Part 9: Gaz Searching for Opal in Outer Space – The Results Will Surprise You

Even after cutting hundreds of Aussie opals, Gaz isn’t done exploring. So, he suited up and headed to the final frontier in search of the galaxy’s rarest gems...

At least he finally got that oxygen tank he’s been chasing for months—turns out, space is the one place where no one questions your need to breathe properly.

🌓 From the Moon

Is there Opal on the Moon?

Sadly, no. The Moon's surface is made up of minerals like anorthite, pyroxenes, olivine, and ilmenite. These are rich in elements like calcium, magnesium, iron, and titanium—but no hydrated silica, which is what opal is made of.

In other words, if Gaz finds opal up there, it’s probably because he dropped it during lunch. We also ran up a bit of a tab getting to the Moon just to confirm it’s a no. If NASA sends a bill, we’re sending it to Chris.

🔴 Mars – Only a 9 Month, 480 Million Kilometre Round Trip

Is there Opal on Mars?

Yes! NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered opal like deposits in Gale Crater, specifically in light toned fracture halos around subsurface cracks. These formations are rich in silica and suggest that water once existed there—key for opal formation.

What does this mean?

Opal on Mars = past water
- Past water = potential habitability
- Habitability = maybe aliens wore opal rings?

Fun fact: Studying Martian opal has even helped scientists understand how some opals form close to Earth's surface. Who knew Gaz’s hobby had interplanetary implications?

Gaz Phones Home (Well, ChrisOpall to Be Precise)

From both the Moon and Mars, Gaz phoned Chris to let him know that Earth did not appear to be flat. Science 1 – Conspiracies 0.

Still, Nothing Beats Aussie Opal

So while Gaz’s lunar and Martian opal hunts were a bit of a bust (and possibly got him banned from NASA), he’ll stick to Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, and Lambina. The colours are better, the gravity is friendlier, and you don’t need a space suit to cut.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL: Yes, I know, I might seem completely bonkers. But hey, if it gives someone a laugh or brightens their day, I’d say mission accomplished. Let’s be real—life’s messy, weird, and way too short to spend it being negative. So why not laugh a little more, judge a little less, and do our best to just get along and enjoy the ride?