New South Wales produces the largest amount of Australian opals by value. The two most famous areas are Lightning Ridge known for producing black opal the most valuable form and White Cliff. White Cliff is famous for its seam opal which tends to be white or crystal opal.
Lightning Ridge
Lightning Ridge is the global home of black opal its fields have no equal in the world. The name Lightning Ridge came about one night during an horrendous electrical storm, when a shepherd, his dog and 600 sheep were killed by lightning whilst sheltering on one of the low ridges.