Marilyn Thipthorpe
Have you seen what is believed to be the finest Opal ever unearthed. Named the ‘Virgin Rainbow’, this astounding gemstone was dug up by miners in the desert town Coober Pedy of South Australia. It has been valued at over $700,000 USD as its beauty exceeds that of any other opal ever discovered. “It’s of unequalled quality, it’s a fully crystal opal,” says museum director Brian Oldman. “It’s almost as if there’s a fire in there; you see all different colours. As the light changes, the opal itself changes. It’s quite an amazing trick of nature. Due to a very specific geographical history, nearly 90 percent of the opals of our world have been unearthed in South Australia.
In fact, the town of Coober Pedy is where the first opal was discovered in 1914 by a boy by the name of Willie Hutchison. Excavation of these stunning creations of nature are still very much under way. Though this may be our most remarkable opal on record, a more brilliant stone may be lying in wait.