Olympic Australis
Encyclopedia
The Olympic Australis Opal is largest and most valuable opal
yet found, valued at AUD$2,500,000. It was found in 1956 at the Eight Mile
opal field in the outback opal gemstone mining town of Coober Pedy in South Australia
, where during the Australian summer months the temperature can reach 40° celsius above ground. South Australia is the largest producer of white opal and crystal opal gemstone
s in the world.
The opal was found at a depth of 9.144 meters. The Olympic Australis opal was named in honor of the Olympic Games
, which were being held in Melbourne
at the time. It consists of 99% gem opal with an even colour throughout the stone, and has been left in a natural organic state, unpolished and uncut with blemishes. Olympic Australis is 280 mm long, with a height 120 mm and a width of 115 mm. It weighs 17,000 carats (3450 grams). Currently the opal is kept in Melbourne, at the offices of Altmann & Cherny Ltd.
Opal
Opal is an amorphous form of silica related to quartz, a mineraloid form, not a mineral. 3% to 21% of the total weight is water, but the content is usually between 6% to 10%. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most...
yet found, valued at AUD$2,500,000. It was found in 1956 at the Eight Mile
Eight Mile Plains, Queensland
Eight Mile Plains is a southern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is located some 13 kilometres from the Brisbane central business district....
opal field in the outback opal gemstone mining town of Coober Pedy in South Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where during the Australian summer months the temperature can reach 40° celsius above ground. South Australia is the largest producer of white opal and crystal opal gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s in the world.
The opal was found at a depth of 9.144 meters. The Olympic Australis opal was named in honor of the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, which were being held in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
at the time. It consists of 99% gem opal with an even colour throughout the stone, and has been left in a natural organic state, unpolished and uncut with blemishes. Olympic Australis is 280 mm long, with a height 120 mm and a width of 115 mm. It weighs 17,000 carats (3450 grams). Currently the opal is kept in Melbourne, at the offices of Altmann & Cherny Ltd.