Heart of the Outback Read Online Free PDF Page A

“The colours, they’re like a rainbow. CJ, tell me about opals. How are they made?”
    CJ thought for a moment, trying to think of a simple, uncomplicated explanation for the gems. “According to what I’ve read and heard from the other miners and Mickey, precious opal occurs in rocks affected by weathering. Sun, wind and rain, can start the process which may have begun up to seventy million years ago.”
    “Gosh, I had no idea they were that old.”
    “Well, the stone’s aren’t — it’s the process that’s old. Weathering makes the country rock produce something called kaolin and soluble silica — the main ingredients in claystone and other rocks. As the weathering continues, cavities are created in the rock by dissolving minerals and fossil shells. These cavities provide pathways for underground water containing the soluble silica.”
    A puzzled frown feathered across her young forehead. “But how does this create the opal?”
    “Experts reckon that as the water table rises and falls, probably because of changes in the weather, the silica-rich solutions are carried downwards, depositing opal containing stone in the cavities.” He grinned at her. “And now they’re down there just waiting to be dug up.”
    “I think I understand. It’s a bit like the way silver and gold are formed, but how do the stones get their spectacular colours?”
    “From the silica and water, which over millions of years, goes rock hard. Generally, precious opal contains six to ten per cent water. It’s that plus the silica squares arranged in a regular pattern that make the colours. The colour you see in them, the reds, blues, yellows and greens is caused by the regular array of silica spheres diffracting white light.” He paused for a breath. “If you didn’t shine light on them, or see them in the sunlight, you’d have no idea of the brilliant colours contained in the stone. Colour also depends on the angle of light. Rotating a stone can make the colours change and even disappear.”
    Mary shook her head. It was complicated and she didn’t understand all of it, even though CJ had explained it well. “It is a little difficult to understand …”
    “Don’t worry too much about it,” he told her. He took her hand and placed the largest uncut stone into her palm. “I want you to have this, Mary.” He pulled her onto his lap and stroked her dark hair. “I’ll have a jeweller in Adelaide polish it and make you a pendant, or a ring. How does that sound?”
    “CJ, I couldn’t. It’s so valuable, I’d be scared to wear it.”
    “Nonsense,” he assured her. He studied her dark-skinned face for a moment. Her parentage had bequeathed her the dark hair and complexion of her mother, but he guessed that her eyes came from her father. They were an interesting mixture of light-brown with greenish flecks. “You know, your eyes are like brown opals. I’ll have to find a good one for you, maybe enough to make earrings as well.”
    She smiled back at him. “You’re too good to me, CJ.” Then she frowned. “What if…” He kissed the side of her neck and she suddenly found it hard to think, “I lost it?”
    “You won’t.” He continued to feather kisses down to her bare shoulder, his lips tasting the slight saltiness of her skin while at the same time his hands caressed her body, feeling it stir to his touch. She was a sensual little creature and responded almost immediately to his demands. His mouth found hers in a searing kiss of possession and he teased her lips with his tongue until she opened to him. He sank his tongue deep into her mouth and ravaged it, his body hardening as he heard her throaty moans of delight. “Oh, baby,” he whispered close to her ear. “I want you so much.”
    “Me too, my darling.” Mary helped him strip off her flimsy clothes and she tingled all over with delight and need as his ambitious hands and mouth roamed over her, bringing her to an anticipatory peak in just a few minutes.