Thorley’s Six Mile

Thorley’s Six Mile is an opal field located roughly a quarter-mile east of McDonald’s, on the southwest slope of the hill, along the Six Mile ridge. The field was discovered around 1907 and is named after either Bill Thorley or Philip “Hoppy” Thorley, records are inconsistent.

The field produced good black opal from depths between 25 and 50 feet, although much of the dirt also contained significant potch. Several claims were quite successful. According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, the best claims were worked by Thorley himself, McDonald, and “Happy Jack” Burke. Other miners to do well included Jack Donnelly and Paddy the Indian.

While the field was not greatly successful, the quality of opal found was exceptional. By 1967, Stuart Lloyd places the total production from Thorley’s Six Mile at £25,000.

• Thorley’s Six Mile @ 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. 62; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, pp. 92-93; The Occurrence of Opal at Lightning Ridge and Grawin, with Geological Notes on County Finch, J. W Whiting & R. E. Relph, 1958, p. 10; Discover Opals: Before and Beyond 2000 with Surface Indications, Stephen Aracic, 1996, p. 148.