Bullock’s Head

Bullock Head (or Bullock’s Head) is a small opal field located south of the Nobby field. It was worked briefly between 1908 and 1909.

The field is shallow, with opal found at depths between one and eight feet. The ground was hard going, and while some opal was found, production was minimal. A light-coloured stone of some size was reportedly found by Jack Bristol (also recorded as Bristal) near a shaft marked with an old bullock’s head tied to the top of a claim post, giving the field its name.

According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, total production until 1967 amounted to just £240, and no substantial rush ever occurred.

• Bullock’s Head @ MinView.

Article: Research by Russell Gawthorpe and Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: The Lightning Ridge Book, Stuart Lloyd, 1967, p. 66; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, pp. 83-84; The occurrence of opal at Lightning Ridge and Grawin, with geological notes on County Finch, J. W Whiting & R. E. Relph, 1958, p. 10.