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Check
this one out!
The
big rock I am holding is one of the two largest matrix opals
in the world - and it was absolutely magnificent!
I
found it in Tanunda, Barossa Valley. The owner, Patrick
Kelly, had for 30 years been digging opals in Coober Pedy,
and had moved South only a couple of years ago to open an
opal shop. He kindly brought the matrix out so I could hold
it. Its weight is nearly 10.000 karat (ab. 2 kg's) and the
estimated value is over 750.000 AUD!! I did offer him a good
price(!), but he said it wasn't for sale at any price, so
there!
....wow...opals
are a girl's best friend, is all I can say.... |
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What
a beauty... |
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Patrick
Kelly keeping close watch over his treasure... |
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That
brings us to one of the most interesting towns along Stuart Hwy. Coober
Pedy is situated about 850 km North of Adelaide, and is a little, dusty
place with lots of surrounding holes in the ground - mine shafts.
In
1915 young William Hutchison was in the area with his father's
prospecting company, searching for gold. They were short of water, and
on that day the adults had gone
searching for something
to drink, leaving William behind in
the camp.
The men later returned, unsuccessful in their search, and found William
had disappeared. They went out looking for him, but had to give up
after a while. The boy was not to be seen. Hours later he came strolling
happily back to camp with a good supply of water and a bag full of
opals. That was the beginning of what should become the world centre of
opals.
A
week later the first opal claim was pegged, but due to extreme heat and
lack of water, the party soon had to leave.
Towards the end of WW1 Australian soldiers returned home from the front,
and some found their way up to Coober Pedy in hope of a fortune in
opal-digging. They had been living in trenches in France for weeks, and
brought back with them the idea of living under ground to escape the sun
during the day. Today about 60% of the population still lives like that.
(More on history later).
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I
stayed at the Experience Motel, close to The Big Winch, from
where you have a great view of the town centre. And it was a
bit of an 'experience' to sleep inside the side of the
mountain. It was pitch black when the lights were off, and,
I thought, a bit stuffy... I kept wanting to open my door to
the hotel corridor to get some fresh air. But it was very
interesting to get a feel of how so many people live. I
certainly noticed the difference in temperature when I went
outside during the day. |
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The
Big Winch |
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Some
images from the motel:
More to come.
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