Jewel__A_Celebration_of_Earth_s_Treasures

HALLEY’S COMET OPAL 163

A

ccording to Guinness

World Records, this

impressive rock, which

is roughly the size of a

man’s clenched fist, is the largest

uncut black opal in the world.

It was found in November 1986

by a group of five Australian

miners known as “the Lunatic

Hill Syndicate”. They named it

after the comet that was passing

through the southern skies at the

time of their discovery, which is

only visible from Earth every 75 years.

This nodule, or “nobby”, was found at

an open-cut mine near the outback town

of Lightning Ridge in New South Wales,

which boasts the largest deposits of black

opal on the planet. The syndicate consisted

of two brothers and a small company,

which provided financial backing as well

as the earth-moving equipment. They

operated at the Leaning Tree Claim on

Lunatic Hill. The hill’s curious nickname

dates back to the early days of mining on

the site. Most experienced prospectors

worked on the shallow flats

below it, making their finds just

a few feet below the surface.

Only a madman would start at

the top of the hill, they joked, as

he would need to dig a very long

way before discovering anything.

Nevertheless, a lone miner tried

it and his claim proved to be

the most successful of all. The

syndicate’s efforts certainly

vindicated their adoption of this

painstaking approach, as the

Halley’s Comet opal was eventually located

at a depth of 20m (66ft) below the surface.

Opals hold a special place in the

Australian psyche. It is the country’s

national gemstone and it features in

many legends that predate the arrival of

European settlers. Aboriginal mythology

relates how, in the Dreamtime, the Creator

came down to earth on a rainbow, bearing

his message of peace. Then, at the point

where his foot touched the ground, the

stones turned to opals, sparkling with

all the colours of the rainbow.

Key dates

1705–2013

1700

1900

1980

1990

2010

Early 1900s Australian

prospectors begin to mine

the site at Lunatic Hill

2013 The opal is auctioned

at Bonhams in Los Angeles

2000

... opal resembles a

fraction of the rainbow

softened by a milky cloud

Charles Blanc

Author

Halley’s Comet opal

Opal mine in rural Australia, showing the typical open-cut technique used

to mine opals, whereby material is extracted from the surface rather than from

deeper ground using tunnels

Halley’s Comet opal

at auction, Bonhams,

Los Angeles, USA

△ Full view of the Halley’s Comet opal

1705 The astronomer

Edmond Halley identifies

the comet that now

bears his name

1986 The opal is unearthed

on 3 November at

Lightning Ridge, in

New South Wales

1991 The nodule enters

Guinness World

Records as the largest

uncut black opal

English astronomer

Edmond Halley

1992–95 The Halley’s

Comet opal is displayed

at the Australian Mineral

Museum in Sydney

162-163_STO_Halleys_Comet_Opal.indd 163 18/05/2016 11:40