re: #222 Mr Pancakes

I believe they call it fossicking.

Yes… I forgot that term… I work opal… I have a small stock of some gem quality and some more common opal with less color then the gemy stuff… about 10-12 years ago, when the miners in Au. got a hold of the internet… they started to sell direct around the world, and by passing the brokers… and the prices were wonderful… but like all markets… things stabilize, adjust… now the miners have a better idea what the market can bear, and the prices are much higher… not as high as going through brokers, but much higher than when I got most of my stock years ago… just a little left now…