Lightning Ridge Australian Black Opal

This opal heralds from Lightning Ridge in Australia, Lightning Ridge black opal is the rarest and most valuable variety of precious opal in the world, mined almost exclusively in the outback town of Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia. Quality is judged by body tone darkness (N1 to N4), color brightness, pattern rarity (such as harlequin or Chinese writing patterns), and size. Prices range from under $100–$500 per carat for commercial or smaller stones to over $10,000 to $40,000+ per carat for museum-grade specimens.