A - Australian Opals
Opals exist globally, however the largest supply of opals comes from Australia. In fact, Australian Opals make up a whopping 95% of the international supply of opal gemstones.
What makes Australia the prime nursery for opals? It boils down to the geological conditions of certain regions in Australia. These areas contain rock formations that foster the growth and production of sedimentary opal. Opal thrives in specific locations, where millions of years ago geothermal springs flowed. Slowly over time the minerals deep in the earth made their way to the surface and grew in bedrock cavities to form opal.
If you look at a map of Australia and pinpoint these locations, you’ll quickly realize that opal exists abundantly across the country. From the bush to the Outback, Australia is renowned for its natural and geological wonders. The most prominent locations of opal production exist in Australian Opal fields like Lightning Ridge, Queensland, South Australia, Mintabie and Yowah.
Opal is a stunning iridescent natural gemstone made from silica mineral. Unlike its crystalline family members, quartz and agate, opal is non-crystalline, meaning its composition is amorphous silica instead of crystal. What makes opal distinct is its ability to flash fiery colors from the depths of the gemstone. When light hits an opal, the chips of silica inside the gemstone bounce it around and refract it in a vivid display of fiery colors. This is just one of the features that makes opals so popular and in turn, pricey.
Australian Opals have a reputation for being the most expensive opals in the world. After all, the most rare uncut opal, the “Fire of Australia,” is valued at a cool $675,000. This opal specimen is about the size of a softball and worth over a half million dollars
This Cache
1.4.2022 NOTE: THE CLUE FOR THE FINAL IS MISSING FROM THIS CACHE, BUT IF YOU COLLECT ALL THE OTHER NUMBERS, IT SHOULD NOT BE TOO HARD TO WORK OUT THE FINAL COORDINATES.
You will find this cache in a rock cairn - a pile of stones marking the location of the cache
This cache is part of the Opal Muster Tail established for the Queensland Outback Geocaching Muster (QOGM) 2021 Paroo - one of fifteen caches each of which contain part of the coordinates for the Mystery Cache "Opal Muster Tail Final"
Each cache contains a logbook for you to sign. In addition, there are some "opals" in each cache which must be opened to discover which "opal" has the clue to the final. Record your clues to discover the location of the cache "Opal Muster Tail Final".
The image below is how the original cairn for this cache was constructed. PLEASE RETURN IT TO THIS STATE AFTER YOU HAVE REPLACED THE CACHE.
Keep the cache covered but away from the rocks Their summertime heat could deform the plastic. Especially the lid - keep the rock cover ABOVE the cache so it is NOT touching the lid. Thank you for helping prolong the life of this cache.
Happy Fossicking!