Opal was first mined in Coober Pedy in 1915 as many settlers arrived from Europe and started the opal industry. Most people live underground and many mine for opals while digging their house as the temperature is cool below ground all year with an average temperature of 25 degrees , even when its hot 50 degrees above. Rough opal from Coober Pedy is ideal for first time cutters as not as expensive as black opal but some have interesting colour bars to cut n polish .virgin opal rough also is obtainable from this field ,basic parcels are good to start with and when experienced try rough that has multiple colours and make good cabochon stones. Source your Coober Pedy opal rough direct from opal miners and opal wholesalers and dealers for your single gem rough opal or parcel Coober Pedy rough opals from South Australia