Why Fossils ?

Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia is the source of the world’s oldest known monotreme (egg laying marsupial) fossils and one of the more significant sources of dinosaur fossils in Australia .What makes these fossils even more special is the fact that the original bones of the animals have been replaced with opal, usually potch (common opal), but occasionally with gem quality precious opal.

It is estimated that there is about 1000 full time and part time opal miners working in about 5000 separate mining claims in the region on more than 200 separate opal fields. Fossils are not abundant, but because are so many miners working, some of them find a few opalised bones, shells or teeth.Unfortunately many fossil specimens are cut up for the gem opal that they contain.

Presently (Feb 2000) there are no major public collections or displays of opalised fossils in the Lightning Ridge region.

The Lightning Ridge Opal and Fossil Centre is a non profit organisation working in cooperation with the Walgett Shire Council to develop a public display of opals, fossils and mining heritage.

Opalised dinosaur vertebrae - Picture by Robert A. Smith