Cilka Zagar

Love on the opal fields Cilka Zagar

Lightning Ridge, the world's opal capital, has miners from over fifty countries; they brought with them political and religious beliefs, traditions and memories. Gradually they blended into a unique society with a new culture, new character, new morals and ideals. Prospectors come to Lightning Ridge in search of the elusive rainbow gem that would make them instantly rich, loved, and respected. A hope to find a Red on black opal, is the dream Lightning Ridge opal miners live on. Ratters are gem thieves who masquerade as prospectors, wait until a miner hits opal and then loot his mine. Ratting is the worst crime possible in the eyes of Lightning Ridge opal mining community. You never know who is who in Lightning Ridge, says Bill, an old opal miner. Aborigines and Europeans, doctors and illiterates, policemen and criminals camp next to each other and look for the same rainbow in the clay beneath the sandstone.