Before mining for opals in South Australia you must:

• hold a current Precious Stones Prospecting Permit (PSPP)
• pay a fee when applying for the permit and for the registration of claims and other relevant documents.

How to obtain a permit and the basic requirements to prospect and mine for opal are outlined in:

• MG32: Opal prospecting and mining (PDF 16 MB)
• Frequently asked questions about opal mining in South Australia

Opal miners can obtain information and application forms from the Andamooka Post Office, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday (closed on public holidays).

Mintabie Precious Stones Field

Authorised opal miners can access and operate on the Mintabie Precious Stones Field under section 29C of the APY Land Rights Act.

• Access and conditions relating to opal mining within the Mintabie Precious Stones Field (PDF)
• Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankuntjatjara Land Rights Act 1981

Andamooka Precious Stones Field

The Andamooka Precious Stones Field ILUA came into operation on 7 May 2019 when it was registered on the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements under the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.

The ILUA, between the Minister for Energy and Mining and the Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation, opens up new areas of land for opal mining with the Andamooka Precious Stones Field.

Opal miners will be able to sign up to the ILUA at no cost, by executing an Acceptance Deed - Andamooka Precious Stones Field and providing a copy to the Department. This will allow opal miners to obtain native title access to land approved by the Kokatha native title holders immediately upon obtaining the relevant permit or tenement under the Opal Mining Act 1995.

As long as opal miners comply with the ILUA they can carry out their operations without having to follow the native title process in the Opal Mining Act for the Native Title Act.

Acceptance Deed - Andamooka Precious Stones Field (PDF, 2.7 MB)