McNichol Family · Western Queensland
Opals from the Ground Up
Queensland boulder opals that Steven and his son dug themselves on a mate's lease near Opalton, plus smoky quartz from our own farm. Every piece is one of a kind, and the stone in the photos is the one you get.
A Family Digging Story
These opals come from a mate's opal lease in the Vergemont district of western Queensland, about an hour south of Opalton. Steven and his son dig there with him, working the ironstone boulders by hand and with machinery in one of Australia's most remote opal fields.
Every stone came out of the ground with us and was cut and polished by a second-generation Queensland opal cutter. There's no middleman and no wholesale buyer, just the rock, the family and the work. Each listing will show the stone's weight in carats and its size in millimetres, and the stone you see will be the stone you receive.
The stones from our last trip
Thirteen cut boulder opals, from 1.5 to 17.2 carats. Every one is natural and untreated. They're being professionally valued now, and each will be listed here on its own, with its weight and size.
Being valued · listing soon
In the shop
Each listing is for the exact piece pictured. The opals go up one at a time once they're valued; smoky quartz comes natural, polished and as jewellery.
Smoky Quartz — From the Farm
Closer to home, our smoky quartz comes from the farm itself: raw pieces just as they came out of the ground, and polished pieces. Unlike the opals, which come from near Opalton, these stones never leave the property until they're yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these genuine Queensland boulder opals?
Yes. Every stone is natural Queensland boulder opal that Steven and his son dug on a mate's lease in the Vergemont district of western Queensland, near Opalton. We don't sell treated, synthetic, or doublet stones: every one is natural, solid boulder opal on its own ironstone, with no glue, backing, dye or filling.
Is the listing for the exact stone pictured?
Always. Each listing is for the one stone shown in the photos. There's only one of each, so once it's sold, that listing is gone.
How big is it, and how heavy?
Every listing gives the stone's weight in carats and its size in millimetres. If you'd like more photos or a short video of it moving in the light, ask through our Contact page before you buy.
How are the opals posted?
Each stone is wrapped and boxed with cushioning and posted Australia-wide with tracking. For international postage, contact us for a quote.