Mexican black opal?

[cchrisman]

Happy New Year!
Can anyone identify these opals?
they have been passed down 3 generations as being Mexican black opal?

 

[T L]

I would like to see the bottom and sides of the gems to rule out a doublet or triplet.

This one seems suspect as a doublet.

 

[cchrisman]

Thanks so much for the quick response!
this is the only photo I have at the moment. all the stones have a black back.

 

[T L]

Thanks so much for the quick response!
this is the only photo I have at the moment. all the stones have a black back.

The fact they all have flat cabochons and that one stone is suspect, I would pass, if you’re considering purchase.

 

[fredflintstone]

Black Opal is not found in Mexico, it is found in Honduras. No mining areas of it have been documented in any major gem lab report article and only is very rarely claimed by reliable sources.

Most that claim to be black Opal from Mexico is dyed and smoked Opal (yes Mexico has much hydrophane Opal that can be dyed or smoked) or doublets and triplets, lab created Opal.

I can only remember to twice anyone of consequence from the trade saying they owned true Mexican Black Opal. It has been so long ago I cannot remember who they were or if they really had not been duped into believing it.

Anomalies due happen, but Black Mexican Opal if it does exist would be as rare as frog hair.

 

[cchrisman]

Ha!ha!

 

[cchrisman]

I am researching the opals for a friend who’s wife inherited a layered box of them & told that they were mined in Mexico by her great great grandfather. She has recently died, and I was sent a cell phone photo of a few scattered on velvet when I offered to do some research for value and had no idea opals had so many varieties, with crystals looking like rubies, found in Mexicos volcanos, Ethiopia, Brazil to Australia.

 

[fredflintstone]

I am researching the opals for a friend who’s wife inherited a layered box of them & told that they were mined in Mexico by her great great grandfather. She has recently died, and I was sent a cell phone photo of a few scattered on velvet when I offered to do some research for value and had no idea opals had so many varieties, with crystals looking like rubies, found in Mexicos volcanos, Ethiopia, Brazil to Australia.

Yes, the vivid red ruby like Opals from Mexico are called "Fire Opal." They are also called, "Cherry Opal." They also come in orange, orange/red and yellow. Some do have color play; those are worth more. Color can be pale to vivid with the vivid stones having a neon quality. The stones transparency is from sleepy (hazy) looking to the best ones being transparent with very little or no sleepiness, but the stones do not have the fire, luster, and sparkle of Rubies, Spinel, Garnet. Still, very beautiful.

Brazil also produces fire like Opal. But these are not as vivid nor as transparent as their Mexican counterparts as a whole and usually yellow.

 

[cchrisman]

I would like to see the bottom and sides of the gems to rule out a doublet or triplet.

This one seems suspect as a doublet.

I am going over to take pics of the lot and was just sent this pic of a antique opal ring they also have.

 

[cchrisman]

I am going over to take pics of the lot and was just sent this pic of a antique opal ring they also have.

 

[T L]

This is potch (colorless opal) and not worth much.