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Is there still opal mining in Australia?

Asked by Anonymous Sep 02, 2026 1 views 1 answers
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Answered Sep 02, 2026

Yes, commercial opal mining remains an active and culturally significant industry in Australia, which supplies the vast majority of the world's precious opal gems. Key mining regions include Coober Pedy and Mintabie in South Australia, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales—famous for its rare black opals—and various fields across Queensland. Miners ranging from independent prospectors using small machinery to larger commercial operations continue to extract these gemstones from arid desert terrain. While production volumes fluctuate based on economic conditions, tourism interest, and new claim discoveries, Australia remains globally synonymous with opal mining and continues to export high-grade gemstones to international markets.

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