Where does precious opal come from?
Most precious opal (opal with play-of-color) used in gems comes from Australia. The principal opal mining areas in Australia are Mintabie, Coober Pedy, and Andamooka in South Australia; White Cliffs and Lightning Ridge in New South Wales; and a number of localities in Queensland including Yowah, Quilpie, and Opalton. However, precious opal with wonderful play-of-color has also been found in many other places, including Piaui State in northern Brazil; Honduras; various localities in Mexico, but particularly Queretaro; the Virgin Valley area of Nevada; Spencer, Idaho; Opal Butte, Oregon; Vernon, British Columbia; Cervenica and Dubnik, formerly in Hungary but now in Slovakia.
