is among six monotreme species discovered at Lightning Ridge opal fields Scientists have discovered a bizarre creature dubbed the "echidnapus" which they believe roamed Australia in prehistoric times.

But over 90% of the world's opal comes from Australia. And a lot of the black opal is found here, at Lightning Ridge. It's located on the edge of the Outback, with a population of just over 2,000 ...

But among the heat and dust of Lightning Ridge there are other gems – the ... and has been a driver behind the formation of ...

Debate over the future of opal mining in New South Wales has continued in recent weeks as the industry continues to reject proposed legislative changes.