💎Black opal, renowned for vibrant colors on a black base, is the rarest and most valuable opal in the world.
🛡️The Bushmen face a season of failure and setbacks but remain determined to find black opal.
💰Finding black opal requires continuous digging and sifting through dirt, with no guarantee of success.
💪The Bushmen use specialized equipment, like the bushman's blower, to extract opal from the mine.
🤷♂️Rubbing and weighing the opal stones is essential to determine their quality and value.
What is black opal?
—Black opal is a type of opal known for its vibrant colors displayed on a black base. It is considered the rarest and most valuable opal in the world.
What challenges do the Bushmen face in finding black opal?
—The Bushmen face a season of failure, setbacks, and difficult mining conditions. They also need to constantly dig and sift through dirt, with no guarantee of finding opal.
What equipment do the Bushmen use for opal mining?
—The Bushmen use specialized equipment, such as the bushman's blower, to extract opal from the mine. They also have an exploration rig for drilling new shafts.
How is the quality of opal determined?
—The quality of opal is determined through a process of rubbing and weighing the stones. Experts examine the stones for color, clarity, and presence of flaws.
How valuable is black opal?
—Black opal can be worth up to $49,000 per gram. The value depends on the size, quality, and vibrancy of the opal.
00:01In the flood-devastated Outback, the Bushmen prepare to find black opal.
01:00Black opal is renowned for vibrant colors on a black base and can be worth up to $49,000 per gram.
02:46The Bushmen face challenges including setbacks, difficult mining conditions, and the need to constantly dig and sift through dirt.
05:09The Bushmen use specialized equipment like the bushman's blower and an exploration rig in their mining efforts.
06:58Determining the quality and value of opal involves rubbing and weighing the stones.
07:45The Bushmen discover an exquisite black opal stone weighing 1.3 grams, estimated to be worth around $12,000.
07:55The rare black opal features vibrant colors and is a valuable find for the Bushmen.
08:01The Bushmen express their passion and appreciation for black opal.
