In Australia, precious opal is found in Cretaceous age sandstones and mudstones. These sedimentary rocks were deeply weathered and this weathering released silica into the groundwater.Australia is the only part of the world where opalised animal and plant fossils have been found. Opal artefacts several thousands of years old have been discovered in East Africa. As early as 250 BC the Romans prized opals, thought to have come from mines in Eastern Europe, the ancient world's main source of opals. There are many aboriginal dreamtime stories that feature opal. Australian opals discovered during the late 1800's found little favour with European markets but their commercial value increased in the 1900's and in 1932 Australia took over as the major producer of opals in the world and remains the largest producer to this day. Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world's precious opal and it is our official national gemstone. Opal was first mined commercially at Listowel Downs in Queensland in 1875 and later at White Cliffs in NSW. Today, Coober Pedy (SA) is the main producer of white opal, though in recent years this field has expanded and all types of opals are found. Other centres in SA include Andamooka and Mintabe. Lightning Ridge (NSW) is renowned for black opal and formerly White Cliffs was a large producer of high quality opal. Boulder opals (opals in concretionary ironstone) are mined in Queensland from numerous localities in a zone extending from the Eulo and Cunnamulla district in the south and northwest for a distance of over 700 km to Kynuna in the north. The towns of Quilpie, Yowah and Winton are the main opal mining and wholesale centres. Opals are considered gemstones and have been used in jewellery for thousands of years.Throughout much of history, opals were actually believed to be good luck. The Romans thought that opals were one of the luckiest gemstones and a symbol of hope. In the Middle Ages, opals were believed to be bestowed with all the positive properties of coloured gemstones due to its rainbow-like play of colour. Finally, there is a superstition that you should not wear an opal unless it is your birthstone otherwise misfortune will befall you. This, of course, is far-fetched, but the notion could have been promoted in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries by diamond traders who were trying to increase sales of diamonds and deter people from buying opals. Possibly related to this is the thought that you should set opal jewellery with diamonds as their powers of good fortune will override any negativity held by the opal. The great majority of opal does not show play of colour and is called common opal or potch however this is not the case with a precious opal. Opal is a precious gemstone, like rubies, emeralds or diamonds. Opal is rare, and it is expensive to prospect and mine for.Silica is one of the most common minerals on the planet, but precious opal is very rare – far more rare than diamonds. Precious opal is rare because the natural processes that create it rarely occur.Most (at least 95%) of the opal found by miners is common opal without gem colour. In Australia we call it potch. It can be white, grey, black or amber coloured. Even when a miner finds gem-coloured opal, most of it can’t be cut into gemstones because it’s too thin, or sandy. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.It is not known where this opal originated, except that it is probably from Victoria, as it has been recorded from many localities in the State. Common Opal is formed from silica-rich water circulating through rocks near the Earth’s surface. It consists of minute spheres of silica arranged in different ways. In common opal, the spheres are of different sizes and randomly arranged, unlike in precious opal where the spheres are of similar size and uniformly arranged in three dimensions. These differences account for common opal generally being translucent to opaque and without the play of colours, or opalescence, displayed by precious opal. Common opal is found in many localities and different geological environments throughout Australia and the world. Precious opal requires special conditions to form and is much less common. Australia produces most to the world’s precious opal. burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, precious opal, opal, brazil, mexico, honduras, queensland, coober pedy, gemstones, jewellery, play-of-colour, light blue

Common Opal is a mineraloid that is non crystallising and is classed as an amorphous silicate, the chemical composition for Opal is SiO2 nH2O. Opals can develop in weathered sedimentary rock typical in arid regions where limited water enters small gaps in the rock, and the silicate is hydrated. Common opals, unlike precious opals, do not exhibit ‘play of colour’ in which the colour appears to change depending on the angle of view. While precious opals are highly valuable and cut as gemstones for jewellery, common opals can be cut into inexpensive gemstones and are also mined for various uses including as ingredients in ceramics, insulation, fillers, and abrasives. The source of this common opal specimen is unknown, but common opals are found around the world, notable deposits are found in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Peru, Kenya, Nevada, Oregon, and Mexico. This common opal specimen is of historic and scientific significance due to its donation in 1868 as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria and as a typical example of uncut common opal. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A palm-sized amorphous (non-crystallising) hydrated silicate mineraloid specimen in shades of brown, orange, and white.Existing label: Common Opal / Locality unknowngeological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, common opal, opal, mineraloid, amorphous silicates, hydrated silicate

It is not known where this opal originated. Common Opal is formed from silica-rich water entering the earths crust and hardening into a gel of water and silica-spheres, layered through the specimen. Common opal differs from precious opal in colouration and appearance, with precious opal including more colours, and having a translucent or glossy appearance, where common opal shows less colour and is typically opaque. It scores high on the Mohs hardness scale, and is common throughout the world, especially in Australia, where it is far more prevalent than the highly-prized precious opal. Australia is also the highest producer of opals in the modern world. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A solid, silica-based mineral specimen of Common Opal in shades of grey, green, and yellow, with a thick grey vein running through the centre. geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, opal, common opal, gemstone, mining

There are 17 opal fields in Australia. This opal bearing stone was found in Lightning Ridge, NSW over what is known as the Great Australian Basin. This basin was formed and covers an area of 1.7 million square kilometers in eastern Australia in the Cretaceous period. This basin used to contain an inland sea, which provided an environment where silcrete eventually formed when water levels changed. This eventually seeped into other structures, and eventually hardened and formed opal. Lightning Ridge has a population of around 2000 people, with about 80 000 visitors every year. It is a historic mining town, and is known for its deposits of a rare black opal. Mining started in the area in the late 1800s, early 1900s when the black opal was discovered. This opal-bearing stone is of social and historical significance. It is from Lightning Ridge, which is well-known for being a large producer of opal stones, most famously black opal. The history of the period dates back to 140 million years, with the discovery of black opal in the early 1900s causing interest in the area. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.***A palm-sized solid mineral specimen in shades of beige and light orange*** silica based? burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, opal, opal fields, australia, lightning ridge, new south wales, great australian basin, cretaceous, silcrete, black opal, mining

The Society again arranged a float for the festival parade. Members dressed appropriately to the theme "Pioneers of Eltham". The parade commenced at 12 noon, participants assembling at 11.30am in Cecil Street. As in past parades, several members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society. The Society also arranged a display at the Eltham Community Centre in association with the activities there over the Festival weekend. The theme of this year's display was the waterways of the local area.35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome Cardeltham, eltham festival, parade, parade floats, central park, doug orford, eltham shire office, garnet burges, joh ebeli, opal smith, panther place, peter bassett smith, peter bassett-smith, russell yeoman, victorian folk music society

Standing L-R: Mrs Opal Smith, man obscured, Mr Norm Williams, Mr Nankervis, Mrs Nankervis, Mrs Marjorie Smith Motschall; Seated L-R: Mr Phillips (looking down), Mrs Phillips (looking away), Mrs Beryl Read, Mrs Lilian Rumney. The commemorative plaque explains the functions of the various items used in the Victorian 150th Anniversary Monument and Time capsule.Colour photograph1987, activities, eltham community centre, time capsule

B+W photograph on front mount studio portrait (B+W) of lady seated on upholstered chair (carved wood), man standing behind occasional table. Man is dressed formally (Bow tie and stiff shirt); whiskered- beard & moustache. Inscription: Front: the crown studios Sydney - printed on board. Back: (P.T.O).Back: Handwritten: 'Mr & Mrs Wittmann in later years when/they had gone to live in Sydney. RHSV stamp (Royal Historical Society of Victoria/Bendigo Branch), '1128', Printed by Studio: 'George & Market Streets/Sydney', 'The Crown Bromide Enlargement Coy 'Trade Mark'','The/Crown/Studios','Mark Blow/General/Manager', 'Portrait enlarged/on Bromide,Platinotype/Carbon Opal, and Finished/ in crayon, indian in, partel/water colour or oils',' Telephone No 477','Cable Address 'Bromide'/Sydney',' Copies of this Photograph No__ maybe had at any time'.The Crown Studios, Sydney, George & Market Streetperson, family, wittmann portriat

'The German Contribution to Early Bendigo' ( 23rd Feb) 1986 lecture by Frank Cusack on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the first Lutheran service in Bendigo). Origins of the large flow of Germans to the goldfields (failure of liberalism at home; conscription threat). Mention of George Bruhn, Menge (opal discoverer), Jacob Brahe; Ballerstedt; Wittscheibe; Schlemm; Ernst Mueller; Morris Collman; Louis Samuels; Gustave Adolphus Hugo Thureau; Backhaus; Pastor Friedrich Leypoldt; various German vignerons; ''The Hamburg'' (hotel); ''The Berlin'' (hotel); ''The European'' (hotel); Deutsche Verein; Paul Bucholz; Herr Gollmick; Early architects - Getzschmann, Bosselmann, Nicolai, Emil Mauermann, Friedrich Lehmann; Medical people - Dr Barnett; , Dr Landvoigt. Dr Sandner Snr.; others - Conrad Meyerhoff (patent gold cradle), Benno Sluytmann (first electricity plant in Bendigo), Gustavus con Tempsky (re Burke & Wills expedition), Ludwig Becker (Burke & Wills expedition); Josef Von St. Nicolai (Freemasonry); Captain Von Paleski.Frank Cusackbendigo, mining, early german history, german diggers, diamond hill, mangurang, mexican enclave at eaglehawke, irish town, back creek, ironbark gully, white hills, georg bruhn, menge, jacob brahe. old bendigo cemetery.

These stories are written versions of legends handed down through the oral tradition of Aboriginal storytellers from the Riverina of New South Wales and Victoria, coastal regions and other parts of Australia.Colour photographs, illustrations, mapswongaibon, kamilaroi, kirrea, dharawal, ualarai, gandangara, darkinjung, dhurga, ngemba, bandjalang, wiradjuri, muruwari, riverina, lake eyre, murray river

It is a portrait of a man believed to be related to George Evans. A framed copy of an opal type photograph of a gentleman believed to be related to George Evans. The outer frame is made up of brown stained timber with a gold surround in the middle and a red velvet inner surround. It is a head and shoulders photograph of a white haired and bearded man dressed in a dark suit and bow tie of the mid-Victorian era.george evans collection

EULO Famous for it's Opalseulo, queensland

"EULO QUEEN" Hotel Qld. HEART OF THE OPAL FIELDS Sunshine State QUEENSLANDeulo, queensland

One of original religious artefacts used in the Loreto Chapel. Although no maker's mark, opals would indicated Australian made.Gold coloured monstrance. (Receptacle in which the Holy Eucharist was kept as well as placed for public adoration.) At the top is a large round structure, rayed like the sun - 'viril' and inside the viril is a glass section for holding the host - 'vidriera'. Highly decorated and surrounded by gem stones and opals.

Copy of a cover from a music book No. 361 Forty Thieves Twostep & Turkey Trot. Arranged by Bert Rache. Founded on the Musical Hits in J. C. Williamson's Ltd. Pantomime Extravaganza 'Forty Thieves'. Has a round drawing of a girl with some large urns and a man in a cellar. A musical instrument leaning on a box has Published by Albert & Son Sydney, London New York. Coloured in black, white and grey. In the bottom right corner is a gruel recipe made from Nestles Milk Food.document, peter ellis collection, miss f? stephens, forty theives, sulan, my southern maid, my turkish opal, what a fool i'd be, bert rache, j c williamson's ltd, albert & son, chas a wenman, andrew maccunn, nestle's milk food