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Fossil Digs 

Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig
August 2024

In 2023 we celebrated 10 years of the Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig. Happy anniversary to us! And a shout out to the more than 200 people who’ve been part of our Dig teams (some of them up to 8 times)!

Registrations are OPEN for the Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig of August 2024.

Places are strictly limited, so complete and send in your registration form and deposit now to avoid disappointment.

WEEK 1: Monday 19 to Saturday 24 August 2024
WEEK 2: Monday 26 to Saturday 31 August 2024 (return participants only)

100 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the lands around a great Australian inland sea. Giant sauropods, ferocious theropods and diminutive ornithopods shared this world with everything from crocodiles and turtles to tiny mammals, yabbies and snails. Lightning Ridge, once a forested plain near this ancient sea, is famed for dazzling opal and as one of Australia’s most important dinosaur fossil sites.

Searching for opalised fossils is a privilege usually available only to opal miners and scientists. You can share these incredible moments of discovery by joining the Australian Opal Centre and Australian Geographic Society as we search for and learn about fossils at the Lightning Ridge opal fields, on beautiful Yuwaalaraay Country.

Since our first Dig in 2014, Dig participants have discovered important opalised fossils including the world’s first published opalised ankylosaur dinosaur osteoderm (bony skin armour) and tiny bones from baby dinosaurs that died inside their eggs - Australia’s smallest dinosaur babies. They’ve also added dozens of shells, teeth, bones and other fossils to the AOC’s incredible collection

Six days packed with discovery
Our team of fossil experts will take you to special locations seeking new opalised fossils for the Australian Opal Centre’s globally significant collection. Your discoveries will contribute to a world-class scientific and cultural resource. 

  • Learn about opalised fossils and Australia in the Age of Dinosaurs

  • Learn to distinguish opalised fossils from geological specimens

  • Search for opalised plant and animal fossils at special sites

  • Experience the excitement of a tailout - moment of truth for the opal miner!

  • Collect and process fossil-rich claystones

  • Mend, reassemble or prepare fossils

  • Attend fascinating lectures on opals, opal mining, opalised fossils and dinosaur hunting

  • Experience an underground opal mine

Contribute to science, seize opportunities for experiences not available outside the Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig, make lasting friendships and enjoy the extraordinary sights, sounds and hospitality of the opal fields.

Eligibility
Anyone 18 years and over is eligible to participate in a Fossil Dig; no experience is required. There is a maximum of 40 places available only (two separate groups of 20 volunteers). 

When
WEEK 1: Monday 19th to Saturday 24th August 2024
WEEK 2: Monday 26th to Saturday 31st August 2024

Important: Week 2 is for return participants only.

Location
The incredible outback opal mining town of Lightning Ridge, Australia. 

Your guides
Dig participants will be led and guided by a fabulous team of experts which across the two weeks of Dig will include:

  • Jenni Brammall: Australian Opal Centre palaeontologist, gemmologist, opal specialist, collection manager and CEO.

  • Clytie Smith: super fossil finder and a Director of AOC Ltd.

  • Dr Timothy Fraunfelder: dinosaur tooth specialist and university medal winner for his research on opalised sauropod dinosaur teeth, with field experience at Lightning Ridge, Winton and Surat (Queensland), and in Canada and Argentina.

  • Hayden Henderson: postgraduate researcher investigating opalised sauropod dinosaur bones from Lightning Ridge at the University of New England (UNE), Armidale.

  • Sherri Donaldson: postgraduate researcher (UNE) working on the opalised molluscs and palaeoenvironments of Lightning Ridge.

  • Jake Kotevski: megaraptorid dinosaur postgraduate researcher at Monash University.

  • Other great team leaders and residents of Lightning Ridge.

Cost
$2,420 per person (incl. GST); return digger $2,200.
Price includes all activities (including a highly recommended optional program of evening activities) and most meals. Excludes accommodation and transport. This is a scientific and fundraising venture for the Australian Opal Centre and Australian Geographic Society.

Can’t manage the fee now? No problem. Pay a deposit to secure your place, then pay your balance in instalments.

Secure your place
Don't miss out! Complete and send in your registration form and deposit; participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. 

Contact
To find out more, please email dig@australianopalcentre.com or call Jenni Brammall on 0427 904 587.