Opal The Phenomenal Gemstone

One of my favorite books at the moment is "Opal The Phenomenal Gemstone". This book has an in depth look at the opal gemstone, where it's found, and how it's mined. The book also features opal fossils found from the Australian opal fields of Coober Pedy, Andamooka, White Cliffs and Lightning Ridge. These fossils are from the Cretaceous period, notable for being the time of the Dinosaurs. The fossils found at Lightning Ridge are different to those of the other opal fields as Lightning Ridge represent a terrestrial environment with freshwater depositional setting. Where the other opal fields are marine depositional environments.

Mesozoic Fishes V: Global Diversity and Evolution

The first circular for the fifth international meeting on Mesozoic Fishes is now available. In 2009 the conference will be hosted in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. With 2 field trips planed to the famous Tlayua Quarry and Vallecillos Quarry, both well known for there nicely preserved fish. More information can be found out at the Mesozoic Fishes Home page http://www2.biology.ualberta.ca/wilson.hp/mesofish/publications.html

Dinosaur Fever

Don't know what Dinosaur fever is. I wonder if a palaeontologists can diagnose it.

Australian Opal Centre in the news

Australian Fossils fetch hefty prices on overseas markets

Australian Fossils are becoming common place on overseas markets. These fossils once rare on websites and in overseas fossil shops are demanding nice prices on overseas markets. These fossils are part of our national heritage which should not be undersold. These fossils are a part of our history and should be respected as so.
here are some examples:

http://www.fossilmall.com/Pangaea/pfossils/pf70/pffossils70.htm

http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/invertebrates/invert13/invfossil-13.htm

http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/Dinosaur_and_Reptile/dino31/dinosaurfossils31.htm

http://www.thenaturalcanvas.com/Fish/pages/5880.html

Richmond Fossil Festival

Richmond Fossil Festival is a biennial event held in the small town of Richmond in northern-central Queensland, Australia. Richmond is well known for fossils found around the township of a once near continental oceanic setting. Fossils found here include Kronosaurus, Minmi (Australia's only armored dinosaur like Ankylosaurus), Ammonites, Fish and the like. The Festival starts on the 1st of May, 2008.

Lungfish tooth plate for sale on Ebay

Lungfishes from the Lightning Ridge opal fields are represented by tooth plates. These tooth plates are common fossils from this area and often fetch a hefty price.. On ebay today I notice this little ripper for $4000...

Opal Mining in search of Dinosaurs

Opal mining in search of Australian Dinosaurs has become common practice on the Australian opal field of Lightning Ridge. Fossils from the "Age of Dinosaurs" are commonly found during opal mining. Miners often demand high prices for these treasure as they know that overseas collectors will pay big bucks for these fossils which sometimes have wonderful opal color. The Opal and Fossil Center at Lightning Ridge is trying to stem the flow of fossils from this area. These fossils are national treasures and they are illegal to export from Australia. See the LROFC web page for more...http://www.wj.com.au/opalfossil/index.html

New Dinosaur Exhibtion at the Australian Museum

New Dinosaur exhibit at the Australian Museum in Sydney revives interest in Natural History Museums in Australia. The displays at the AM are long out date and are being revived as part of the museums revitalization program. For more information see http://www.australianmuseum.net.au/dinosaur/

Stromatolites? from Mount Isa

Mount Isa in Queensland's outback, is well know for its mineral wealth in the form of Copper, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Uranium etc. The Upper Kennedy Siltstone of Mount Isa, Queensland located west of town near the Mount Isa Mine. This unit is a buff-khaki colored siliceous siltstone with large conical-circular shapes defined by lines (liesegang rings). Certain bedding planes contain 10-30 cm conical/dome shape stromatolites. Pictured above is possibly a stromatolite.