10 years ago production was high in Cochran opal fields or Glengarry,Sheepyards but production is down now as not many new leases have been opened by the mines department.
Generally opal rough is sold by Ounce or grams and rare to find parcel now that hasnt been sniped by miner as chance of letting a valuable opal go in a parcel ,Virgin opal rough parcels are harder to find.
Good black opal rough should only be cut by professionals as the chance of new cutter rubbing good colour away is high. we suggest new cutters get good lapidary equipment and practise on smaller parcels before cutting good opal rough Source your black rough singe opals direct from opal miners and opal wholesalers and dealers for your single rough gem opal from lightning ridge Australia.
The Lightning Ridge opal show, home of the black opal is held every august with every second year a jewellery competition and are building a Opal and Fossil Center Only a few black opal mines are open cut as very expensive most miners are worked by teams in traditional methods but with vacuum blowers agitators and jack hammers. Old opal fields have been worked out like in Cochran and Glengarry but theres are still miners looking for opal pockets of that elusive black opal gem!
