Shipping Updates
At Broken River Mining we want to provide you with the best customer service we can. Currently, due to international restrictions, delays can be expected for all international orders via Australia Post (compared to 2019). Express items will still be given priority during this time, but unfortunately not at their normal speed.
For details see: https://auspost.com.au/about-us/news-media/important-updates/coronavirus/coronavirus-international-updates
All our orders have an Australia Post tracking number and this tracking number can also be used with your country’s local postal network. For example, our United States customers can use their Australia Post tracking number on the United States Postal Service (USPS) tracking website too. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and thank you for your patience and support.
Our wood replacement and crystal opals are a special type of Australian opal that form in sandstone. They are found together with boulder opals at our Russells opal mine in Western Queensland, Australia. See below for the specifics of their formation.
Opal Fossils with Unpreserved Internal Details
Opal formation commences when silica dissolves in water. At our Russells opal mine we have found that this silica solution occupies a void most probably left by decaying tree roots or branches. When it solidifies it creates an opalized replica of the original object. These are also known as 'jelly mould' fossils.
In some rare cases we have found large and rare opal fossil specimens with beautifully preserved external features and pure crystal opal ‘branches' or 'roots’ within.
The smaller and more fragmented pieces yield thick "crystal opal" that we carve into transparent and translucent opal gemstones.
Opal Fossils with Preserved Internal Details
Opal formation commences when silica dissolves in water. At
our Russells opal mine we have found that this silica solution occupies a void most probably left by decaying tree roots or branches.
In cases where the silica infiltrates organic material before complete decomposition occurs, the organic molecules are replaced by silica. This remarkable process results in the meticulous preservation of
intricate internal structures. Consequently, the wood structure remains visible within the opal.
Our “wood replacement” opal is truly exquisite, not only because it is an opalised fossil, but because the remaining internal structures create a mesmerizing inner world that is visible through the transparent and translucent opal.