OPALS - Fossicking. Where?
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 09, 2013 at 11:59
ThreadID:
102670
Views:
2665
Replies:
3
FollowUps:
0
This Thread has been Archived
Member - Wamuranman
Hi All,
Interested in going
fossicking for opals later this year and was wondering where the best place to go would be in Queensland (only). Some say
Opalton but there are also
places on the map at Bull Creek, Blackgate, west of Quiplie and south of
Toompine for example. Has anyone got recent experience (last Post for Opal
fossicking was 2007) of where we could head with a good prospect of finding some opals. Remoteness is not a problem as we have an off road van and can be self contained for about 7 days with water. Suggestions welcome. Thanks.
Cheers
Reply By: Member - D&G SA - Sunday, Jun 09, 2013 at 12:30
Sunday, Jun 09, 2013 at 12:30
have a look at the Qld Gov web site - Dept Natural Resources and Mines
http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/mining/fossicking-areas.htm
You will have fun wherever you go but do remember that there are professionals out there, spending thousands and still not finding anything. Your chance of finding lots of opal is very remote. All the opal fields have pegged claims that you should not wander onto - at your peril!!!
Opalton has a
good camp site with hot showers - just a couple of dollars a night to stay there.
You can
camp at the
Yowah rest area, donation requested and then try your luck on the mullock heaps.
Duck Creek and Sheep Yard flat, east of
Toompine are also good spots to try your luck.
Have a great time and even the smallest speck of colour will give you the bug.
Do remember when out on the fields, not to walk backwards -
old mine shafts abound in some areas.
AnswerID:
512835
Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Sunday, Jun 09, 2013 at 13:20
Sunday, Jun 09, 2013 at 13:20
Antartica is a good place for opals. Just north of the pole with the flag on.
Then again nobody tells you where they find all the good opals.
Actually around
White Cliffs is the only place we have had any real success with opals.
Neil
AnswerID:
512841
Reply By: Member - Coldee - Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 20:31
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2013 at 20:31
Just across the QLD border in NSW you have
Lightning Ridge. I know you don't want to go there BUT there are a lot of smaller fields close ( by outback standards ) by such as Glengarry. Cross at
Hebel and you wont drive through or near any big towns.
AnswerID:
512967