The Washington times., 1901-07-21
AUSTRALIAN OPAL MINING
Valuable Deposits of White Cliffs
Discovered by Accident.
The Luck of n Hunter While Track
ing kangaroO-POintst to Be Con-
sidered in Valuins the Gems
PecuIiarities of the Harlequin.

Considerable quantities of opals are
found in Queensland and New South
Wales. In the latter State the COM
moner kinds are found in many locali-
ties, especially in the neighborhood of
Orange, but they possess little or no
commercial value. Precious or noble
opals are obtained principally at White
Cliffs in the dry western country,
about $50 miles from Sydney, and 65
miles from Wilcannia. The latter
township is about 100 miles from
Broken Hill, and the whole country is
said TO be rich in minerals. but the de-
ficient water supply seriously retards
the efforts of prospectors.
According to Mr.. E. F. Pittman, in
his work ON The Mineral Resources of
New South Wales" the precious opals
of White Cliffs. as in the case of many
other valuable mineral deposits, were
discovered by accident. In 1883 a hun
ter, while tracking wounded kan
garoo, picked up a piece of the bril-
liantiy- colored mineral on the surface;
after the find had been reported, care
full search of the locality was made,
with the result that several more pieces
were discovered; prospecting trenches
were then excavated, and the gem was
found in stu.
Since that time mining operations
have been carried on continuously,
though sometimes under great difficult
ties. as in time of drought the locality
is very badly provided with water;
q settled industry and thriving town
ship has been established at White
Cliffs. The area within which the min
eral has been found in the district is
about fifteen miles long by about two
miles wide.
Prospecting for precious opal is a de-
cidedly uncertain business. because, as
4 rule there are no indications what
ever on the surface of the occurrence
of the mineral below 1t IS only in very
rare instances that an outcrop of the
gem can be seen. and the usual proce-
dure is to dig a trench or pit In such
position as fancy may dictate, and trust
to luck. Fortunately. sinking is easy,
as the rock is of soft nature, and, in
a fair number Of instances, the opal has
been met with at very short distance
from the surface though a large ma
Jority of the pits are unsuccessful.
For several years the belief existed
among the miners that IT was useless
TO prospect for opals at greater depth
than twelve feet from the surface; but
of late the incorrectness 1f this view
has been proved, and the stones have
been discovered at depth of nearly
fifty feet. According TO an authority
quoted by Mr.. Pittman. there is a Won
derful variety of opal found on the
field, and the prices paid locally run
from zero to f25 per ounce, the ounce
being the unit for purchasing in the
rough. II is rarely that the price paid
exceeds 920 per ounce.
In valuing opals good many points
have to be taken into account Need
less to say, color is the first, red fire,
or red In combination with yellow, blue,
and green being TIE best. Blue by it
self is quite valueless, and green onal !
Is not of great value, unless the color
is very vivid, and the pattern good
That the color should be true is vital
point. However good 1t may be, If IT
yuns in streaks or patches, alternating
with colorless or inferior quality that
As untrue. 1t is Of comparatively small