Black Opal Mining: Lightning Ridge

Come on the quest to Australia to hunt one of the most phenomenal gemstone discoveries from 1902, the black opal. Black opal is the most valuable and expensive species of opal globally. This opal is primarily mined in Lightning Ridge, Australia. Join JTV CEO and President Tim Matthews on an adventurous hunt for black opal.

Lightning Ridge black opal has a thin layer of precious opal over dark potch opal; even though it's called "black opal," the entire stone is not black and has a variety of vibrant colors! Keep in mind that black opal has average opal is also October's birthstone with an assortment of other opal species such as fire opal, boulder opal, dendritic opal, pink opal, and more! The process is long and takes dedication, going through nearly 60 tons of gravel daily.