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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:01:53 GMT -5
Post by beefjello on Jan 22, 2009 20:01:53 GMT -5
This is from another small collection I picked up a while back. It's pretty light weight and seems volcanic. I nearly pitched this one when a flash of color caught my eye. Checking it out further I saw the cut face was loaded with flash, every color imaginable! I didn't capture it too well but you can see it here. Could this be some kind of opal? I'm pretty sure it's not BO.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:03:24 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2009 20:03:24 GMT -5
Looks like a matrix type opal to me. In my experience, the lighter colored porous ones do not polish well.
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:11:11 GMT -5
Post by beefjello on Jan 22, 2009 20:11:11 GMT -5
Thanks Shannon! Where do matrix opals come from?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:19:45 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2009 20:19:45 GMT -5
Well mine was boulder opal from AU. It was lower grade, beginner stuff. The darker, harder ones polished well but the lighter porous ones that looked just like yours did not. They were either so soft they just ground down to nothing, or if they held together, they took zero shine. The most irritating part was that it was the light colored ones that had the best/most fire!
Shannon
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:21:18 GMT -5
Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jan 22, 2009 20:21:18 GMT -5
Topic: honduras opal (Read 94 times) lapidaryrough Starting to spend too much on Rocks **** member is online [homepage] [send pm]
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:27:14 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2009 20:27:14 GMT -5
Hey lapidaryrough.....
I love your posts but is it possible to not cut and paste (or whatever is being done that adds the unneccessary info) to your replies. I just find them very hard to read.
Speaking of Honduran Opal Beef, I do have some of that material too but all of mine is very dark.......like black. I think lapidaryrough is saying that is what yours is. I would imagine the matrix comes in different colors. I believe that material can also be hard to polish without stabilizing...or so Ive heard.
Shannon
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 20:50:46 GMT -5
Post by Gem'n I on Jan 22, 2009 20:50:46 GMT -5
Brian, Definitely looks like Honduran opal to me as well...that is how I started this hobby! A friend had an uncle who owned an opal mine down there and I happened to buy a quart jar of it from this friend...I then traded half the jar for my first all in one BO outfit...kinda cool since it would cut, grind and polish on the same spindle. The stuff I remember wouldn't polish worth a darn but it sure was pretty to look at...my guess would be nowadays it might get a dull shine with diamond...but from my experience it would make a great aquarium piece unless you decide to treat it with something under pressure?? Larry
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 21:10:37 GMT -5
Post by stonesthatrock on Jan 22, 2009 21:10:37 GMT -5
i have to agree with the honduran opal. heres a pic of one i have. looks pretty much the same to me. ralph and mary ann
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 21:16:20 GMT -5
Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jan 22, 2009 21:16:20 GMT -5
Hey lapidaryrough.....
I love your posts but is it possible to not cut and paste (or whatever is being done that adds the unneccessary info) to your replies. I just find them very hard to read.
Speaking of Honduran Opal Beef, I do have some of that material too but all of mine is very dark.......like black. I think lapidaryrough is saying that is what yours is. I would imagine the matrix comes in different colors. I believe that material can also be hard to polish without stabilizing...or so Ive heard.
Shannon Old post from the past
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Opal?
Jan 22, 2009 21:42:38 GMT -5
Post by beefjello on Jan 22, 2009 21:42:38 GMT -5
Thanks Jack, Larry, Ralph & Mary Ann! STR that certainly looks similar. I would have no idea how to stabilize it (especially under pressure), guess I need to get me an aquarium ;D
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