BY MAJOR J. R. SANKEY. 69 
The name of Herbert Bond is closely associated with 
opal mining, he having developed the industry by floating 
a company in London, and so getting capital to work 
the mines. 
Mr. C. V. Jackson, in his official report on the opal 
mining industry says: “‘ Precious opal occurs in Queens- 
land in two geological formations, viz.: In sedimentary 
rocks of upper cretaceous age, known as the Desert Sand- 
stone formation, and also in vesicular basalt of later 
geological age.’ The geological conditions under which 
opal occurs in the former is wholly distinct from any 
previously known opal deposit in the world. 
The latter mode of occurrence in a vesicular basalt 
is analogous of those of Hungary and Mexico, but, so far, 
Australian deposits of this kind have not heen worked 
commercially.’ 
The opal is found in matrix of ironstone, of sandstone, 
and occasionally in pipe-clay, and is roughly classed as 
boulder opal, sandstone opal, and pipe opal. Practically, 
every variety of opal is found in Queensland, including 
the noble opal, the harlequin opal, the fire opal, the pin- 
fire opal, ete., etc.. the miners having many terms of their 
own indicative of quality and peculiarities, and there is 
no doubt that the opal of Queensland has excelled in 
beauty and abundance that of the whole world. 
I remember well when very few people would look 
at Queensland opal, because Hungarian opal was the 
standard of that time, and now the Hungarian opal is 
hardly ever heard of, and in the trade is quoted at less 
than half the price for Queensland opal. 
The opal is certainly the most beautiful stone the 
World has ever seen, and in Pagan times was said to be 
the residence of the Gods, for being the most beautiful 
thing on earth, the Gods would naturally take it for a home. 
Then the modern novelist (Sir Walter Scott) came along 
and, reviving an old legend, wrote a little fiction which 
spoilt the old pagan idea and the reputation of the opal 
at the same time, and the gorgeously beautiful opal was 
for a time relegated to the limbo of speckled hens, spilt 
salt, jackdaws, and other omens of ill luck, and this, in 
