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At Lightning Ridge, palaeontologists, opal miners and fossil collectors come together to dig up precious relics
In north-west New South Wales, the opal mining town of Lighting Ridge sits atop a Cretaceous coastal flood plain. The dry, eucalypt and acacia-covered landscape around here is just its latest ...
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Opal mining 'ballrooms' carved out beneath Lightning Ridge threaten to collapse roads in state's gemstone capital
Bill Kotru has seen many mines give way during the 43 years he has been digging for opal in Lightning Ridge, but he now fears another collapse will soon take a local road with it. Authorities have ...
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Why black opal is one of the most expensive gemstones in the world
Narrator: High-quality black opal can cost over $10,000 per carat, making it one of the world's most expensive gemstones. But mining black opal isn't easy. After investing tens of thousands of ...