Opal Fairy and Umoona Opal Mine

Opal Fairy

While in Coober Pedy South Australia we met the Opal Fairy.  She was a beautiful Fairy visiting from the Philippines or Malaysia I think.  Her job is to guard the opals in vairous places in Coober Pedy.  This includes the Umoona Opal Mine.  Only those who own the mine or home are allowed to take opals unless they buy or are given an opla from an authorized owner.  

In Coober Pedy people have built houses, churches, etc. underground or more accurately in the rock.  When they expand their house and chip out a bedroom they often \find thousands of dollars of opals. 

The pattern on the wall behind her is the rock pattern seen in the Umoona Opal Mine.   This is an amazing place.  The rocks alone are so beautiful that we were spellbound.  We stayed at the Majestic Oasis Apartments.  We got to sleep underground or more correctly IN the rock.   

Tomorrow I will add some more about Coober Pedy and some amazing fossilized Marine Reptiles AKA Sea Monsters from  Coober Pedy.  And it is not even near the ocean now.

Belemnite Cores that are Opalized

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