Are Coober Pedy opals good?
Coober Pedy, SA is considered the Opal Capital of the World. The black opal found in Coober Pedy is considered some of the best in Australia.
Is there still opal in Coober Pedy?
Where Opal is today in Australia. Australia has 95% of the world’s supply of commercial opal and the largest percentage still comes from the 70 opal fields around Coober Pedy.
Where is the opal capital of the world?
northern South Australia
Coober Pedy (/ˈkuːbər ˈpiːdi/) is a town in northern South Australia, 846 km (526 mi) north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. The town is sometimes referred to as the “opal capital of the world” because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there.
What is the most expensive opal?
The Virgin Rainbow This $1 million opal is the world’s most expensive. It was discovered in 2003 by John Dunstan (who has been featured in the Outback Opal Hunters TV show) in the same opal fields as the Fire of Australia. Another interesting fact is it formed and was found within an ancient cuttlefish skeleton.
How much are opals worth?
Once categorized, opals are sold in price per carat, or weight. Because there are so many opal fields in Australia, there really is no singular form of opal. This means that opal costs can vary from about $10 per carat to approximately $6,000 per carat.
Is Coober Pedy opal expensive?
This massive opal specimen comes from Coober Pedy in South Australia and was valued at $1.7 million USD., making it the most expensive opal in Australian history. As you can see, there is no concrete formula for valuing Australian opals because each is so unique.
How much do opal miners make?
The average opal miner rakes in around the equivalent of a $40,000AUD ($37,257) annual salary over the long term, he estimates, but someone might make $180,000AUD ($167,628) in a single day with a big find, but then go years without another opal discovery.
How much of Coober Pedy is underground?
around 60%
Today, around 60% of Coober Pedy’s 3,500 locals live underground. Coober Pedy’s origins lie underground, too. About 100 years ago, a teenager discovered a piece of opal in the area. From there, miners flocked to the region, and soon enough, the town of Coober Pedy – the world’s largest source for opals – was born.
What is the rarest opal colour?
Black opal
Black opal is the most rare and highly valued form of opal, and has what is called a black (or dark) body tone. Black opals come in every colour of the rainbow. Their dark body tone makes the colours on the face of the opal appear rich and intense.