In north-west New South Wales, the opal mining town of Lighting Ridge sits atop a Cretaceous coastal flood plain. The dry, eucalypt and acacia-covered landscape around here is just its latest ...

Bill Kotru has seen many mines give way during the 43 years he has been digging for opal in Lightning Ridge, but he now fears another collapse will soon take a local road with it. Authorities have ...

Mr Stutley and Mr Saunders are mining a patch of land 15 miles north of the South Australian town of Coober Pedy, which is known as "the opal capital of the world". South Australia supplies 80% of ...