Nugget Shooter 3,543 Posted March 4, 2014 Rainbow Jelly Opal... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,543 Posted March 4, 2014 Fire Opal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rimshot 176 Posted March 4, 2014 Wow! The last one looks like clouds to me. Nice pics! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Dorado 933 Posted March 4, 2014 This is absolutely awesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoser John 1,204 Posted March 4, 2014 (edited) that fire opal looks like the sun shining within storm clouds......amazing species for sure. El D could sure make something amazing with that dazzler for sure!!!!!John Edited March 4, 2014 by Hoser John Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haderly 41 Posted March 4, 2014 I really like Welo opal but you have to be careful with it. It is a hydrophane opal meaning that it will readily adsorb and expel water. It will also absorb skin oils and discolor so when used is jewelry it should not be set in a fashion that allows skin contact. Getting it wet should be avoided and when wet it should be very slowly dried. I had a very big finished cab explode when I forgot it in my truck. I only forgot it for a couple hours but Arizona heat coupled with being fully hydrated caused disaster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Dorado 933 Posted March 4, 2014 Subjecting any opal to high temps is no good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoser John 1,204 Posted March 5, 2014 My mom shattered a beauty doing dishes long ago as she forgot to remove it and pow gone..bummer-John Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edheinrich 5 Posted March 6, 2014 Bill, Opal is one of the gems I have always wanted to dig. Never had the chance though. Maybe a week trip to Virgin Valley some day....some dayAdam,Years ago we could stop and dig small amounts of common opal in a road cut by Ocotillo. I bet you have driven by it many times. I recently stopped and could not even tell which vein it came from.Ed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clay 578 Posted March 6, 2014 As I have time I will try to take pictures of some of my opal collection. unfortunately my photography skills are horrible and opal is a pain to photographThe secret to photographing opals is to go wide open aperture. Depth of field is not your friend when capturing opal flash. The faster the lens the better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,543 Posted March 6, 2014 Blue Opal from AU Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoser John 1,204 Posted March 6, 2014 BLUE never seen or even heard of before-what is AU short for please??? Great thread going here thanx much John Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,543 Posted March 6, 2014 BLUE never seen or even heard of before-what is AU short for please??? Great thread going here thanx much JohnAustralia John... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haderly 41 Posted March 6, 2014 Blue opal with fire is pretty rare and I don’t think I have ever seen any as dark blue as that piece. I only know of two places that have blue opal with fire and that is Australia and Arizona. I have some from Arizona that I was lucky enough to dig with a former claim owner. It is not great but sure was nice to have had the opportunity to get some. There are several other locations that have blue opal without fire but it is still not common. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sklybones 2 Posted March 7, 2014 I had put this on quite a while back for ID...I still think it is a limb cast and possibly could hold some opal in it...The owner of the stone threw it in a tumbler with a bunch of misc. rocks and what he was left with was some mossy opalite, The tumbler and other rocks destroyed about 3/4s of the stone...so until I get some to cut and polish who knows what it may have turned out to be.....My mother has some fire opal from Gerlach (black rock dessert) given to her in the 70's from the mine owner I'll get some pictures today and post them tonight... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Dorado 933 Posted March 7, 2014 Yeah baby... Black rock opal, can't wait to see it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,543 Posted March 8, 2014 Got a friend says he is going to sent me some from Australia.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Dorado 933 Posted March 8, 2014 I meant Opal from the Black Rock Desert.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sklybones 2 Posted March 10, 2014 Well my photobucket was messing up with the downloads..so posting to here...the opal is smaller than I remember,and didnt have good lighting inside or out but heres a try Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sklybones 2 Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) ...I used super macro on the camera that may be the problem,, Edited March 10, 2014 by Sklybones Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nugget Shooter 3,543 Posted March 10, 2014 Nice stuff! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adam 1,946 Posted March 17, 2014 Sklybones How about an origin on that last piece Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sklybones 2 Posted March 19, 2014 All the pieces shown the clear and the blue with the red came from little joes opal mine outside of Gerlach nv. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Dorado 933 Posted March 30, 2014 Here is a Welo Opal I picked up at the Tucson Gem show....I wish the picture really showed it off better 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
