Interesting facts about Lightning Ridge Australia!!!
Lightning Ridge is a small outback town in north-western New South Wales, Australia, and is located at the start of the Darling River Run, one of Australia's most iconic touring routes. Opal is found in many parts of Australia but it is the elusive Black Opal that has made Lightning Ridge famous. Many believe that this rare gem is the perfect symbol of the town, as the exact nature of Lightning Ridge and its inhabitants remain as mysterious as the Black Opal itself.
Black Opal was first discovered in the 1870s, however, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that word spread about the discovery of a new form of Opal in the area. The true story of Lightning Ridge is one of faith, courage, struggle, and luck, and of almost contemptuous disbelief and bitter feuds with the graziers of the day, who, in their own hypocritical way, formed the first mining syndicate.
Opal Prospecting in the Lightning Ridge: Prospecting is the term used to describe opal mining. Potential miners need to apply for an “Opal Prospecting License” or Mineral Claim before they can begin prospecting. It is important that potential miners remember that prospecting is quite different from mining with different prospecting modern methods.
The population of Lightning Ridge floats in and out seasonally. It is estimated that there is a population of 1200, which is supplemented by over 80, 000 visitors each year. Many people visit Lightning Ridge in the cooler months and leave in Summer due to the extreme heat. Even locals leave during this time. Winter is the best time for fossickers to go ‘specking’ on the Opal dumps, as the rainy season cleans the dirt away and uncovers Opal specks. Also, there are over 200 Opal mining fields in Lightning Ridge.
Here are some of the natural rough opals from the great city of black opal Lightning Ridge, Australia.