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Go to the Queensland mines department online maps at https://georesglobe.information.qld.gov.au and turn on layers for current and historical claims and leases. The satellite imagery will show workings. Don't fossick on current titles, and you may need to get permission from land holders.

Tee Bee, I'm pretty sure the dumps are closed to the public, but no one takes any notice and I've never heard of any one being prosecuted. Just about everyone in the Ridge have spent some time specking, especially after heavy rain. If you are worried then concentrate on the dumps away from the...

Check out this video from Justin at Black Opal Direct, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUXQI-JLAws&list=PL0dRNBV_hxAK6xl_irqOiuWyLK5_L_gVI&index=4&t=0s There are lots of dumps around Grawin, not just the two next to the road. Use Google or Apple Maps to find the dumps away from road, they may...

Nice little stone, Justin sells some good rough. I still remember the first good opal I found, a pocket of 6 top quality blue green opals, $2000 a carat. I was mining with a gouging pick and chipped off a small piece, the blaze of brilliant green is still in my head, that's why I'm going back...

Good score Martyz, I have the same machine that I bought new in 87 while opal mining at Lightning Ridge, cost about $1k with 2 diamond wheels. Plastic lawn mower fuel taps should screw to control water flow to each wheel. Still have the machine as I was always going to go back opal mining...

Boulder opal is not found in WA. Most opal in WA is common opal or fire opal, but precious opal with play of colour was found at the Three Mile Hill Mine, 4.5 km east of Coolgardie. It was first worked in 1904 and last worked 1989, apparently gem opal was found. Don't know much about it and...

Most opal miners don't make any money. If they want opal miners to declare income the have to allow them to average income like other primary producers. But the opal industry is small and the government doesn't give a stuff. Australia is no longer the land of opportunity for the battler. Young...

Black light doesn't work on Lightning Ridge opal, leave the light at home. Best place to spec for opal are the Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard fields, 80 km west of the Ridge. Beside the road there are a couple of large communal opal dirt dumps where there is a chance to find seam opal, they...

Yes VicGoldHunter, you can just go down a hole and have a go, and as long as you are careful it's perfectly safe. I want to encourage people to go opal mining, opal prices are going up and there is still plenty of opportunity to hit it big. You do have to put in the effort, nothing comes easy...

LibreCAD is an easy to use free 2D CAD program, open source and well supported.

Had Ross River Virus in the late eighties while opal mining in Lightning Ridge. For one night I was delirious with a fever that broke about midday, then had bad joint pain that lasted a couple of weeks. I was fine after that and got back to mining, never had any trouble since. Don't believe...

Lovers of opal can get their fix next month in Lightning Ridge. Come along to look at opal, learn it's geology and how it is mined. The Opal festival runs from 25th to the 28th of July. The Opal & Gem Expo boasts over 150 stalls with a huge range of products including gemstones, tools, lapidary...

Thanks everyone and spread the word. If there is a change of government this weekend then maybe Mintabie will have a chance. Thanks for the links, I haven't done 10 posts and can't put links in yet.

The Mintabie opal fields are under threat, the SA government is closing the township and evicting the residents. Many are old, poor, and have lived and worked in this community for decades. Their life style may not be understood by city politicians, but Mintabie is their home and they should not...

G'day Rodney, like your posts, great videos and some beautiful stones, good to have someone spread the word on opal mining. I will be up the Ridge next week and would like to meet you. I'm an opal tragic who caught the opal bug in the late 80's when working a patch at Thorleys Six Mile...

Around Lightning Ridge town fields opal dirt transported to dams and washed, any opal dirt left around the claims is not worth fossicking. About 50 km To the west of Lightning Ridge are the Grawin, Glengary and Sheepyard fields, the opal dirt is not processed and dumped at communal dumps. There...