Shallow Belahs

Shallow Belahs (sometimes Shallow Belars, Small Belahs) is an opal field located west of Deep Belahs, about 300-400 yards south of the Old Four Mile. It was discovered in 1912 by Tom Leonard and produced high quality black opal at shallow depths, typically from the surface to around 12 feet.

In 1923, miner Matt (or Max) Watson found a stone at Shallow Belahs that appeared to contain the image of Queen Victoria. It was later sold to the McConchie Brothers and on to Percy Marks, and numerous attempts were made to gift the piece to the Royal Family.

Several miners worked claims here over the decades. George and Sid Graham uncovered a pocket of gem quality stones in 1938, selling the parcel for £1,500. Tom Leonard reportedly broke a fine red-on-black nobby from which he later sold a chip for £5. Other successful miners included Tom Duffey and Bob and Artie Bruce, though the latter found little opal during their time on the field in the Depression years.

According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, total production from Shallow Belahs had reached £13,500 by 1967.

• Shallow Belahs @ 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. 60; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 75; Discover Opals: Before and Beyond 2000 with Surface Indications, Stephen Aracic, 1996, p. 146.