Lightning Ridge- History, opal-cutting, opals, mining, travelling there.

Here are links to some other sites that may interest you.

We check each site before adding it to our list, but if you have trouble accessing any site, or problems with the content of a site we have linked to, please email us to let us know. Thank you - we want this page to be a useful one, and value your input.

Opal
What is opal? Information about opal on the website of the Australian Opal and Gemstone Industry Association Opal: Nature's Fireworks Information about opal (opal types, composition, sources, history and lore) on the website of the International Colored Gemstone Association Opal nomenclature A useful paper on opal nomenclature (including a copy of the nomenclature adopted by the Australian Gemstone Industry Council), written by Anthony Smallwood and originally published in 1997 in 'The Australian Gemmologist' NSW Department of Mineral Resources The official website of NSW Department of Mineral Resources; search for 'opal' to find useful information on Australian opal and the opal fields of NSW: mining leases, fossicking for opal, opal photos, safety on the opal fields, maps and more Geology of the Lightning Ridge opal fields Opal and the geology of the opal fields of the Lightning Ridge area Back to top
Lapidary, gemstones and jewellery
The Australian Gemmologist Official journal of the Gemmological Association of Australia Lapidary Journal Web Site of Lapidary Journal, the popular magazine dedicated to lapidary, gems, beads and jewellery arts; lots of useful resources Lou's Rock Shop We specialize in lapidary equipment, tools, supplies, rock tumbler supplies, rock tumblers. Our rock shop has been serving the lapidary hobby, gem & jewelry enthusiast for over 15 years. Rockhounds Information Page A resource page established by members of the Rockhounds mailing list Bob's Rock Shop Heaps of useful stuff for the rockhound or lapidary Meteorites Plus At metorites plus we carry a variety of meteorites at affordable prices. We specialise in Unclassified Stone Chondrite Meteorites, Campo Del Cielo, Canyon Diablo and Sikhote Alin Iron Meteorites. My Diamond Sale.com. Find diamond and gemstone jewelry that will satisfy you, your budget and loved ones Jewelry Shopper- Gold Picture Charm Jewellry Preserve your memories forever in gold! Revolutionary new process allows any photo to be permanently engraved on gold charm jewelry and mirrored key chains. The results will astound you! Colored Stone Gold, silver, fashion and body jewellery. Orient antiques, jewelry, handicrafts, folkart We are suppliers and exporters of the following items:Antique furniture,jewelry,antique accessories, orient folk arts, Asian crafts, antique furniture, Ganoskin.com A large online information centre for anyone interested in gems and jewellery Amber Jewelry from Baltic Heirlooms U.S. based distributor of amber and silver jewelry from the Baltic region of Poland. Amber cameos, Victorian heirloom pendants, contemporary bracelets, rings, and more. DragonWeave Jewelry An online shop of sterling silver jewelry in Celtic, Asian, Gothic chainmail and fantasy designs for pendants, charms, chokers, slave bracelets, earcuffs, rings and more Sun Country Gems Just a click away, but light years beyond an ordinary bead shop! Opal Shop Opal shop - the place where great opal deals are made"; an Australian business seeking to gather and offer information of use to 'opal-minded people'; special offers to members (free membership) All About Pins Lapel pins from All About Pins offers stock custom lapel pins, cloisonne, die-struck, photo-etched and lapel pins for baseball and softball trading. Amber Jewelry "Shop the World by Web offers, amber lamps,amber jewelry, unique & unusual kitchen & garden items. Give a gift that is something special & different. Jewelry Mall A collection of jewellery stores and jewellery-related links, sorted and categorised for ease of use; each store personally visited and reviewed prior to inclusion; free newsletter Sarina's Italian Charms Sarina's Charms Retail & Wholesale Italian Charm Bracelet for modular link bracelets Canadian Diamonds Wholesale certified Canadian diamonds from Canada's arctic diamond mines, fine gold and platinum jewelry. Loose Diamonds, Diamond Earrings, Engagment Rings, Diamond Rings and Diamond Jewelry eDiamondBrokers.com DiamondBrokers specialize in high quality loose diamonds, diamond earrings, engagment rings, diamond rings and diamond jewelry. With over 15000 loose diamonds diamonds to select from and premium cut diamonds in our manufactured jewelry. You'll be able to find the Diamond Jewelry you need. Jewelry Central An online jewellery store offering useful jewellery-related information and a directory of other jewellery-related sites Jewelry Resources A resource site to find out nearly everything you want to know about jewelry. Walsh Brothers Clocks,watches and Jewellery. Craftsmen watchmakers and Jewellers. Jungle Shop; Jewelry Store. Beautiful diamonds, emeralds, ruby and pearls - gold, sterling silver jewelry, gemstones - engagement rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces. Jewelry Link Exchange. Increase your site visability, score some of those valuable points that make you more attractive to major serch engines. Autumn Gallery - Handmade Jewelry in Sterling Silver and Gold At Autumn Gallery, we offer fine quality handcrafted jewelry not available anywhere else in the world. Our jewelry selection includes, contemporary designer styles in sterling silver, gold,and gemstones. Jonathan Lloyd Jewellery-Affordable Gemstone Silver Jewellery, Birthstone Information and Monthly Jewellery Competition. JLJ's range of Jewellery (rings, earrings, pendants) gives you the option of different gemstones to choose from. Enter the JLJ monthly competition. Daniel Lopacki Co. Quality lapidary products, jewellery and lapidary art Back to top
Fossils
The Australian Museum - fossils from Lightning Ridge Information from The Australian Museum, Sydney, on Lightning Ridge as a fossil site Australia's Fossil Past Summary of Australia's fossil past by Michael Archer, professor in vertebrate palaeontology and director of the Australian Museum Lightning Ridge Opal & Fossil Centre Information on the opal and fossil museum proposed for Lightning Ridge Dinosaurs in Australia An educational rescource dedicated to British Fossils, Fossil Collecting Locations and the Geology of the UK. Discovering Fossils An education resource for fossil collectors and those interested in the study of fossils. Australian Dinosaurs - Museum of Victoria A useful overview of dinosaur fossils in Australia, from the Museum of Victoria (Melbourne) Australia's Lost Kingdoms Lightning Ridge fossils and Cretaceous Australia, on the web site of The Australian Museum's year 2000 exhibition 'Australia's Lost Kingdoms'; worth exploring for more on Australia's pre-history The Evolution of Australia's Biota The history of the Australian continent, its plants and animals, from the University of Sydney's course 'Evolution of the Australian Biota'; includes many useful links ABC Facts Sheet: Australian birds Australian birds; includes bird origins and the importance of opalised bird bones fossils from Lightning Ridge Dann's Dinosaur Reconstructions Featuring information about Australian dinosaurs. Dann includes a useful section on Australian Dinosaur books. Back to top
Lightning Ridge
Lightning Ridge The most comprehensive website on Lightning Ridge, world capital of black opal; well worth exploring for information and useful links Lightning Ridge Tourist Association Information about Lightning Ridge and surrounding areas. Lightning Ridge Historical Society Stories and photographs about Lightning Ridge's history Walgett Shire Council Information about Walgett Shire, the NSW local government area in which Lightning Ridge is located, including shire statistics, travel and accommodation, calendar of events Outback Opal Tours Outback Opal Tours provides a great range of tours. Our guides have an extensive knowledge of the area and will take you off the beaten track. Meet the local miners and go places you wouldn't be able to without a guide. Come and experience a little of the unique lifestyle, chat to a miner, watch opals being cut and crafted, and even go down a real mine. Fantastic photo opportunities and experiences you will treasure for a lifetime. Lightning Ridge Miners' Association (LRMA) The non-profit industry body for opal miners in Lightning Ridge, established in 1966 and incorporated in 1974 Black Opal Tours Two- or five-hour guided tours in and around Lightning Ridge and the opal fields, covering opals and opal mining, local history and landmarks and more; pickup available from your accommodation John Murray Art Gallery Lightning Ridge's famous outback artist the Ridge Artspace Providing gallery exhibition space for visual artists. Gemopal Pottery Pottery handmade in Lightning Ridge by artist Graeme Anderson, using clay from the opal mines Fossickers Cottages Self-contained holiday cottages in the heart of Lightning Ridge and the old opal fields. Black Queen The Black Queen is a living example of outback ingenuity. Tour this amazing house with its faboulous walls and a supurb kerosene lamp collection. Back to top
Travelling the Outback
Lightning Ridge Explore this site for info for visitors to Lightning Ridge: accommodation, tours, calendar of events, travel, weather, businesses, attractions etc Tourism New South Wales Holiday information, accommodation and events in New South Wales, provided by Tourism New South Wales, the NSW Government's tourism marketing agency Outback NSW visitor attractions Outback NSW provides a unique Australian experience that brings the visitor in contact with the ancient and spectacular landscape of the Outback. Discover a network of rivers and lakes, astonishing wildlife and meet the Aussie characters who are the spirit of this red land. Lightning Ridge visitor information Lightning Ridge visitor information as part of the 'Outback NSW' Outback Now Everything Outback is just a few clicks away! Outback Australia. Welcome to OutbackNow, the outback Australia travel guide. You can find outback travel tips, outba ck pubs, search for original outback steakhouses and a full range of outback restaurants, outback towns, outback events, outback accommodation, outback shopping and outback camping Travel West Gather your friends and go on a tour that you will all enjoy! Outback Beds Stay in the Outback with friends! Ando's Outback Tours Sydney to Byron Bay via the Outback - get off the beaten track and discover Australia The Darling River Run Welcome to the Darling River Run website, an initiative of Outback NSW Tourism to provide all the information needed to learn about one of Australia's great driving adventures and to discover how best to experience this very special part of Western NSW. The Great Inland Way Information on the Great Inland Way, an inland driving route through New South Wales and Queensland which takes in Lightning Ridge Frommer's Online Travel Guide - Lightning Ridge The Lightning Ridge entry in the online version of Frommer's travel guide Ozvisits A searchable site containing destinations and information for travellers in Australia Back O' Bourke Gallery Back O� Bourke Gallery is located right in the heart of Australia�s accessible outback, Jen is a gifted teacher and a feature of this gallery is her tourist art classes. Coober Pedy Information about opal and about Coober Pedy in South Australia, the world's main producer of light opal
Industry associations
Opal Association Information on opals for consumers and industry Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA) Australia’s trade-accepted non-profit educational authority for gemmology, formed 1945; responsible for producing Australia’s gemmologists by educating and updating members of the gem and jewellery industry, and the general public, about all aspects of gemstones and their substitutes Jewellery Association of Australia (JAA) The Jewellers Association of Australia, established early last century to represent and protect the interests of the jewellery industry and jewellery consumers; covers all areas of the jewellery industry from retailing to manufacturing American Opal Society A non-profit educational organisation whose primary purpose is promoting interest and knowledge of opal. Information, newsletters, calendar of opal-related events, lots of other resources International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) Gem Site, the gemstone information site of the International Colored Gemstone Association Back to top