Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Andamooka opal fields | Mining Field |
| Andamooka Ranges | - not defined - |
| South Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Type:
Mindat Locality ID:
13139
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:13139:4
GUID (UUID V4):
1975b8da-5044-47e5-86b0-b2568ab20f68
Located 160 km NE of Pimba. Not as large a producer as the Coober Pedy opal fields, but well known for so-called crystal opal, a limpid colourless variety with a strong internal play of colours. This is somewhat like some of the Mexican precious opal, but tends to be more stable.
Andamooka is also well known for matrix opal, the term referring to a microporous opal which often shows a weak play of colours when mined but is enhanced by first soaking the stone in a strong sugar solution and then boiling in sulphuric acid. The hot acid carbonises the sugar, thus giving a black background and enhancing the play of colours. This product is a legitimate gemstone, as long as it is properly labelled as treated matrix opal.
The field was discovered in 1930 and a detailed account of the discovery was given in a letter sent by Mrs. Jean Nugent of Kimba, SA to Australian Gems and Crafts Magazine. This was published in full by the editors, Cyril and Patricia Kovac in the June-July 1977 edition. The letter states that in 1930 two well-sinkers, Roy Shepherd and Sam Brooks, who were working on Andamooka Station, went out one evening to shoot a rabbit as they were short of meat. Roy picked up a stone and threw it to Sam, saying: "Catch this one Sam, it's a pretty one". This was the first piece of precious opal found on the field. The specimen was shown to Mrs. Nugent's husband, "Oxy" Nugent, who confirmed it as opal, having previously worked at Coober Pedy.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities4 valid minerals. 1 erroneous literature entry.
Detailed Mineral List:
| β Alunite Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| β Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| β Kaolinite Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| β Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O Localities: Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australia German Gully, Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australia Hard Hill opal field, Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australia Horse Paddock diggings, Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australia Treloars opal field, Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australia |
| β Opal var. Black Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O |
| β Opal var. Mother of Opal |
| β Opal var. Opal Matrix |
| β |
| β Opal var. Pinfire Opal |
| β Opal var. Precious Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O |
| β Opal var. White Opal References: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| β | Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. Precious Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. Black Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. Mother of Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. Opal Matrix | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. Pineapple Opal ? | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. Pinfire Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | var. White Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| β | Alunite | 7.BC.10 | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| β | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 Β· 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| β | Kaolinite | 9.ED.05 | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | β Opal var. Precious Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | β Opal var. Black Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | β Opal var. Precious Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | β Opal var. Black Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Al | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | β Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | β Opal var. Precious Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | β Opal var. Black Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | β Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Fossils
There are 3 fossil localities from the PaleoBioDB database within this region.BETA TEST - These data are provided on an experimental basis and are taken from external databases. Mindat.org has no control currently over the accuracy of these data.
| Occurrences | 6 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngest Fossil Listed | 101 Ma (Late/Upper Cretaceous) | ||||||
| Oldest Fossil Listed | 125 Ma (Early/Lower Cretaceous) | ||||||
| Stratigraphic Units |
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| Fossils from Region | Click here to show the list. | ||||||
| Fossil Localities | Click to show 3 fossil localities |
Localities in this Region
- South Australia
- Andamooka Ranges
- Andamooka opal fields
- Andamooka Ranges
- South Australia
- Andamooka Ranges
Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect
Australia
- Adelaide SuperbasinBasin
- Eromanga BasinBasin
- South Australia
- Gawler CratonCraton
- Olympic DomainCraton
- Stuart ShelfBasin
- Gawler CratonCraton
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
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References
queensjewelvault.blogspot.com (n.d.) http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-andamooka-opal-necklace-and-earrings.html
Andamooka opal fields, Andamooka Ranges, South Australia, Australia