Opal-mining is one of the world’s most harrowing pursuits, but potentially one of the most rewarding as well. To find opals, a modern treasure hunter must dig random holes in areas of known deposits, ...

The police car rolled onto a dusty outback airstrip, and two armed officers quickly escorted a courier and his bag to a chartered plane. He carried the final consignment of a dazzling $4.5 million ...

Villagers in Ethiopia uncover rare black opal nearly 10,000 ft high, reshaping the global gem market with vibrant stones.

The remote town of Coober Pedy, Australia, is home to about 2,000 people, many of whom gravitated there to mine opal. The extreme climate of the Outback meant residents had to find creative ways to ...

It's freezing cold, scorching hot and a source of Australia's opals. Here's what life's like when you have to jury-rig even the most basic tech to survive. Claire Reilly was a video host, journalist ...

The remote town of White Cliffs in Far West New South Wales is famous for dug-out homes and beautiful opals. While few opal miners remain in town all year round, it's still a drawcard in the cooler ...

SPENCER, Idaho — From Interstate 15, the tiny town passes in a moment, just a blip of brown buildings in the desert. But inside the local stores is a treasure trove. The fire of opals erupts from ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Gemstones are precious, especially when they come filled with dinosaur bones. Back in the 1980s, ...

The remote town of Coober Pedy, Australia, is home to about 2,000 people, many of whom gravitated there to mine opal. The extreme climate of the Outback meant residents had to find creative ways to ...