Opal has a long history of use, both as a treasured possession and for personal adornment. Opal artefacts several thousand years old have been discovered in East Africa. The first discovery of common opal in Australia was made near Angaston (SA) by the German geologist Johannes Menge in 1849. Production of precious opal began at White Cliffs (NSW) in 1890, Opalton (Qld) in 1896, and Lightning Ridge (NSW) in 1905. Opal was discovered at Coober Pedy in 1915, where mining became established after the First World War, and at Andamooka in 1930. The industry declined during the depression of the 1930s when few people could afford luxuries, but major new finds in 1946 stimulated mining and there has since been a spectacular increase in production. More than 95% of the world’s opal now comes from Australia, with South Australian fields estimated to produce over 50% of the Australian production.