Our People
Sue
OPAL MINER, OPAL CUTTER and OWNER of BROKEN RIVER MINING
As both an Australian boulder opal miner and cutter, one of the most amazing things that I get to do everyday - if I am lucky - is to be the first person on the planet to expose an opal and gaze upon its beauty. To find, extract and split a raw boulder opal is like no other
experience.
Then I have to ask the question – do I keep them as specimens or cut them into opal stones? The specimens are rare and unique and keeping them in this form allows us to admire the formation of opal in all of its natural beauty and wonder. But on the other hand, I also adore opal gemstones! To me the experience of twisting and turning an opal in my fingers when cutting and polishing it is truly mesmerizing.
Our Australian opals burn in the psyche like no other gemstones. The brilliance of patterns, the play of colours - violets, reds, magentas, royal blues, greens, orange and yellows - each opal is forever unique. Opals reflect the sheer beauty and uniqueness of the country from which they are born. My goal is to share that beauty of opal with you.
Xandy
Sales director BROKEN RIVER MINING
Xandy is not only an avid opal-lover (how could you not be as the daughter of two opal miners and cutters?) but also runs our day-to-day operations. From customer service, photography, website design and managing social media, she is pretty much indispensable. She also cuts
opal and has killer taste, so if an opal makes it to her favourites list, you should probably take notice. With a background in science, she is also always on the hunt for ways that we can make our business more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The team
Ash, Cody and the Crew
We are a small family business that has the pleasure working with some of the most talented opal miners, mechanics, opal cutters and sales assistants on the planet. We are lucky that our family, friends and community support us and are generous with both their time and knowledge.