Outback Articles

Earth Yields Another Opulent Boulder Opal

Earth Yields another opulent boulder opal. A Quilpie man has discovered a boulder opal expected to rival the $1.2 million Galaxy opal found in 1989.

Opal Miners Queensland president Greg McKay was with miner Allan Kisiel when he cut the boulder 5 weeks ago to expose the 11cm x 9 cm gemstone. "There was elation.  It's not every day that you get a piece of that quality and size," Mr McKay said. Mr Kisiel, who has been mining for 25 years, excavated the stone in about 18m of sandstone on his leased claim on cattle land abut 265km northwest of Quilpie.  He has already sold it to a private cutter for an undisclosed price.

"The money side is important but not that important," he said.  "I enjoy searching for treasures of the earth, which is opals."

He intends to continue mining after celebrating his good fortune.  "I might splash it around and go for a holiday,' he said, shen asked how he would spend his windfall.

The Galaxy opal, unearthed in Jundah, was the about the same size as this one, Mr McKay said.

Source:The Courier Mail, Monday 6 November 2006 by Tuck Thompson

May 03 2011