Part 8: Different Types of Australian Opal – By Field and Region

Before you begin buying and cutting opal, it’s essential to understand that not all opal is the same. Australia is home to several unique opal fields, each producing opal with different qualities, colours, and cutting characteristics. Some stones are soft and forgiving, while others are harder or riddled with sand and inclusions. In this part of the series, we break down the most well-known Australian opal types by region, giving you a clear overview of what to expect from each field. 

If you're looking to buy rough opal to cut, start by watching live sales for at least a few weeks and ideally from a variety of sellers. This gives you a chance to recognise different material types and understand their price ranges. Pay close attention to the buyers too, are they actual cutters? Are they showing the results of what they’ve cut? Don’t be afraid to message them and ask what they think of the material. But be cautious—some sellers use fake accounts to drive up bids. Yes, that really happens.

Take your time to watch, learn, and observe how price per carat compares across different rough types. For example, low-grade Coober Pedy practice material might sell for as little as $1 to $3 per carat. It likely won’t show much colour, if any at all, but it’s a great way to get started and build confidence. I recommend starting with this type of material and cutting straight away—just be sure to take proper safety precautions, including wearing a P2 mask and safety glasses in a well-ventilated workspace.

Where Does Australian Opal Come From?

Australia produces over 90% of the world’s precious opal, and it all comes from a handful of unique locations spread across some of the harshest terrain in the country. From the famous Coober Pedy in South Australia to Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, each field is known for distinct types of opal—white, black, boulder, and crystal.

This map highlights the major Australian opal fields, including Lambina, Mintabie, Andamooka, White Cliffs, Yowah, Quilpie, Winton, and more. Each region has its own story, geology, and colours.

In the sections below, we’ll explore some of these fields in detail—starting with the iconic Coober Pedy.

Coober Pedy Opal – South Australia, Australia

Coober Pedy is Australia’s largest opal field and is known for its white and crystal opals. These stones often feature a light or clear body tone with bright colour play across the surface. Coober Pedy opal is typically easier to cut than black opal due to its consistency and smoother seams. However, you still need to watch for horizontal sand lines and occasional soft spots. Crystal opals from Coober Pedy can be stunning when polished correctly, offering a brilliant, glassy finish that displays colour from many angles.

Lightning Ridge Opal – New South Wales, Australia

Lightning Ridge is world-renowned for producing black opal, considered the rarest and most valuable of all opals. These stones typically have a dark body tone, which enhances the brilliance of the colour play. Colours can include red, blue, green, and multicolour rolling flash patterns. Lightning Ridge opals can range from soft potch and colour seams to extremely hard nobby opal. Cutting often requires careful planning to preserve the best colour bar while avoiding sand spots or potch domes. These opals are highly sought after by collectors and jewellers around the world.

Queensland Boulder Opal – Queensland, Australia

Boulder opal forms in ironstone matrix and is almost always cut with the host rock attached. These stones come from central Queensland and are known for their vibrant flashes of colour against dark brown backing. Boulder opal can be challenging to cut due to its uneven shape and tendency to include natural pits or fractures. However, when finished correctly, the result is a stunning stone with incredible depth and contrast. It's one of the most durable opals due to the ironstone base, making it ideal for jewellery settings.

Lambina Opal – South Australia, Australia

Lambina produces high-quality crystal and white opals, similar to Coober Pedy but often with brighter and more vibrant colours. Lambina rough often comes in rounded nobby-like forms and sometimes has colour bars on both sides, allowing for double-sided cutting. While availability is lower compared to Coober Pedy, Lambina opals are appreciated by cutters for their clean colour bars and impressive brightness. Be mindful of internal sand lines, which can run vertically through the rough and impact cutting outcomes.

Mintabie Opal – South Australia, Australia

Mintabie opals were once highly prized for their dark body tone and vivid colour play. Although the field has been officially closed for mining, many cutters still work with Mintabie rough or pre-mined stock. These opals often resemble black or semi-black opals and are easier to polish than Lightning Ridge material. The rough can contain fine colour bars and is generally more stable, making it a favourite among experienced cutters. Mintabie opals tend to show rolling flashes in blue, green, and orange-red tones.

Andamooka Opal – South Australia, Australia

Andamooka opals are often found as matrix opal or crystal opal (pictured above). Some material is naturally coloured, while others require sugar treatment to bring out the play of colour. Cutting Andamooka matrix opal is a different process than cutting solid opal—requiring stabilisation and treatment. Untreated Andamooka crystal opal, however, is beautiful and bright, with pastel colours and delicate patterns. Care must be taken when working with this material, as it can be porous or soft in spots. These opals are great for learning about different cutting techniques.

White Cliffs Opal – New South Wales, Australia

White Cliffs is one of the earliest opal fields in Australia and is known for producing white and crystal opals, often with pale or milky backgrounds. The material can be brittle and sometimes contains sandstone matrix, which makes cutting more challenging. When clean pieces are found, they can produce beautiful colour play in blues, greens, and soft pinks. White Cliffs opals are popular with collectors due to their historic significance and limited modern availability.