Australian Boulder opal is unique only to Queensland.
It only occurs in deposits in weathered sedimentary Cretaceous rocks in the west of the state of Qld .Boulder opal is mineral rock
The Term Matrix opal is where the opal occurs as a network of veins or infilling of voids or between grains of the host rock (ferruginous sandstone or ironstone) Opalised wood and pipe opal is occasionally found also Large opal mines often have several bulldozers over large opal leases and partake in extensive exploration for new opal mining fields Boulder opals are mined in Queensland Australia.
Most popular mining towns are Quilpie and Winton but opal mines are spread over huge are of thousands of kilometres and many Boulder opal mine leasing or opal mining tenements are 2-300 kilometres from any town and the summers are extremely hot in the outback deserts of Australia.
Boulder opal is formed in veins thru ironstone material and have an exciting arrange of colours and mixtures. Opal can be clean faced opal or have inclusions of natural brown potch, either way most opals are unique.
Australian Boulder Opal cutters need to be experienced to cut open boulder splits and Boulder pancakes.
Boulder opal wholesalers include Rollingstone Opals, Yowah Opals, Colourmine Opals, True Blue Opals,Opalmania,Boulder magic, Fossil opals. Lightning opals, Opal web,Aussie Gems and more. Please view our opal forums about cutting boulder opal rough and our opal article about drilling holes in boulder opals to make necklace pendants or boulder opal beads or boulder opal jewelry.
Australian boulder information is available in on Boulder Opal help articles including boulder opal rough, boulder opal beads, boulder opal gemstone, boulder opal meaning and opal aboriginal meaning under Opal stories ,Quilpie opals is aboriginal word for Quilpeta meaning Stone Curlew or Judah opal fields meaning Place of big fish as good rivers are nearby these boulder opal fields. Koroit is aboriginal name for muddy water and area has thick clay base earth and Koroit opal is formed as veins in mud and has a very unique appearance.
Most opal fields are now mined by large companies using D8 or D12 bulldozers and heavy mining equipment and is expensive operation to mine for boulder opals.
The Term Boulder Matrix opal is where the opal occurs as a network of inclusions or veins or infilling of voids or between grains of the host rock (ferruginous sandstone or ironstone) .
Rare Opalised wood and rare pipe opal is occasionally found but is rare . Large opal mines often have several bulldozers over large opal leases and partake in extensive exploration for new opal mining fields
Most family type opal miners are now based in Koroit or Yowah as smaller machinery or hand digging for opals is more common.
Boulder opals are mostly cut freeform compared to black opal that is mostly cut oval shape. This id due to larger size pieces that are mined and most have unique freeform shape. Boulder opal slabs are ideal for display as natural or polished, tumbled boulder opal specimens are popular as the tumbling clears out the potch and polished the undulating boulder opal surface. Cavers use boulder opal especially the multi veined opals to make exquisite carvings or boulder scarabs and even boulder opal perfume bottles.
Source your Boulder opals direct from opal miners and opal wholesalers and dealers for your single Boulder gem opal or parcel Boulder opals from Quilpie or Winton Australia
The boulder opal miners hold their annual opal show in Winton in 1st week July.
