The South Australian Museum's collection of opals is one of the fastest growing in the world, and houses the two most valuable known specimens of opal in the world - the Virgin Rainbow and the Fire of Australia.

Other strengths of this collection are undoubtedly the fine suites of specimens from South Australian localities. South Australia is famous for its copper mines, particularly Burra, Moonta and Wallaroo, and these are well represented in the collection. There are also collections from the Olympic Dam Copper-gold-uranium deposit, the Precambrian iron formations of the Middleback Ranges and a particularly fine assortment of quartz specimens from the White Rock Quarry in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Targeted field collecting and donations from amateur collectors have meant that the general coverage of species and localities from the state is constantly improving.

Reopening of Collection Services

We are pleased to announce that the South Australian Museum is gradually reopening access to its collections. While we continue to work through essential audit tasks, we are now able to slowly resume our collection services as capacity allows.

• Acquisitions: We are now accepting acquisitions on a limited basis. Please contact us to discuss any potential donations.

• Loans and Viewing Requests: We are also starting to process requests for loans and viewings of collection items. We appreciate your patience as we work through these requests.

• Aboriginal Cultural Heritage: We remain committed to prioritising access for Aboriginal communities to their cultural heritage materials, especially for repatriation activities.

Our galleries remain open to the public, 10am-5pm every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday.

For any questions or further information, please contact us at collections@samuseum.sa.gov.au.

Thank you for your understanding and support.