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Opalite
Oct 31, 2006 14:11:01 GMT -5
Post by ladyt on Oct 31, 2006 14:11:01 GMT -5
I purchased a little bag of Opalite at the gem show in Kissimee 2 weekends ago for $20. I just opened the bag and they seem to resemble glass beads with opalized coloring. Can I use these on the slant cabber to reshape and shine for wire wrapping? Or did I get ripped off? I looked online and if I'm correct, these are a man-made material. They are very pretty, just not sure now what to do with them. Any info would be greatly appreciated!! Tonja
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Opalite
Oct 31, 2006 14:39:05 GMT -5
Post by gemkoi on Oct 31, 2006 14:39:05 GMT -5
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Opalite
Oct 31, 2006 14:48:05 GMT -5
Post by rallyrocks on Oct 31, 2006 14:48:05 GMT -5
Actually Mindat only refers to the synthetic opalized glass under "opalite". I've seen several other natural things called opalite, I expect most of them would be more correctly called common opal, but some of what I've seen was more of an common opal conglomerate type of material. This place calls what Shain and I would call "Tiffany stone" opalite: www.bernardine.com/gemstones/opalite.htmBut more than anything- I would say that buying stuff called "opalite" is a pretty dicey proposition, you never really can be sure what you are going to get, could be a treasure or it could be cheesy glass, and the sellers would both think they are right.
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Opalite
Oct 31, 2006 17:17:42 GMT -5
Post by ladyt on Oct 31, 2006 17:17:42 GMT -5
Hang on I'll take a few pics. Ok Here's some pics. Sorry pics are so big. Thanks for your help, Tonja
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Opalite
Oct 31, 2006 19:23:25 GMT -5
Post by rallyrocks on Oct 31, 2006 19:23:25 GMT -5
Yup, that's the glass kind alright.
Even though technically it is cheesy glass, its still really pretty stuff though, don't you think? and for only $20 I wouldn't say you were ripped off at all, it might be found elsewhere cheaper, but those look like pretty nice pieces
I would expect you can cut, shape, and shine it up real nice without losing the effect
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Opalite
Oct 31, 2006 20:08:40 GMT -5
Post by gemkoi on Oct 31, 2006 20:08:40 GMT -5
To be hounest, i wouldnt trust Mindat outside of just minerals. Becasue it often gets confusing unless its a pure mineral. If mindat has no info on a term name, its becasue they themsleves are following market trend. Common opal ive been told since i was just getting started over 10 years ago would be known as opalite/opaline. though "Common opal" would be the best term to use so not to confuse people further. The term is used losse again, but i wouldnt call it opalite, according to mindat lor that market. I believe they more often use the term in loose form again based on what the market is doing. As ive seen in the last 5 years the term shift as what we are talking about becasue of metaphysical vendors not doing their research. nd folding the market with glass. (same thing has happened to Moldavite)
Tiffany stone in fact, there isnt that much opal in the stuff. It is actaully confused with Dolomite and rhyolite. As it is still just a mixture and not classifable. The opal content from what ive found out over the years is less than 10%. Dolomite would have a larger percent around 40%.
I wouldnt say either is wronge, but i wouldnt say either is right as well, based on general market term usage. But it really doenst matter becasue thats how the market works, more often to put a natural name on something un-natural. Ive seen that stuff for years, at large shows and it was always sold as Sea Glass(not to be confused with Beach Glass) or Opal Glass. I even have some rough of it. Ive even seen vendors trying to push it off as Blue Moonstone and rainbow Moonstone.
Since they are shaped and look nice either way, i think you got a fair price. And its ok to call it Opalite, though thats not what it is according to my knowledge.
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Crystalclear
starting to spend too much on rocks
I'm Anthony ^That's Buster^
Member since September 2006
Posts: 217
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Post by Crystalclear on Nov 6, 2006 0:11:40 GMT -5
oooooooo
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