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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 2:39:02 GMT -5
Kind of have a new favorite lately. Switched from cabbing so much of the copper-silver ores and Nevada Tiffany stone and mainly been on a kick of cabbing common opals. Love the wide variety of colors and patterns compared to precious opal.
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Post by knave on Dec 25, 2021 7:55:44 GMT -5
Really nice stuff!!
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Post by victor1941 on Dec 25, 2021 9:56:28 GMT -5
Vegasjames, is some of the red/yellow/black combination opalized wood? I especially like the warm opal color combinations and the others that include the black. Which state was this material collected in ?
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Dec 25, 2021 10:00:11 GMT -5
Wow what a variety! Thanks for the show! I can see why you are digging it!
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 25, 2021 10:05:06 GMT -5
vegasjames - You get my attention every time you post something about "common" opal. What you find is uncommonly good.
Looked like at least one piece that began it's life as a tree. I know how it polishes, too, so those cabs must be amazing in hand.
Good on ya' for posting something many people wouldn't think twice about because it doesn't have a fancy name or big vendors promoting it.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 25, 2021 10:47:43 GMT -5
Beautiful slabs and cabs James!
It's great to see you around again, I appreciate your posts.
Merry Christmas!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 25, 2021 10:48:02 GMT -5
Holy smokes, vegasjames, that's an amazing variety of common opal. Pictures #5 and #6 are drool worthy! I love them all though. Thanks for sharing these beautiful varieties. I have never seen a lot of them before. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,612 
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Post by RWA3006 on Dec 25, 2021 11:15:17 GMT -5
Really enjoyed seeing the show and would like to see more of what you and your dog have been doing.
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 16:16:39 GMT -5
Vegasjames, is some of the red/yellow/black combination opalized wood? I especially like the warm opal color combinations and the others that include the black. Which state was this material collected in ? The first 4 slab photos and the last 7 slab photos are all opalized wood. All of the cabachons expect the very last one are all made from opalized wood.
All the opal is from Nevada. We have common opal all through the State. I even recently found some by Henderson, just outside of Las Vegas and at Goodsprings about 40 miles from Vegas. Opal is more concentrated though further North from Goldfield District to Northern Nevada. |
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 16:39:14 GMT -5
vegasjames - You get my attention every time you post something about "common" opal. What you find is uncommonly good.
Looked like at least one piece that began it's life as a tree. I know how it polishes, too, so those cabs must be amazing in hand.
Good on ya' for posting something many people wouldn't think twice about because it doesn't have a fancy name or big vendors promoting it.
I love common opal, more than most precious opal with the exception of Lightening Ridge black opal and the Welo opals. Really surprised it is not used a whole lot more in jewelry as it has such as wide variety of colors and patterns.
I have a lot more in various colors (various shades of purple, black, various shades of red, light and dark green, gray, pastels, pink and salmon, brown, etc.). Recently hit a really nice vein of orange opal. Have not cabbed any yet though. Found another vein of light purple opal on the other side of the hill, and recently found 2 opalized logs (one dark purple and the other blue, light green and white), and one agatized log (black). Been trying to get up and dig as often as I can, but it has been so cold and the days so short.
The red is really beautiful, but is very unstable. Hard to find pieces larger than a dime, and when I tried to cab a piece, I had pieces shearing off the surface. So, I mainly collect the red because I think it would be great for inlay, especially as a red coral substitute with turquoise.
This is the red opal.
And some of the other opal I have dug up.
And a few more opal cabs:
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 16:40:19 GMT -5
Beautiful slabs and cabs James! It's great to see you around again, I appreciate your posts. Merry Christmas! Thank you. Merry Christmas. |
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 16:44:55 GMT -5
Holy smokes, vegasjames , that's an amazing variety of common opal. Pictures #5 and #6 are drool worthy! I love them all though. Thanks for sharing these beautiful varieties. I have never seen a lot of them before. The orange opal has always been hard to find. Only black is harder to find. Did find several nice solid pieces of orange opal on my way to visit my dad back in October. Then took some friends up to the area about a month ago and just randomly digging hit a whole vein of orange opal. I was so excited. The brecciated orange opal I have found a couple of times. It comes from a little further North from where I found the vein.
I love the one in pic 6 as well. Would be ecstatic if I found a vein of that one.
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 16:45:57 GMT -5
Really enjoyed seeing the show and would like to see more of what you and your dog have been doing. Thanks. Will try to post some more pics of our adventures. Have been traveling a lot, and trying to get out and explore new locations. |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Dec 25, 2021 18:22:09 GMT -5
The variety of colors and patterns in that material is incredible! Nothing "common" about it except the name.
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 25, 2021 19:16:14 GMT -5
The variety of colors and patterns in that material is incredible! Nothing "common" about it except the name. I agree, wish they would come up with a better name than common opal. Something a lot more appealing as it is beautiful stuff. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 25, 2021 23:02:35 GMT -5
James...these are amazing! As others have stated, the variety is completely off the charts! Some remind me of brecciated jasper, some dendritic agates, some Ohio Flint, some Mookaite, and the purple at first glance looked like Amethyst! Thank you SO much for the eye candy today!  |
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