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Boulder Opal

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Coober Pedy Opal

Opal Auctions has the following categories of white opal;

Under US$100
$100-1000
$1000+
Rough
Shell Fossils

Opal Plus Awards

Opal Plus, the compilers of this website and owners/operators or OpalAuctions.com, have won the following awards since joining the opal industry many years ago.

Lightning Ridge Opal Jewellery Design Show, July 2001

Yowah Opal Show 2004

2nd Prize Designer Jewellery $500-1000

Lightning Ridge Jewellery Design Awards 2005

Gold Coast Business Awards Winner June 2005

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OPAL INDUSTRY NEWS

Sue Britt, Russian Pen Friends, Coober Pedy Times, 19 May 1993.

Christmas greetings recently arrived from Russia – almost in time for Easter. In spite of postal disruption and delays, many Coober Pedy students are still preserving with their Russian correspondence. Their pen friends in Ufa are enjoying their English lessons because of the letters, photos, tapes and souvenir and books sent from Coober Pedy. In taped messages, the Russian students all expressed their love for the Australian and a desire to see this country.

In the same paper:

A coronial inquest into the death of Carmel Gelsomina Ruys was held at Coober Pedy on the 27 th of April and was moved to the Corners in Adelaide. It was finally decided that Mrs. Ruys died of injuries sustained in a fall while on a guided tour of the opal fields near Zorba’s Extended Field.

The police, the Mines Departed and the tour operator gave evidence. The Coroner, Mr Grath Thompson, concluded that Mrs Ruys died as a result of accidental fall, while steeping backwards taking a photograph. However, he added that the incident occurred because proper warning of nearby shafts we not given. He stated, “For locals the shafts and their locations are second nature, but the visitors to this town they are not and visitors to the fields must be individually shown every shaft in close proximity”.

The policy of tour operators came under attention. He added that tour operators taking people to working fields scattered with shafts have changed their policy to some extent. There is at least one operator out of five or so who still partakes in guided tours to working mines, and does so at their own risk. He further added that if an occurrence of incidents similar to this occurs again, and after warning such as this media release, those operators would be liable to culpable manslaughter chargers.

Massive Explosion, Coober Pedy Times, 16 June 1993.

It was a scene reminiscent of deserted battlefield, twisted fingers of steel pointing skywards. Almost unrecognisable among the wreckage lay the remains of $25 000 worth of opal mining machinery. The blower was recognised y tis distinctive hopper, almost at right angles to where it should be, but the generator truck was simply a mangled mess of steal. The power of the blast that destroyed them must have been awesome; debris was recovered as far afield as 220 metres from its source.

The destroyed equipment was owned in partnership by Sammy Wong and Danny Stefanovic and once can only wonder what might have gone through their minds when the coming upon this scene of utter devastation. The incident occurred on Tuesday night or early morning of 8 / 9 June and at this stage the police is not sure of any definite motive for this act of sabotage, but being Coober Pedy, rumours are rife. Any persons having any information, which may be of assistance to the police, are urged to come forward now and disclose what they know. All information will be treated confidently.

There has been no advice so far on just what kind of explosive material was used, or how much, obviously a large amount. Machinery on adjoining claims in Dead Horse Gully were mostly untouched, which is rather amazing given the force of the blast and subsequent scattering of shrapnel over a large area. Police investigators were flown in to asses the damage and possible action to follow. The incident is of grave concern and perhaps right now is the time to restrict almost unlimited access to potentially life threatening explosives.

Pliosaur comes home, Coober Pedy Times, 15 December 1993.

Eric, the opalised pilose currently touring Australia, is finally visiting his home state. Eric, a fast swimming marine reptile fossil, was discovered in Coober Pedy in hundreds of pieces in 1987. The opalised fragments were brought by a Sydney businessman who financed the 450 hours required to reconstruct the shattered skeleton. It was an exciting find because although many pliosaur skeletons have been found overseas it is only Australia that they are opalised. More than 90% of the skeleton was resembled complete with the fishy remains of its last super found in its stomach, making the Coober Pedy specimen the most complete example fond to date in Australia.

In late 1992 Eric was placed on sale by tender, when the owner’s firm went into liquidation. Amidst fears that he would be bought by an overseas collector, as no museum is Australia had the funds to purchase the pliosaur, the ABC TV quantum program launched a highly successful “Save Eric Fund”. In just three weeks more then 2 500 individuals, families and groups, responded with cash donations. Future support was provided by the Australian company, Akubra hats, and the sponsors of Eric’s national tour. Eric was saved for Australians to treasure. The seal like Eric will be on display at the South Australian Museum from 6 December 1993 to 10 January 1994 and in Whyalla from 25 January 1994.

Murder on the Opal Field, Coober Pedy Times, 23 January 1994.

At a preliminary hearing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, unemployed Coober Pedy miner Miho Christian Alavija was found to have a case to answer on the charge of murder of a German backpacker.

Opal Miner Killed, the advertiser, 22 September 2004.

A second – generation opal miner, Tom Kyrtzaliotis, was crushed to death in a freak accident in his mine when an overhanging cliff collapsed on the excavator he was operating at Coober Pedy. The rescue crews were alerted when Mr. Kyrtzaliotis, Adelaide Business partner, Arthur Pandeli, failed to get an answer from his mobile phone. It was too late when they arrived. He was the only son of Nakos Kyrtzaliotis, who came to Australia from a village near Thessalonika, in the north of Greece, in 1958. Tom was the oldest of three children and was only one week old when the family arrived at Coober Pedy.

Friends yesterday described him as a man of passion and conviction, full of life and energy and always ready to help others. Yanni Athanasiadis, senior member of the town’s Greek business community, said many people were in tears at a gathering yesterday.

Opal Strike, the Advertiser, 24 February 2005.

Coober Pedy miner john Dunstan has sparked an opal rush on a discussed field in the Woomera Restricted Area. Rare painted ladies and much sought – after black opals are among his finds at Allan Rise, 50 kilometres south of Coober Pedy. His discoveries in the past few months have bought a flood of mines to the field. He said he was of the opinion that this field would produce opal worth many millions of dollars. “It will be like a gold rush, we have already seen 100 claims pegged and will see a lot more in the future”.

He found two significant parcels of black opal there just before Christmas and two beautiful big painted ladies in the past two weeks. The opal field, which has been destroyed for most of the past 35 years, has been brought to life by his discoveries. He said, “It is the most exciting discovery at Coober Pedy in the past 15years. There are nine mine drills, two tunnelling machines, two bulldozers, and three excavators here and a heap more will be coming in the next few weeks. Some have already found good traces and I believe that one if the mining companies will find a multimillion –dollar claim. It was a miner in the 1970’s with only a pick and shovel that rediscovered Allan Rise when he found a patch of opal worth $200 000, and it has virtually been untouched since.”

Coober Pedy Mayor, Steve Baines, said it was the best thing to happen to the town for a long time. “Years ago we had 200 to 300 miners working here everyday, but now we are lucky to have 30 or 40 and we are hoping that this will reinvigorate the industry,” he said. The Northern Regional Development Board’s Ross Sawers said the discoveries were vitally important for the town, raising enthusiasm in mining and helping the economy.

Mr Dunstan was working his excavator when he found the painted ladies. He said, “I could see this beautiful stone looking up at me from the excavator bucket. We could easily have missed it and the other half, which we fond later. We had no idea just how beautiful they were until we brought them home and cleaned them up.”

Painted lady, the Advertiser, 16 July 2005.

A large rare opal is out of hiding, on display and up for sale at Coober Pedy. The painted Lady worth about $65 000 was originally found in 1983. It was displayed during the America’s Cup celebrations in Fremantle. Western Australia, the same year but has since remained in a secret location until now. It’s understood that the rare 80kg to 100kg specimen has spent more then 20 years in the underground dugout of the miner who discovered it.

Trevor berry of the Old Timers Mine and Museum has been asked to sell it on behalf of the owner, who doesn’t want his identity revealed. Mr. Berry said the painted Lady was the largest of its type ever found in Coober Pedy. “It’s wonderful to have this amazing Painted Lady at the Old Timers Mine and Museum and it’s not just the tourist who are amazed y its size,” he said. “The locals are seeing it for the first time and are excited too. To have such an impressive opal on display and for the sale at the museum is not only great for business, but it’s an excellent boom for the town.”

So far he has not received any serious offers, but he was sure it would be sold soon. Tourism Minister Jane Lomax – Smith said, “The Painted Lady is a reminder to everyone of what an exciting town that Coober Pedy is. Coober Pedy producers over 80% of the world’s opal, so it’s not surprising that such a rare piece as the Painted Lady is now on show at the museum.”

The giant gem is in three pieces and received its name because of its description – when the quartzite rock, which it’s on, is broken, it looks like an artist has painted it there. Earlier this year the discovery of two parcels of black opal and Painted ladies by John Dunstan at Coober Pedy which are believed to be worth many thousands of dollars caused a flurry of excitement.

Opal & Local News, Sunday Mail, 31 July 2005.

A centrelink investigation has revealed rampant welfare cheating in Coober Pedy’s opal mining industry . The agency says miners often use Internet action websites to quickly sell their opals and are not declaring income from the sales. They then claim benefits such as the dole, which in some cases is more than $150 a week . The 18 months investigation has uncovered 118 miners illegally claiming money of which 58 have to repay it.

Opal Bracelet

My Australian opal bracelet is probably my most prized possession. The bracelet part itself is made of beautiful white gold of a high purity (although I could not tell you the carat of it, as I rarely pay attention to such things.) It is made with an intricate Celtic weaving design which looks just absolutely stunning on my wrists. There are all sorts of swirls and crosses, zigzags and flowers flowing in a continuous pattern all around the perimeter of the Australian opal bracelet. The best part of the bracelet, however, is the beautiful opal stone at the center of it.

The opal bracelet is made with one of those lovely, iridescent kinds of opal which so rarely keep their beauty unless expertly preserved. This one is filled with a swirl of turquoise and deeper blue with flecks of shining bright green and gold in the middle. It is really a beautiful opal bracelet, and you can stare into the stone for hours. Believe me, when I first got the opal bracelet, I lost whole days to staring into the lovely depths of that stone. Although the design on the opal bracelet is exquisite, it is the stone itself which makes it one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.

You see, there are no other stones which are as interesting as opal. Sure, diamonds, rubies, and sapphires all shine brighter, but what is so special about merely reflecting light. An opal stone is a gem that has depth and character, something that you can just look at deeper and deeper until you are lost in its depths and textures. Wearing, say, a diamond necklace or a sapphire choker merely says that you have money, albeit lots and lots of money. But wearing an opal bracelet says that you have class and good taste, and perhaps hints as well at untold depths of your soul which have yet to be plumbed by whoever you are making the acquaintance of.

The strangest thing about my opal bracelet is that I can't remember where or when I got it. I guess I would be almost tempted to think that I always had it, except for the memory of, when I was a teenager, not having any jewelery that I liked, and heading out to the thrift store to get some. There is no way I would have felt deprived of jewelery if I had already had the Australian opal bracelet at that point!

Opal Earrings

My birthday is in the month of October. As I was growing up I was giving several different pieces of jewelry with my birthstone. The birthstone that is most often shown for the month of October is a bright pink zircon. I have never cared too much for the birthstone jewelry because the stone has a cheap look to me. I happened to mention this to my husband one day when we were looking into a jewelry case. The sales clerk over heard me and said that the actual birthstone for October is opal. She stated that pink zircon was often substituted because opal is such a soft stone so it does not wear as well. Many people like to wear birthstone pieces on a daily basis and opal does not stand up to that kind or wear.

I have always liked opals. There are many colors of opal as well as the traditional milky stone. Our wedding anniversary was a few weeks after we had the conversation with the jewelry clerk. For our anniversary we went out for dinner to one of our favorite restaurants. After we ordered our dinner my husband handed me a beautifully wrapped gift box. Inside was a pair of opal earrings. I was very pleased with the gift. The opal earrings were a fiery blue color that had many other colors as they reflected the soft lighting in the restaurant. The waitress had appeared with our salads as I was still admiring the opal earrings. She stated that her birthday is in October so that the opal is her favorite gem stone. I explained to her that I had just recently learned that the opal was my birthstone. As we were discussing October birthdays we discovered that we had been born on the same day.

Our laughing and lengthy conversation brought the manager over. He noticed the gift wrap on the table from the box that the opal earrings had been in. He asked if it was my birthday. We explained that it was our wedding anniversary. The manager had a bottle of wine sent to the table to help us celebrate the occasion. At the end of the meal a group of the waiters and waitresses brought over a piece of cake for us to share and sang us an anniversary wish. I told my husband that we should take anniversary gifts along to restaurants all the time if it meant free wine, dessert and special treatment.

The next day I wore my opal earrings to work. My co-workers thought they were very attractive.

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