Well, if it has to do with Opals it ought to be in this list!

I am developing what I hope will become a very comprehensive listing of publications that have opals as their major theme. If you are aware of any publication, not in this list then please click here to submit a publication for inclusion.

The list is in order of the publication's principal author's surname.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

A

AUTHOR Aracic, Stephen.
TITLE Fortunes in opals from the lost sea
IMPRINT Lightning Ridge, N.S.W. : S. Aracic, 1979.
NOTES Opals. Mining. New South Wales. Lightning Ridge. Personal observations The book is available from Mr. S. Aracic, P.O. Box 73, Lightning Ridge, N.S.W. 2392.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge.
ISBN/ISSN 0959583009 :

AUTHOR Aracic, Stephen.
TITLE Discover opals before & beyond 2000 with surface indications
IMPRINT Lightning Ridge, N.S.W. : S. Aracic, 1996.
SUBJECT Opals, Opal mines and mining, Precious stone industry, Australia.
ISBN/ISSN 0959583017.

AUTHOR Austin, Clifford.
TITLE I left my hat in Andamooka
IMPRINT Melbourne : Wren, 1973.
NOTES Australia. Remote regions. Description & travel. Special subjects: Opal fields. Personal observations
SUBJECT Opals. Australia, Pictorial works. Description and travel, 1951-1975.
ISBN/ISSN 0858850249 :

AUTHOR Australian Commonwealth Film Unit.
TITLE All you have to do is dig [motion picture]
IMPRINT Australia : Australian Commonwealth Film Unit, 1969.
NOTES Opal mining in Australia, an industry still carried on by individuals prospecting at will and working private claims profitably. Shows fossickers at Andamooka and Coober Pedy in South Australia and Lightning Ridge in New South Wales.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia. New South Wales, Lightning Ridge, South Australia, Andamooka, Coober Pedy.

AUTHOR Australia. Special Broadcasting Service., Ricketson, James. Gwynne, Peter
TITLE We dream for luck [videorecording] / produced and directed by James Ricketson.
IMPRINT [Milsons Point, N.S.W.] : Special Broadcasting Service, c1983.
DESCRIPTION 1 videorecording (VHS) (29 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 1/2 in.
SERIES SBS educational videos. (SBS-TV)
NOTES Narrator, Peter Gwynne ; research, James Ricketson ; camera, Stephen Mason ; sound, Annie Cocksedge ; editor, Calli Cerami ; executive producer, Brian Woods. Examines the culturally diverse community of Coober Pedy in South Australia, which has a fluctuating population of colourful residents.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, South Australia, Coober Pedy. Coober Pedy (S. Aust.), Social life and customs.

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B

AUTHOR Barnes, L. C. (Lewis Charles), 1946- , [et al.] South Australia. Dept. of Mines and Energy.
TITLE Opal : South Australia's gemstone
IMPRINT [Parkside, S. Aust.] : Dept. of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey of South Australia, 1992.
SERIES Handbook (South Australia. Dept. of Mines and Energy)
NOTES Bibliography : p. 170-176.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, South Australia. ADD
ISBN/ISSN 0730817091.

AUTHOR Berrington, M. D.
TITLE Stones of fire : a woman's experiences in search of opal
IMPRINT Melbourne : Robertson & Mullens, 1958.
SUBJECT Opals, Australia.

AUTHOR Briand, Rena.
TITLE White man in a hole.
IMPRINT Melbourne, Phuong-Hoang Press [1971]
SUBJECT Opals. Coober Pedy (S. Aust.), Description and travel. ISBN/ISSN 0959968504.

AUTHOR Brinsmead, H. F. (Hesba Fay), 1922-
TITLE The ballad of Benny Perhaps
IMPRINT Stanmore, N.S.W. : Cassell Australia, 1977.
NOTES Children's stories in English. Australian writers, 1945-.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia, Juvenile literature. Australian fiction.
ISBN/ISSN 072690449X :

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C

AUTHOR Clark, Mavis Thorpe. illustrated by Melrose, Genevieve
TITLE Spark of opal
IMPRINT Melbourne : Lansdowne, 1968.
NOTES Story about the Watsons, an opal-mining family and the exciting and unexpected events that occur in this outback community obsessed with the opal. For children.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining - Australia - Juvenile fiction. Family, Aborigines, Australian Social conditions

AUTHOR Clark, Mavis Thorpe. illustrated by Taylor, Barbara
TITLE Opal mining
IMPRINT London ; Melbourne : Oxford University Press, 1969. SERIES Life in Australia.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia, Juvenile literature.

AUTHOR Clark, Mavis Thorpe.
TITLE The sky is free
IMPRINT Sydney : Hodder and Stoughton, Australia in association with Brockhampton Press, England, 1974.
NOTES Children's stories in English. Australian writers, 1945-. Two runaways, Sam and Tony, meet at a railway station on the edge of the Australian outback. They end up working in an opal mine and through this experience learn about themselves. For children.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia, Juvenile fiction. -- Juvenile literature. Sparsely populated areas, Australia, Juvenile fiction. Runaway children Juvenile fiction. Boys, Conduct of life, Juvenile fiction.
ISBN/ISSN 0340193204 :

AUTHOR Clark, Mavis Thorpe. Illustrated by Walker, Jane (Jane Alison)
TITLE A stranger came to the mine
IMPRINT Richmond, Vic. : Hutchinson of Australia, 1980.
NOTES Tension grows in the opal mining community after a strange glow is seen in the night and a strange scorch mark found in the saltbush and everyone is suspicious of the stranger young Pete takes under his wing, but they do not realise that he is stranded thousands of light years away from his home and needs help which must come from the mines.
SUBJECT Life on other planets, Juvenile fiction. Family, Australia, Juvenile fiction. Superstition, Juvenile fiction. Opal mines and mining, Australia, Juvenile fiction. Science fiction, Australian.
ISBN/ISSN 0091371600.

AUTHOR Cody, Andrew.
TITLE Australian precious opal : a guide book for professionals
IMPRINT Melbourne : Andrew Cody Pty Ltd, 1991.
NOTES Available from Andrew Cody Pty Ltd, 1st floor, 119 Swanston St, Melbourne Vic 3000.
SUBJECT Opals, Australia, Handbooks, manuals, etc.
ISBN/ISSN 0646016148 :

AUTHOR Colahan, John.
TITLE Australian opal safari
IMPRINT Adelaide : Rigby, 1973.
NOTES Opals. Mining. Australia. Remote regions. Description & travel. Special subjects: Opal fields. Personal observations
SUBJECT Opals. Mines and mineral resources, Australia. Pictorial works.
ISBN/ISSN 0851796133 :

AUTHOR Cram, Len.
TITLE Beautiful Australian opals
IMPRINT Carina, Qld. : Robert Brown & Associates (Aust.), c1990.
NOTES Back cover folds out.
SUBJECT Opals, Australia.
ISBN/ISSN 1862730326

AUTHOR Cram, Len.
TITLE Beautiful lightning ridge and history
IMPRINT Lightning Ridge, N.S.W. : Len Cram, 1996.
NOTES Mr Len Cram, PO Box 2, Lightning Ridge NSW 2834.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge.History.
ISBN/ISSN 0646273981.

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D

AUTHOR De Boer, Hans E. R. (Hans Eric Robert), 1938-
TITLE A century-plus of opal publications : a catalogue
IMPRINT Middleton, Tas. : H. de Boer, 1994.
SUBJECT Opals, Bibliography.
ISBN/ISSN 0646184679 :

AUTHOR Downing, Paul B.
TITLE Opal adventures
IMPRINT Tallahassee, FL : Majestic Gems & Carvings, c1990.
NOTES Includes bibliographical references
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining.
ISBN/ISSN 0962531103.

AUTHOR Downing, Paul B.
TITLE Opal cutting made easy
EDITION Completely rev. and expanded.
IMPRINT [Tallahassee, FL : Majestic Press], 1993.
NOTES "Step-by-step guide to cutting opal for the beginner and advanced cutter." Includes index.
SUBJECT Opals. Gem cutting
ISBN/ISSN 0962531146.

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E

AUTHOR Eckert, Allan W.
TITLE The world of opals
IMPRINT New York : John Wiley & Sons, c1997.
NOTES Includes bibliographical references (p. 397-417) and index. Foreword: The Queen of Gems, 1. What Is an Opal?, 2. A New Look at Opal Formation, 3. Opalized Fossils and Pseudomorphs, 4. A Chronological History and Mythology of Opals, 5. Famous and Otherwise Noteworthy Opals, 6. Types of Opals, 7. The World's Major Opal Fields, 8. Opal Occurrence Worldwide, App. A Glossary of Opal-Related Terms. The first comprehensive book on the subject in over thirty years, The World of Opals is a complete guide to the science and history of these remarkable gems. It begins with a thorough examination of the physical properties and attributes of common and precious opals, with up-to-date information on opal formation, extraction, storage, and cutting. Next, it chronicles man's involvement with the stone from 4000 B.C. to the present, following the opal through countless reversals of fortune and mythology as talisman, prognostic aid, patron stone of thieves, and bearer of bad luck. Readers will find fascinating details about the discovery, whereabouts, and value of famous opals, from such classic specimens as the Burning of Troy Opal to the Bonanza Opal and other more recent discoveries. Finally, the book surveys today's major opal producing areas and provides current information on opal occurrence worldwide. Punctuating the text are useful tables, extensive glossaries of opal types and opal-related terms, and beautiful photographs that capture the essence and mystery of this most exquisite stone.
SUBJECT Opals.
ISBN/ISSN 0471133973 (cloth : alk. paper)

AUTHOR Eyles, Wilfred Charles.
TITLE The book of opals
IMPRINT Melbourne : Flesch, [1964]
NOTES Includes index. Reprinted 1966.
SUBJECT Opals.

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F

G

H

AUTHOR Haill, Robert G., 1938-
TITLE Opals of the never never
IMPRINT Cammeray [N.S.W.] : distributed by Horwitz Grahame, 1981.
SERIES Castle books.
NOTES Opals. Mining. South Australia. Coober Pedy
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, South Australia, Coober Pedy. Description and travel.
ISBN/ISSN 0725510862 :

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I

AUTHOR Idriess, Ion L. (Ion Llewellyn), 1890-1979.
TITLE Lightning Ridge : the land of black opals
IMPRINT Sydney : Angus and Robertson, [1950]
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge.

AUTHOR Idriess, Ion L. (Ion Llewellyn), 1890-1979.
TITLE Opals and sapphires; how to work, mine, class, cut, polish and sell them
IMPRINT [Sydney] Angus and Robertson [1967]
SUBJECT Opals. Sapphires. Precious stones, Australia.

AUTHOR Idriess, Ion L. (Ion Llewellyn), 1890-1979.
TITLE Lightning Ridge
IMPRINT Sydney : Angus & Robertson, [1973]
SERIES A & R classics.
NOTES Opals. Mining. Idriess, Ion Llewellyn, 1890-. New South Wales. Lightning Ridge. Autobiographies. Reprint of 1944 edition.
SUBJECT Opals. Mines and mineral resources, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge.
ISBN/ISSN 0207128855 :

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J

AUTHOR Johns, W.E. (William Earl), 1893-1968.
TITLE Worrals down under
IMPRINT London : Lutterworth, 1948.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia, Juvenile literature. .

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K

AUTHOR Kalokerinos, Archie.
TITLE In search of opal.
IMPRINT Sydney ; London : Ure Smith, [1967]
SUBJECT Opals.

AUTHOR Kalokerinos, Archie.
TITLE Australian precious opal.
IMPRINT [Melbourne : Thomas] Nelson [(Australia), 1971]
SUBJECT Opals, Australia.
ISBN/ISSN 0170019608.

AUTHOR Keeling, J. L. South Australia. Dept. of Mines and Energy
TITLE Opal in South Australia.
IMPRINT Parkside, S. Aust. : Dept. of Mines and Energy, 1982. SERIES Mineral information series / Department of Mines and Energy. Previous ed.: Adelaide : Dept. of Mines and Energy, 1977.Includes bibliographical references.
SUBJECT Opals, South Australia.
ISBN/ISSN 0724361960 :

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L

AUTHOR Leechman, Frank.
TITLE The opal book
EDITION 7th impression (revised) [i.e. 4th ed.]
IMPRINT Sydney : Ure Smith, 1968.
NOTES First published Sydney: Ure Smith, 1961.Bibliography.Index.
SUBJECT Opals.

AUTHOR Loneck, Alina.
TITLE Opals : rivers of illusions
IMPRINT East Malvern, Vic. : Gemcraft, 1986.
NOTES Bibliography: p. 61-62.
SUBJECT Opals.Opal mines and mining, Australia.
ISBN/ISSN 0909223246 :

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M

AUTHOR Macdonald, Robert M. (Robert Maclauchlan)
TITLE Opals & gold : wanderings & work on the mining & gem fields
IMPRINT Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott, [1928]
SUBJECT Opals.
SUBJECT Prospecting, Australia.

AUTHOR McCabe, John, 1949-
TITLE Opal mining at Lightning Ridge
IMPRINT Melbourne : Kelly Books, c1979.
NOTES Opals. Mining. New South Wales. Lightning Ridge
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge.
ISBN/ISSN 0867490039 :

AUTHOR Milton Ingerson Film and Television Productions.
TITLE The Big backyard [motion picture] : the outback of South Australia.
IMPRINT [Adelaide] : Milton Ingerson Film Television Productions [for the] South Australian Government Tourist Bureau, c1976.
NOTES 1 film reel (19 min.) 16 mm. Also issued as a videorecording. Directors, Peter Dimond and Igor Auzins ; editor, David Pulbrook. The opal mines of Coober Pedy, Lake Eyre, the Birdsville Track and Sturt's Stony Desert are featured in this tale of an outback honeymoon. Many aspects of the barren landscapes of the outback of Australia are shown.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, South Australia, Coober Pedy. Sturt's Stony Desert (S. Aust.), Eyre, Lake (S. Aust.), Coober Pedy (S. Aust.), Birdsville Track (S. Aust. and Qld.) South Australia, Description and travel, 1976-1990.

AUTHOR Moore, W. S. (William S.)
TITLE Opal mining and prospecting mid 20th century
IMPRINT [Brunswick Heads, NSW : Bunyip Buddhist Foundation, 199-?]
NOTES 1/1 Booyun Street, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, New South Wales. Queensland.

AUTHOR Murphy, E. F. (Edmund Francis) illustrated by Wyllie, Sheila, White Cliffs History Group.
TITLE They struck opal : tales of men and mines in the heyday of Australian opal
IMPRINT Belair, S. Aust. : D. and J. Pawsey in association with the White Cliffs History Group, 2000 (Adelaide : Flinders Press)
NOTES Facsimile reprint. Originally published: Sydney : Associated General Publications, [1948?]
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia.

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N

AUTHOR Noel, Tony.
TITLE Fire in the stone
IMPRINT Wallaroo, S. Aust. T. Noel, [2001] ([Adelaide?] : Rip Shit and Bust Printing Co.)
NOTES PO Box 252, Wallaroo SA 5556.
SUBJECT Miners, Jewelers Gem cutting, Opal mines and mining, South Australia, Anecdotes Biography.
ISBN/ISSN 0646412183.

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O

AUTHOR O'Leary, Barrie, 1940-
TITLE A field guide to Australian opals
IMPRINT Adelaide : Rigby, 1977.
SUBJECT Opals, Australia.
ISBN/ISSN 0727003879 :

AUTHOR Osterstock, Alan.
TITLE Andamooka opal
IMPRINT Hampstead Gardens, S.A. : 1976.
SUBJECT Opals, South Australia, Andamooka. History
ISBN/ISSN 0858721686 :

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P

AUTHOR Perry, Nance. Perry, Ron
TITLE Australian opals in colour
IMPRINT Sydney : Reed, [1969]
SUBJECT Opals. Precious stones, Australia.

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Q

R

AUTHOR Rees, Leslie, 1905- illustrated by Hutchings, Tony
TITLE Digit Dick and the lost opals
IMPRINT London : Paul Hamlyn, 1971.
SUBJECT Opals, Juvenile fiction.
ISBN/ISSN 0600070395.

AUTHOR Rice, Ben.
TITLE Pobby and Dingan
IMPRINT Milsons Point, N.S.W. : Random House Australia, 2000.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge, Fiction. Imaginary companions, Family, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge, Fiction.
ISBN/ISSN 1740510208 :

AUTHOR Robertson, R. S., 1951- Scott, Douglas C.
TITLE Geology of the Coober Pedy precious stones field : results of investigations, 1981-86
IMPRINT Adelaide : Dept. of Mines and Energy, 1990.
SERIES Report of investigations (Geological Survey of South Australia),
NOTES Map in pocket on inside back cover. "Issued under the
authority of the Hon. J.H. Klunder, M.P., Minister of Mines and Energy.
SUBJECT Opals, opal mines and mining Geology, South Australia, Coober Pedy.
ISBN/ISSN 0730816869.

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S

AUTHOR Skertchly, Sydney B. J. (Sydney Barber Josiah), 1850-1927.
TITLE The story of the noble opal
IMPRINT Brisbane : Flavelle, Roberts and Sankey Ltd., 1908. SERIES Flavelle's gem series ; no. 1.
NOTES Includes index.
SUBJECT Opals.

AUTHOR South Australia. Dept. of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey of South Australia.
TITLE Regulations - opal mining - precautions.
IMPRINT Adelaide, S. Aust. : S.A. Department of Mines and Geological Survey, [1976?]
SERIES South Australia. Geographical Survey Mining Information
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, South Australia, Law and legislation, Safety regulations, South Australia.

AUTHOR Smith, Brian St. Alban.
TITLE Children of the opal
IMPRINT Collingwood, Vic. : Outback Press, 1979.
NOTES Children's stories in English. Australian writers, 1945-
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Adventure stories Australia, Juvenile literature.
ISBN/ISSN 0868882364 :

AUTHOR Smith, Elizabeth, 1949- Smith, Robert, 1947-
TITLE Black opal fossils of Lightning Ridge : treasures from the Rainbow Billabong
IMPRINT East Roseville, N.S.W. : Kangaroo Press, 1999.
NOTES Includes bibliographical references and index.
SUBJECT Opals, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge.
ISBN/ISSN 086417909X :

AUTHOR Stone, Douglas M. Butt, Robert A.,
TITLE A guide to Australian precious opal
IMPRINT Melbourne : Periwinkle Books, 1972.
SERIES Periwinkle colour series.
ISBN/ISSN 0701801832

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T

AUTHOR Thiele, Colin, 1920-
TITLE The fire in the stone
IMPRINT Adelaide : Rigby, 1973.
SERIES Rigby opal books.
NOTES When his precious cache of opals is stolen, 14-year-old Ernie, who lives with his alcoholic father in the harsh and lawless opal fields of inland Australia, sets out with a friend determined to find the thief. For children.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia, Juvenile fiction. Friendship, Robbery, Children of alcoholics,
ISBN/ISSN 085179548X.

AUTHOR Townsend, I. J. (Ian Jack), 1945- Selby, J. (Jonathan), 1938- Danvers, Marie.
TITLE South Australia's opal.
IMPRINT Netley, S.A. : State Publishing, 1990.
NOTES "Technical consultant: Jack Townsend ; editorial consultants: Jon Selby and Marie Danvers". "Department of Mines and Energy".
ISBN/ISSN 0724365729 :

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U

V

W

AUTHOR Wake, Percival Vincent.
TITLE Opal men
IMPRINT Adelaide : Rigby, 1977.
SERIES Seal paperbacks.
NOTES Opals. Mining. Australia First published, Sydney: Reed, 1969.
SUBJECT Opals. Mines and mineral resources, Australia, History
ISBN/ISSN 0727003623 :

AUTHOR Waller, Ed. [Illustrated and designed by Derrick J. Stone.]
TITLE And there's opal out there.
IMPRINT Melbourne] Lansdowne [1969]
SUBJECT Opals, Australia.

AUTHOR Ward, Fred, 1935- Ward, Charlotte.
TITLE Opals
IMPRINT Bethesda, MD : Gem Book Publishers, c1997.
SERIES Ward, Fred, 1935- Gem book series.
SUBJECT Opals.
ISBN/ISSN 0963372386.

AUTHOR Wareham-Jones, Ken.
TITLE Third time lucky
IMPRINT [Adelaide : K. Wareham-Jones, 1998]
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, South Australia, Coober Pedy, Biography.

AUTHOR Whiting, J. W. Relph, R. E. New South Wales. Dept. of Mines
TITLE The occurrence of opal at Lightning Ridge and Grawin : with geological notes on County Finch
IMPRINT Sydney : Govt. Print, [195-] Includes bibliography.
SUBJECT Opal Geology, New South Wales, Finch County, Lightning Ridge.

AUTHOR Wollaston, Tullie C. (Tullie Cornthwaite)
TITLE Opal : the gem of the Never Never
IMPRINT London : Thomas Murby, 1924.
IMPRINT Adelaide : Flinders Press, 1995.
NOTES Limited edition reprint. Originally published: London : Thomas Murby, 1924.
SUBJECT Opal mines and mining, Australia.

AUTHOR Wollaston, D. P. T. (Donald Philip Tullie), 1895-
TITLE Tullie Cornthwaite Wollaston, 1863-1931.
IMPRINT [Belair, S. Aust. : Julie Pawsey, 1995]
NOTES Compiled by D.P.T. Wollaston.
SUBJECT Wollaston family, Wollaston, Tullie C. (Tullie Cornthwaite) Opal mines and mining, Australia, Biography, South Australia, Genealogy, Biography.

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Publication Submission

To submit an addition to this list of publications please complete as much of the following form as you can. Thank you for your interest and your contribution is appreciated.