal miners led to a substantial increase in production, making Cooper Pedy the largest opal producer in the world. This place is also called "Opal Capital of the World".

6. Andamuka (Adamoka)

1930, two ranchers at Andamuka Station discovered Opal. Due to bad weather conditions and World War II, the mining process in this mining area was slow, but by 1962, it was estimated that 800 miners were engaged in opal mining. 520 kilometers north of Adelaide, Andamooka miners are digging shafts, potholes and small tunnels in an area of about 52 square kilometers on the Arcoona Plateau. Opal is mined from the ancient seabed three to ten meters underground. Andamuka opal is considered to be the most stable opal in the world. The local climate is characterized by a semi-desert environment. From March to June165438+1October, it is warm during the day and cool at night, and the climate is very pleasant.

7、Mintabie

It is believed that Mintabby's first opal was discovered in the 1920s. However, Mintabi's harsh climate and lack of water resources hindered mining. It was not until a good opal appeared in 1978 that the region really began to be valued. Mintabie is located at 180km south of the Northern Territory boundary and 300km north of Coober Pedy. 1976, explosives and large machinery were brought to the mining area. During the First World War, most of the black opal sold by the indigenous people of Cooper Pedy came from Mintabi, 350 kilometers northwest. 1988, the local population is about 1 500. Due to the decline in output, the population today is about 300. In Mintabi, most opal mining is carried out in the open air. The temperature in this area varies from below zero to 40 degrees above zero in four seasons.

8. Lambina

The old miner said that Lambina opal was first discovered in the Great Depression in the early 1930s. In the late 1980s, with some valuable discoveries made by some miners in seven puddle excavation areas, a small change took place. Before the mid-1990s, the mining industry grew slowly. But 1996 found high-quality gems there, and the demand was really stimulated. However, before many demands needed to be addressed, local leader Wik decided to stop any new mining. Until1997,65438+February, local leaders officially declared the whole Mintabie area. Since then, negotiations between miners and local leaders to allow mining have continued. Lambina has a population of about 300.

About 95% opal produced in Australia is used in the global jewelry industry. Opals are also mined in other countries, including Honduras, Mexico, former Czechoslovakia and Brazil. These opals usually have different appearances. Opal mines in Australia are located in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. These mining areas are surrounded by the remains of the ancient "Great artesian well basin". White/Crystal Opal found in South Australia, Black Opal in New South Wales and Boulder Opal in Queensland are the most mainstream types of Opal at present, among which the rarest one is the pipe Opal produced in jundah. The best time to visit Opal mining area is from April to September every winter in Australia. This is because Australia is rainy in summer, sometimes flooding roads in some areas, so try to avoid going to the mining area in summer.

In terms of value, Leighton Ningrich, New South Wales is the only mining area that produces black opal, which produces the blackest and most expensive dark opal.

Unlike other opals, black opal contains black carbon and iron oxide, which makes it the most popular opal in the world. Leiden Ningrich is located in northern New South Wales, about 768 kilometers from Sydney. Leiden Ningrich lives and works with about 3,000 permanent residents, who are mainly engaged in mining and related services. Leiden Ningrich has more than 80,000 tourists every year. Some people come for sightseeing and seeing the real face of inland mining towns, while others may be looking for their wealth. The influx of tourists has given this once dilapidated town hotels and restaurants to be proud of. There are countless opal souvenir shops and gift shops, and some beautifully decorated restaurants. Leiden Ningrich has different kinds of wild animals, including kangaroos, kangaroos, koalas, needle mice, opossums and a series of noteworthy reptiles. There are also rare Australian birds in the town, and you can get close to a large number of animals in person.

In the late1880s, Jack Murray, a ranch manager who lived in a nearby house, laid the first shaft in about 190 1 or 1902, and began to mine opals. After a while, a miner named Charlie from the capital of Gambia came here and began to dig wells.

Since the black opal was first discovered, Leiden Ningrich has become synonymous with the opal mining area in Australia, and it has also become a very curious place for tourists (especially during the annual goat competition). Leiden Ningrich recorded the indomitable life of Australian inland miners. Larry Hassan's poem cleverly sums up the temptation of the town and the black opal:

There is a dilapidated town outside the western plain.

Leiden Ningrich, hot and sparse rain.

There is no beautiful scenery there, only rough ridges around.

Nature created beautiful scenery, but left it in the underground black opal.

If you haven't seen Black Opal, you really missed a wonderful time.

She is as gorgeous as colored mercury, and the pattern flashes in the night sky.

Maybe you've wandered around the world and seen a lot,

The scenery in the mysterious opal will only appear in wonderful dreams.

The proud Leiden Ningrich has many social and sports facilities, such as golf course, pistol club and archery club. The town's Opal Festival is held in New South Wales during the school holidays in September and June, 65438+ 10. Other important events every year are the "World Opal and Gem Expo" in July and the "Big Goat Competition" held at Easter.

Clifford Viat, located in the northwest of New South Wales, is the first commercial opal mining area in Australia. This mining area used to be the main producing area of Opal international market. Viat Clifford Opal is unique because it produced the first dark opal in the world. Dark opal is very popular because it is easier to evaluate, clean and manufacture. Viat Clifford opal mining area is rich in shells, opal pseudocrystals, bones and crystals. 1899, about 2000 people live within two miles of Clifford town in Viat. These pioneers lived in more than 500 wooden or iron houses and countless white cotton apartments made of burlap, bark or canvas. There are underground restaurants, bakeries and bars; However, due to the lack of underground bunkers at that time, miners mainly lived in shafts. Clifford's opal mined in Viat has been supplied to markets outside Australia for 25 years. After centuries of superstition about opal, opal, a "forgotten gem", has regained the favor of the world. Viat Clifford has been an outdoor class for geologists, paleontologists, government officials and wealthy businessmen who are good at pursuing the opposite sex for more than a century. /kloc-the heat of 0/900 began to make the first miners live underground, and then most residents followed suit. Until 1999, 90% of the local residents lived in the underground bunker of about 135.