Skip to content

Free Shipping Australia-Wide!

Blog

Opal Fossils - Australian Opal Cutters

by XINYE ZHOU 10 Dec 2020

Opal Fossils in Australia

 

 

 

Australia is the only part of the world where opalised animal and plant fossils have been found.

 

 

Opal, one of the most beautiful gemstone in the world, treasured for its unique display of flashing rainbow colors, hides out of sight in the Australian outback. For over a century, people have been to the opal mining fields to chase precious opal, finding their fortune. As it turns out, what opal miners have been uncovering is not only just opal, but also opalized fossils, like the gemstones, for 100 million years under a thin veneer of sediment.

 

 

 “

If it were not for the opal miners—many of whom have sharp eyes and regard the fossils with as great a sense of awe as palaeontologists do—we would not have, or know anything about, these fossils.

Jenni Brammall, palaeontologist, gemmologist and long-term resident of the Ridge

 

 

Lightning Ridge in NSW is not only famous for black opals, but also renowned as the opal mining field with the greatest number and diversity of opalised fossils in Australia. Small opalized dinosaurs and primitive early mammalian fossils have been found at Lightning Ridge in NSW, along with shallow marine shellfish and crustaceans.

 

An opalised tone bone of Fostoria, Lightning Ridge, Australia

 

Opalized freshwater mussel shells, Lightning Ridge, Australia

 

Eric the Pliosaur (Cretaceous age marine vertebrate) is probably the most famous opalised fossil which was found at Coober Pedy and now is part of the Australian Museum collection. Not only is the opalised skeleton of this animal preserved, but also the stomach contents of its last fish meal are replaced with opal. At Coober Pedy, SA, opalised fish bones and shelly molluscs are also commonly present.  They are valued based on the appearance of the individual specimen and the intensity of the play of colours.

 

Eric the Pliosaur

 

Spectacular mineral replacement with opal also occurs. The so called ‘opal pineapples’ found at White Cliffs, NSW are opal pseudomorphs of the mineral ikaite. 

 

 

Opal Pineapple

 

 

Source: 

Smithsonian Magazine (2020). Scientists and miners team up to preserve opalized fossils. [online] Available at:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientists-and-miners-team-up-preserve-opalized-fossils-180972734/ [Accessed 10 December 2020]

Geoscience Australia (2020). Opal. [online] Available at: https://www.ga.gov.au/education/classroom-resources/minerals-energy/australian-mineral-facts/opal [Accessed 10 December 2020]

 


 

Prev post
Next post

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose options

Recently viewed

Edit option
Back In Stock Notification
Terms & conditions
Overview

This website is operated by Australian Opal Cutters and Pearl Divers. Throughout the site, the terms “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Australian Opal Cutters and Pearl Divers. Australian Opal Cutters and Pearl Divers offers this website, including all information, tools and services available from this site to you, the user, conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies and notices stated here.

By visiting our site and/or purchasing something from us, you engage in our “Service” and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions (“Terms of Service”, “Terms”), including those additional terms and conditions and policies referenced herein...

Section 2 - General Conditions

We reserve the right to refuse Service to anyone for any reason at any time...

Section 3 - Accuracy, Completeness and Timeliness of Information

We are not responsible if information made available on this site is not accurate, complete or current...

Section 4 - Modifications to the Service and Prices

Prices for our products are subject to change without notice...

Section 5 - Products or Services (if applicable)

Certain products or Services may be available exclusively online through the website...

Section 6 - Accuracy of Billing and Account Information

We reserve the right to refuse any order you place with us...

Section 7 - Optional Tools

We may provide you with access to third-party tools over which we neither monitor nor have any control nor input...

SECTION 8 - Third-Party Links

Certain content, products and Services available via our Service may include materials from third parties...

SECTION 9 - User Comments, Feedback and Other Submissions

If, at our request, you send certain specific submissions (for example, contest entries) or, without a request from us, you send creative ideas, suggestions, proposals, plans or other materials...

SECTION 10 - Personal Information

Your submission of personal information through the store is governed by our Privacy Policy.

SECTION 11 - Errors, Inaccuracies and Omissions

Occasionally there may be information on our site or in the Service that contains typographical errors, inaccuracies or omissions...

SECTION 12 - Prohibited Uses

In addition to other prohibitions as set forth in the Terms of Service, you are prohibited from using the site or its content:
(a) for any unlawful purpose;
(b) to solicit others to perform or participate in any unlawful acts;
(c) to violate any international, federal, state or local regulations, rules, laws or ordinances;
(d) to infringe upon or violate our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of others;
(e) to harass, abuse, insult, harm, defame, slander, disparage, intimidate or discriminate based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race, age, national origin or disability;
(f) to submit false or misleading information;
(g) to upload or transmit viruses or any other type of malicious code;
(h) to collect or track the personal information of others;
(i) to spam, phish, pharm, pretext, spider, crawl or scrape;
(j) for any obscene or immoral purpose; or
(k) to interfere with or circumvent the security features of the Service or any related website...

Section 13 - Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability

We do not guarantee, represent or warrant that your use of our Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure or error-free...

SECTION 14 - Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Australian Opal Cutters and Pearl Divers...

Section 15 - Severability

In the event that any provision of these Terms of Service is determined to be unlawful, void or unenforceable...

Section 16 - Termination

The obligations and liabilities of the parties incurred prior to the termination date shall survive the termination...

Section 17 - Entire Agreement

The failure of us to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms of Service shall not constitute a waiver...

SECTION 18 - Governing Law

These Terms of Service and any separate agreements whereby we provide you Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Australia.

SECTION 19 - Changes to Terms of Service

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to update, change or replace any part of these Terms of Service...

Section 20 - Contact Information

Questions about the Terms of Service should be sent to us at sales@australianopalcutters.com.

Choose options

this is just a warning
Login
Shopping cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping