BLACK OPAL FOSSILS OF LIGHTNING RIDGE - HARD TO FIND!

Treasures from the Rainbow Billabong.

Only one place on earth produces black opal fossils - Lightning Ridge in northern New South Wales, Australia.  The fossils are lusually exact replicas of plant, shell or bone material, and at times they are composed of gem quality black opal, which is as valuable as diamonds and more beautiful.

This book is the first in-depth account of these black opal fossils, natural treasures of critical scientific value, which could revolutionise our understanding of the evolution of Australia's unique flora and fauna.

The book explains the intricate geological processes that produced the fossils and describes the ancient landscape when the opaldirt was laid down, when Australia was part of the giant supercontinent of Gondwana and located within the Antarctic Circle.  The fossils are evidence of a great diversity of plants and animals - yabbies, predatory fish, giant lungfish, turtles, plesiosaurs, crocodiles, pterosaurs, an intriguing range of large and very small dinosaurs, early birds and 'mystery mammals'.

Full colour photographs of hundreds of superb relics, some of them of major scientific value, and numerous black and white illustrations of specimens and the fossil fauna delight the eye.  There are detailed reconstructive drawings of the better-known fossil animals, based on comparative analysis and conjecture, and accounts of specimens recently discovered and still under study.

The book contains an evolutionary sequence chart, a map of major fossil sites on the black opalfields and a comprehensive glossary of scientific and local terms.  The foreword is by acclaimed mammalogist and palaentologist Dr Tim Flannery.

This112 page hardcover is ex-library and as such has all the usual stamps and stickers internally and externally.  There is some damage to bottom front corner of dustjacket and hardcover underneath (it looks as though it could have been puppy chewed!?) - please see photograph, and there are some light creases to edge of dustjacket and shelf wear to top and bottom edge of hardcover.  Internally there are the odd, light marks to some pages, but it is otherwise in a good, tight, condition.  This is a wonderful opportunity to pick up a cheap copy of this hard to find book.

Postage quoted is for within Australia only and as this is a large, heavy book overseas customers should email me for a postage quote before bidding. Local pick up is not available.

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