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Lightning Ridge Opal Fields
闪电岭蛋白石场
Opal as it would be found in soft, grey to buff-coloured claystone
蛋白石往往存在于灰褐色的粘土石中
Lightning Ridge lies in the Surat Basin, which was formed when dinosaurs walked the Earth. About 110 mya, the basin contained an inland sea where opal host rocks were deposited. Opal is found at shallow depths in sedimentary rocks through which there has been considerable silica seepage into cavities. Gradual loss of water from the silica gel has resulted in hardening of the material and the formation of opal. Lightening Ridge is one of the few places in the world where precious black opal is found. Unlike other opal, black opal contains carbon and iron oxide trace elements.
闪电岭位于苏拉特盆地，形成于恐龙时代。大约1.1亿年之前，盆地内部有一内海，含有蛋白石成分的岩石沉积其中。蛋白石存在于沉积岩的浅层，其形成原因是：大量的硅石渗透到沉积岩的孔隙之中，硅胶逐渐失去水分，慢慢硬化，逐渐形成蛋白石。闪电岭是世界上少数几个发现珍贵黑蛋白石的地方之一。与其他蛋白石不同，黑蛋白石含有碳和微量元素氧化铁。