When you talk about Queensland boulder most people would be thinking that Queensland would have large boulders in there. But the real or slang term for Queensland boulder is Queensland boulder opal.
Most people in the world of opal have given the boulder opal name a shorter name of Queensland boulder. Queensland boulder is found in a few different parts of Queensland’s outback, around the edges of the ancient inland sea. For that matter every opal field that Australia has produced quality opal is situated on the ancient inland sea. This is why fossils in the form of shells and crustations are a common occurrence. Bones and jaws are also found.
Queensland boulder opal is probably next to Lightning Ridge black opal, the second best quality opal the world has produced so far.
It is found in seams in a brown host rock called ironstone. The opal fills the cracks and fissures of the host rock. The boulder opal is a very difficult and messy type of opal to cut, slice and polish. Some of the colors that is produced in boulder opal is blue, green, orange and the most valuable is red. And when the red is on darker based ironstone the value of the opal increases dramatically.
Some boulder opal miners have made a great living from this type of opal but it doesn’t come without it negatives. The boulder fields are so remote that contact with other people are few and far between, so you need to be comfortable with yourself as a friend.
Excavators are the most common type of mining equipment that is used for boulder opal mining. The opal is usually only a few feet under the ground.
Whole hillsides have been excavated to follow seams of boulder opal in hope to find the patch that moves the miner to financial freedom.
For more information on opal cutting or purchasing opal. Please email blackopalsdirect@live.com or you can call me on Skype My username is Blackopaldirect and it's free!
