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Opals pinpointed by data mining

The first digital opal map in Australia has been developed by The University of Sydney, bringing opal mining into the 21st century with data technology.

With no new significant opal discoveries being made since the 1900s, the map will show where gem-quality opal is most likely to be found.

The research team has developed a data mining methodology that will help opal miners concentrate their efforts by pinpointing a number of favourable gemstone “hotspots”.

These hotspots were developed by combining a multitude of digital geological and geophysical data sets.

Read more at University of Sydney

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