Our store is currently on vacation and will reopen in 10th January 2025.
Our store is currently on vacation and will reopen in 10th January 2025.
Lightning Ridge is a town in north-western New South Wales, Australia. In Walgett Shire, near the southern border of Queensland, 5 km off the Castlereagh Highway.
Opal Mining is the main activity of the town
Absolute Opals & Gems Pty Ltd, (Australia) are second generation Gem-Stone Miners, Cutters and Black Opal Lightning Ridge Wholesalers. We specialise in, Australian Black Opals directly from the mines, (including boulder opal, opal cabochons and opals rough). You will find us located in the heart of the busy mining town of Lightning Ridge NSW.
We prospect for opal with a 9 inch auger drill. When promising material is discovered we drill a 3 foot diameter shaft down to a depth that bottoms on the opal bearing level.
When, what appears to be payable material is found, we lower a mechanical digger down the shaft.
The dirt is extracted by a “blower” which in reality is more akin to a giant vacuum cleaner.
The truck is taken to the “agitator” - where the extracted dirt is washed. 10 truckloads of dirt go into each batch of wash, which wears down and becomes concentrate.
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