So What Is THIS Stuff Now? Fairy Opal?

[iLander]

I saw this on ebay,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLICKERING-COLORS-DRILLED-10mm-SOLID-FAIRY-BOULDER-OPAL-BEAD-/360683072807?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53fa62ed27

With this weird description:

This solid fairy boulder opal has been mined from the Queensland boulder opal fields and is found above the ironstone layer of the boulder opal. The body of the opal is sandstone which has been treated with inert chemicals (non toxic) which darkens the stone and helps show the natural gem colors that are there. The dark body tone is through the whole opal and not only on the surface. The opal has been stabilized which increases its strength upto 10 times.

So what the heck does that mean? Are they taking random opal bits and putting them in some kind of base? Or what the heck?

Great of them to disclose this treatment (or assembly), and they seem to have other natural opals, but what IS it?

Here's a pic

 

[aaronl]

Sandsone is a soft sedimentary rock that is highly subject to erosion. It's not unusual for sandstone to contain flecks of other minerals, like rock (or in this case, opal), but it won't look anything like the highly treated specimen above.

I'm seeing other references to "fairy opal" as a term for opal in a "sandstone matrix". (Other names include rainbow opal matrix, black paradise opal matrix, and mass opal - these names are all about marketing). Historically, this material was called "concrete" by opal miners and discarded as worthless.

Google informs me that the opal matrix will be soaked in sugar and/or oil, and perhaps also other chemicals that help stabilize the finished product, then baked until it turns black. There's no standard recipe, so it's whatever works for the manufacturer and the rock they're treating - in some cases the treatment may be achieved with nothing but sugar, but in other cases it will involve acids, petrochemicals and "your guess is as good as mine".

As I would expect from sandstone, reportedly polishing the finished product can be tricky - you would either need to use a chemical process that leaves a stable residue between the grains of sand that comprise the rock or use a grinder so that you smooth off the grains of sand, as otherwise the finished product will look about as shiny as sandpaper.

 

[partgypsy]

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[partgypsy]

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[minousbijoux]

Aaroni: great explanation and very helpful. The stuff doesn't appeal to me at all but to each their own.

 

[aaronl]

Thanks. (A small correction: When I said "It's not unusual for sandstone to contain flecks of other minerals, like rock" I meant to type "quartz".)

 

[Aerix]

I'd seen some cabs like this on Etsy and thought they kinda looked neat... I'm glad I read this post, very informative and interesting!

 

[chrono]

Definitely cooked up the wazoo. The name fairy opal sure sounds much prettier though.

 

[VapidLapid]

I believe in the sugaring process they soak the saturated sugar solution into all the pores and it crystalizes like rock candy. Then they put it in sulfuric acid, which burns the sugar to carbon black. Much the same as when you make a school project volcano.

 

[iLander]

I believe in the sugaring process they soak the saturated sugar solution into all the pores and it crystalizes like rock candy. Then they put it in sulfuric acid, which burns the sugar to carbon black. Much the same as when you make a school project volcano.

Vapid, what school did you go to?!!

My volcanos were all baking soda and vinegar, and I Still managed to get that in my eye!

 

[iLander]

Sandsone is a soft sedimentary rock that is highly subject to erosion. It's not unusual for sandstone to contain flecks of other minerals, like rock (or in this case, opal), but it won't look anything like the highly treated specimen above.

I'm seeing other references to "fairy opal" as a term for opal in a "sandstone matrix". (Other names include rainbow opal matrix, black paradise opal matrix, and mass opal - these names are all about marketing). Historically, this material was called "concrete" by opal miners and discarded as worthless.

Google informs me that the opal matrix will be soaked in sugar and/or oil, and perhaps also other chemicals that help stabilize the finished product, then baked until it turns black. There's no standard recipe, so it's whatever works for the manufacturer and the rock they're treating - in some cases the treatment may be achieved with nothing but sugar, but in other cases it will involve acids, petrochemicals and "your guess is as good as mine".

As I would expect from sandstone, reportedly polishing the finished product can be tricky - you would either need to use a chemical process that leaves a stable residue between the grains of sand that comprise the rock or use a grinder so that you smooth off the grains of sand, as otherwise the finished product will look about as shiny as sandpaper.

So, you're saying that they have random rocks full of opal bits, just lying around in Australia? How? That is so bizarre! Awesome!

What an fabulous floor or countertop!

 

[Quantz Studios]

Commonly known also as "matrix opal", or "Andamooka matrix opal" Naturally it's pale and mostly unexciting. The treatment turns the matrix black... for obvious reasons.

 

[ChristineRose]

Stabilized means soaked in glue under pressure, right?

Here's an article by someone who makes these. He says that they are white in the center and limited repairs can be done if they are scratched.

http://www.shed.com/aom/storyfile/matrix.html

Also, sulfuric acid is not-non toxic, and he talks about residual acid leaking out of his stones and how to deal with this without getting burnt and/or destroying your stuff.

 

[VapidLapid]

Here is a sugary treat. Treated matrix opal without the opal or the matrix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOedJgqTT9E

 

[LD]

Here is a sugary treat. Treated matrix opal without the opal or the matrix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOedJgqTT9E

 

[chrono]

I've read about the sugar treatment and seen pictures, but have not seen such opal in person.

 

[hippi_pixi]

Just looks artificial to me and not my cup of tea personally. Haven't seen it lying around here in australia myself and i live in queensland the home of boulder opal and have travelled out to lightning ridge the home of black opal and didn't see any there either

Love your papillon ilander . do you have photos of him/her as an adult? I have a little sable papillon 3 years old and cute as anything. Hes a tiddler at 1.8 kgs and refuses to fatten up!