All things are interesting things.
All things are interesting things!
2020 is finally over. In celebration, here's a collection of outtakes and hiccups and errors and mistakes dating back to the first video on this channel.
Special thanks to EVERYONE, including you.
The opal fields are a dangerous place, and doctors and health workers have always been an important part of the Lightning Ridge opal mining community. Join Barb from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society on a tour of the Cottage Hospital, a medical facility from 1914 beautifully preserved as part of the Society's display in Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge.
The opal fields are a dangerous place, and doctors and health workers have always been an important part of the Lightning Ridge opal mining community. Join B...
If you are a nurse, doctor, health professional or someone who works in any area of the health industry -- thank you. Your work this year has been tremendous and we all appreciate it.
Not all fossil discoveries are easy to identify. These pieces are from a prehistoric mystery creature!
Not all fossil discoveries are easy to identify. These pieces are from a prehistoric mystery creature! In this video I speak with Dr. Phil Bell from the Univ...
In this video I speak with Dr. Phil Bell from the University of New England Armidale about some unusual bone pieces, possibly dinosaur, found during one of the AOC's previous Fossil Digs.
I bought some "opal" jewellery from an e-commerce site and showed it to some opal experts! Spoiler: It wasn't opal!
I bought some "opal" jewellery from an e-commerce site and showed it to some opal experts! Spoiler: It wasn't opal! There are a lot of e-commerce websites th...
There are a lot of e-commerce websites that specialise in aggregating products from worldwide sellers and offering "great deals" on cheap products, including opal jewellery. I bought several pieces of "opal jewellery", selected because the product photographs and descriptions implied the material was genuine opal, just to see what I would get. I showed it to Jenni and Vicki at the Australian Opal Centre at Lightning Ridge to get an honest opinion of the stuff that I bought.
Can you imagine finding part of a dinosaur? Some lucky visitors on the Australian Opal Centre's annual Fossil Dig did just that!
Can you imagine finding part of a dinosaur? Some lucky visitors on the Australian Opal Centre's annual Fossil Dig did just that! In this video I speak with D...
In this video I speak with Dr. Phil Bell from the University of New England Armidale about the bony scute from an ankylosaurid dinosaur found during one of the AOC's previous Fossil Digs.
Saltbush thrives in the Australian outback, including at Lightning Ridge. One of the reasons is pretty clever!
Saltbush thrives in the Australian outback, including at Lightning Ridge. One of the reasons is pretty clever! Special thank you to Barbara at the Lightning ...
Special thank you to Barbara at the Lightning Ridge Historical Society for helping with this video.
Somethings things don't work out as expected, and pottery firings are no different! Graeme Anderson from Lightning Ridge shows us some disasters and disappointments from his years of creating amazing opal clay pottery masterpieces!
Somethings things don't work out as expected, and pottery firings are no different! Graeme Anderson from Lightning Ridge shows us some disasters and disappoi...
For more with Graeme, check out:
Relics from the Digger's Rest Hotel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vThQm...
The Science of Pots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsEfR...
What's its like to Live in a Train? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6gI...
Melting Bottles in an Electric Kiln: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Ata...
Australia's largest and most terrifying carnivorous dinosaur was discovered at Lightning Ridge! In this video, we check out it's massive claw!
Australia's largest and most terrifying carnivorous dinosaur was discovered at Lightning Ridge! In this video, we check out it's massive claw! Also check out...
Lightning Ridge is famous for black opal, but why doesn't anyone know how many people live there? And what IS the population?
I spoke with Barbara from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society (and also the 1996 Lightning Ridge census coordinator) about Lightning Ridge's unique population situation.
Lightning Ridge is famous for black opal, but why doesn't anyone know how many people live there?And what IS the population? I spoke with Barbara from the Li...
Filmed on location at Lightning Ridge, following appropriate social distancing guidelines.
In the 1850s, Sir Richard Owen coined the term "Dinosauria" and added the first three species to what we now call dinosaurs. One of them was...almost nuts.
Parental advisory: This video contains references to the male anatomy in a historical and amusing context. Nothing too vulgar or offensive, but you may wish to review this video before sharing it with your children if you feel it may be inappropriate.
In the 1850s, Sir Richard Owen coined the term "Dinosauria" and added the first three species to what we now call dinosaurs. One of them was...almost nuts. P...
Some other videos about Owen's Dinosauria that you'll like:
Half Asleep Chris on Owen's discoveries and British coins commemorating Dinosauria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD54i...
Tom Scott on the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWItL...
Previous IDU Curiosity videos about dinosaurs, as mentioned:
Fostoria dhimbangunmal, an iguanodontid dinosaur discovered at Lightning Ridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aatIp...
Weewarrasaurus, also discovered near Lightning Ridge, identified from tiny fragments of jawbone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waCs5...
3d-printable iguanodon (Mantellodon?) from the Crystal Palace Gardens: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/stand...
Opalised fossils aren't always colourful like you would expect opal to be. Why not? I asked Jenni Brammall at the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge just that!
Opalised fossils aren't always colourful like you would expect opal to be. Why not? I asked Jenni Brammall at the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge j...
You might also like: A World Tour of Opal Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEspO...
A World Tour of Opal Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH4Sj...
Stuff that Looks Like Opal but Isn't: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipfvC...
Lightning Ridge potter and backyard scientist Graeme Anderson shows us the results of some pottery glazing experiments using various kinds of ash.
Lightning Ridge potter and backyard scientist Graeme Anderson shows us the results of some pottery glazing experiments using various kinds of ash. Graeme has...
Graeme has been experimenting with opal clay pottery and different methods of glazing for many years, and this video shows us the outcomes of some of his experiments.
Relics from the Digger's Rest Hotel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vThQmqTPncc
For more with Graeme, check out:
The Science of Pots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsEfRttSp_U
What's its like to Live in a Train? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6gIMUjBbI
Melting Bottles in an Electric Kiln: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1AtatvPPWU
The Digger's Rest Hotel was a Lightning Ridge institution until it burned down in 2006.
Check out some memorabilia from the pub with Barbara, Jenni and Graeme! Special thanks to Barbara Moritz (Lightning Ridge Historical Society), Jenni Brammall (Australian Opal Centre) and Graeme Anderson.
The Digger's Rest Hotel was a Lightning Ridge institution until it burned down in 2006. Check out some memorabilia from the pub with Barbara, Jenni and Graem...
Thank YOU for watching!
A tour of Lightning Ridge in 1988 revisited in 2020. So much has changed!
The original tour in 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UAZ_lgt4wo&t=94s
A tour of Lightning Ridge in 1988 revisited in 2020. So much has changed! The original 1988 tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UAZ_lgt4wo The tour in 360...
And here’s the tour in 360-VR, best viewed on a smartphone or PC:
Regular tour video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC3PCz9JA20 The original 1988 tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UAZ_lgt4wo Special thanks to Shaun G...
Special thanks to Shaun Galman!
In the late 1960s, a Lightning Ridge resident built a detailed scale model of Opal Street that's still on display. Let's check it out!
In the late 1960s, a Lightning Ridge resident built a detailed scale model of Opal Street that's still on display. Let's check it out! The Model Mine is on d...
The Model Mine is on display at The Big Opal, on the Three Mile Road in Lightning Ridge.
Special thanks to Steve at The Big Opal.
Behind the scenes filming this episode with Steve at The Big Opal.
Looking from the Butcher’s Shop end of the block down toward Pandora Street (not part of the model). I’m curious whether “nose-in” parking was the norm at the time, or if the cars were simply oriented for the best view in the model.
The red, white and blue BMW in centre, tourist bus and various livestock inhabit the street.
An overview of the model, underground scenario and name plate. The entire unit is designed to fit into the corner of a room, and is trapezoidal in shape accordingly.
Aerial view of Opal Street (obviously). The placement of the telegraph/power poles is completely accurate. The actual poles are in the same position to this day, refer photos below.
Overview from the left (north) end of the model.
Overview from the right (south) end of the model.
Part of the underground mining diorama, featuring a shaft (vertical), drive (horizontal) and a ballroom (dome shaped excavation). A red rickshaw/wheelbarrow waits for dirt. The cut logs used for support are props, preventing the collapse of the drive ceilings.
Overview of the model in situ at The Big Opal.
If you didn’t take a selfie, were you really there?
Comparison 1: North end. The sign on top of the Butcher’s Shop has remained unchanged since the ‘60s. The porch at the front of the two-story building was removed a few years ago, but it was offset from the other porches as depicted accurately in the model.
Comparison 2: Front on, looking from the west. There’s actually not much to point out in this comparison as the model is incredibly faithful to the original block of buildings. I suspect the builder may have intended to complete more detail on the upper storey of the taller building, but concluded the project early. Projects are never finished, only abandoned.
Comparison 3: “The Mine”, or the Ridge Lightning Lightning Photography Gallery (2009). This shop has been through about ten different colour schemes since we had the gallery open. In my objective opinion, ours was best. :)
The Ridge Lightning Lightning Photography gallery, 2009.
The only photograph I managed to take of our lightning photography gallery with lightning, although you have to squint to see it.
I mentioned at the end of the YouTube video that I made an error somewhere in it. I’m not going to explain it here, but it relates to the building I labeled as “our gallery”, so feel free to analyse in further detail.
The Big Opal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOpal/
Other links:
Things to Make and Glue (my other YouTube channel), where I've documented the building of my Space Shuttle orbiter model: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyWP...
Build log for my Millennium Falcon model: https://www.colonpipe.com/builds/buil...
The Droste Effect on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droste_...
Lightning photography from Lightning Ridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-nO...
Google Maps coordinates for the part of Opal Street the model is based upon: https://www.google.com/maps/@-29.4296...
There's opal, there's synthetic opal, and then there's this stuff. Minerals, biological materials and man-made substances that have similar visual properties to opal!
There's opal, there's synthetic opal, and then there's this stuff. Minerals, biological materials and man-made substances that have similar visual properties to opal! Labradorite on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrado... Fire agate on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_agate Ammolite on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammolite Weathered glass information from the Corning Museum of Glass: https://www.cmog.org/article/weathere...
Some stuff that didn’t make the cut:
Examples of materials that exhibit similar visual effects as opal. Not all of these materials made it into the video, what do you recognise?
More examples.
“Opal glass”, or iridescent glass has a weathering crust that displays optical effects.
Weathering crust on a beer bottle that was buried in Collarenebri for about 60 years.
Detail of the majestic piece of ancient European glass, displaying all manner of colours and textures.
The reverse of the same piece, showing blues and cyans surrounding the golden patches.
An image I regret omitting from the video: sunstone displays mostly an orange colour from its copper inclusions, but some of the flashes of colour are green, as seen on the right, here.
Gorgeous green beetle carapaces from the study collection of the Australian Opal Centre. Similar structural colouring can be found on Christmas beetles and houseflies.
Another omission from the video, a glorious example of an ammonite with beautifully preserved ammolite, shimmering in greens and pinks.
A visual comparison of actual crystal opal (left) and Opalite (right).
Labradorite on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrado...
Fire agate on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_agate
Ammolite on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammolite
Weathered glass information from the Corning Museum of Glass: https://www.cmog.org/article/weathere
We took photographs of lightning at Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia. Here's the story. From 2004-2009, we were the "storm chasers" from Lightning Ridge. Shaun Galman and I photographed weather and lightning and our work is still on display in Lightning Ridge, if you know where to look.
We took photographs of lightning at Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia. Here's the story. From 2004-2009, we were the "storm chasers" from Lightning Ridge. Shaun Galman and I photographed weather and lightning and our work is still on display in Lightning Ridge, if you know where to look.
Shaun on DeviantART: https://www.deviantart.com/syndyne
Shaun on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syndyne/
Russell on DeviantART: https://www.deviantart.com/datazoid
Russell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datazoid/
Ridge Lightning on Facebook: https://facebook.com/ridgelightning
The opal mining town of Lightning Ridge appeared, kind of, in a lost film that was made in 1920. I can't show you the film, but I can tell you the story.
YES. There are flies. YES. There's wind. I'm sorry. I had one day to shoot this, and those are the scenarios I was dealt. It could have been worse -- if it were a day earlier, I'd have been filming in a dust storm.
The opal mining town of Lightning Ridge appeared, kind of, in a lost film that was made in 1920. I can't show you the film, but I can tell you the story. YES. There are flies. YES. There's wind. I'm sorry. I had one day to shoot this, and those are the scenarios I was dealt.
Some extra photgraphs and media:
Poster/playbill for The Shadow of Lightning Ridge (1920).
The corrugated iron church on the Three Mile opal field, used in the film The Goddess of 1967 (2000).
Signage on the corrugated iron church.
The “front” of the church.
The Shadow of Lightning Ridge on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sha...
Snowy Baker on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_B...
NFSA Restores Snowy Baker: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/nfsa-r...
Opal Mining 1925 on Australian Screen/NFSA: https://aso.gov.au/titles/documentari...
Have you ever wanted to have a dinosaur named after you? Of course you have! This is the story of Mike Poben and Weewarrasaurus pobeni: a small plant eating dinosaur from an opal field near Lightning Ridge, and how Mike found its opalised jawbone in a batch of rough opal.
Find out about the discovery, and the process of identification and naming of a new species of dinosaur!
Behind the scenes on How Do You Get a DINOSAUR Named After You?
More BTS.
Filming this episode.
A dinosaur was present. (Not Weewarrasaurus pobeni.)
Filming with Dr. Phil Bell at the Australian Opal Centre’s Black Opal Heritage Shed.
Filming the pieces of Weewarrasaurus pobeni’s jawbone.
This video was made with the help of the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia.
Special thanks to Mike Poben, Dr. Phil Bell of UNE Armidale, James Kuether and everyone at the Australian Opal Centre.
An adventure in firing Raku pottery in Lightning Ridge, with experimental glazes and a backyard kiln! Graeme Anderson is a retired potter from Lightning Ridge, who conducts science experiments in his backyard in the name of art and curiosity.
An adventure in firing Raku pottery in Lightning Ridge, with experimental glazes and a backyard kiln! Graeme Anderson is a retired potter from Lightning Ridge, who conducts science experiments in his backyard in the name of art and curiosity.
Some additional photos from the evening:
Behind the scenes filming the kiln explanation and demonstration.
Behind the scenes, Graeme explains the glazing and chemicals used to decorate the pots.
The lid of the kiln, with ceramic fibre insulation.
Looking through the vent in the kiln lid to some pots already loaded for firing.
Thermal camera image of Graeme (right), and the cans (left) used to hold shredded paper to generate smoke to create the desired effects in the pot glazing.
Thermal camera image of the kiln at full temperature, showing the gas element (bottom left), kiln proper (centre) and venting heat (top).
Completed pots, with various effects caused by different treatments and combinations of heat, time and decoration method. The lump and bubbly pots are a result of excess heat, but not an unwelcome outcome.
Detail on one of the most successful examples, decorated by Dr. Elizabeth Smith.
Watch more of Graeme here --
Melting bottles in an electric kiln: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Ata...
Living in repurposed Sydney train carriages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6gI...
The Science of Pots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsEfR.