shape
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color
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which ones are better...nodule opal or ''fissure'' opal?

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and another one...
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n another....

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and another.... this one cracked my damn template tho...

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i wanted to keep the weight on this one so cut it for a pendent... the colors came out better on this pic....

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i hope y''all enjoying this as much as i am....
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lovelllyyyyy

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i keep saying the last one but theres always one that is more appealing...
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okay now someone stop me...

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i don''t remember which site it was that said the ''pin-fire'' fire is not worth as much as the others but com''n this is beautiful....
this rough i''m going to enjoy cutting... i want the concentration right on top... center it... but sadly since my template crumbled to pieces, now i guess no cutting for a few...
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i needed a break anyway
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well till then let me bask in the brightness
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Those are fantastic. You really could find a market for them. I know I would like them!
 
Date: 2/23/2009 4:28:56 AM
Author: daniiopal

but sadly since my template crumbled to pieces, now i guess no cutting for a few...
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If I knew where to send it I''d get you a new template. What kind are you looking for? Just shapes or do you want it calibrated in mm? Round, oval, square, ??

Have you tested your opals for stability? How are the first ones you cut doing? Any signs of crazing? Are you mining the opal or working with surface material? If mining, at what depth? Most of the material you''ve posted appears to be full-spectrum crystal opal with differing potch colors. The play of color is very fine. The stones you''ve cut appear to be very fine material.

Richard M.
 
Date: 2/23/2009 10:35:02 AM
Author: Lady_Disdain
Those are fantastic. You really could find a market for them. I know I would like them!


Thank you Lady Disdain.

I am hoping to put some on the market one day, when i feel quite confident about my skills.
once i started cutting though, its like the flood gates have been opened


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Date: 2/23/2009 10:52:35 AM
Author: Richard M.
Date: 2/23/2009 4:28:56 AM

If I knew where to send it I''d get you a new template. What kind are you looking for? Just shapes or do you want it calibrated in mm? Round, oval, square, ??


Have you tested your opals for stability? How are the first ones you cut doing? Any signs of crazing? Are you mining the opal or working with surface material? If mining, at what depth? Most of the material you''ve posted appears to be full-spectrum crystal opal with differing potch colors. The play of color is very fine. The stones you''ve cut appear to be very fine material.


Richard M.

Thank you Richard and i appreciate the offer.
To be honest, i just usually use which ever shape fits best to the rough i want to cut, to get the most out of it. The one template i had was rather large but had so many shapes; ovals, round, squares hearts etc.
I am curious to know what stability tests are the most effective myself but yes i have done some tests i thought to be helpful i found on the internet.

The first ones i cut are up to now stable. No signs of crazing nor cracks. I once left some of the stones on my dashboard n couldn''t touch them for a minute... got hot as the leather in the african sun... but nothing!!!
Concerning the mining, I started off with surface material, mostly the ones found in nodules but found that most don''t last not more than a few weeks. Some do.
But this particular fissure variety is quite stable. more than 90% if not more of my finds has been good to me, up until now.
But save from a ''mexican fire'' opal variety, of which 5% turns out to be stable, ... but unlike those i''ve seen on most pictures on the net, these have concentrated ''pinfire'' and not just a fiery red base color. i''ll post some of the stable ones.
Concerning depth, well i don''t mine as a profession, just as a hobby, i usually go around with my pickaxe, no machinery, n ''mine'' by this river cut gorge with steep walls of maybe 30meters high, somewhat weathered into a cavern.
I really don''t know what a full spectrum crystal is... they''re just puurrtty to me
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All of the opals i find are bright in color if not sometimes more spectacular
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The base colors are different and in an assorted variety. But i usually have to go further upriver for the brown variety, which i usually find an excuse not to
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Other than that though Richard, thank you for your comments on the color. I would have appreciated any comments on the cut, especially from a rockhound like you, but i guess you can''t win the hearts of all of them.
I would appreciate any and all tips on the mining, stability testing, cutting or anything related to opals if you''d be nice enough.
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Wow, you have some beautiful pieces thats for sure. How amazing for you that they are just all around you on your property!!!! You seem to do a fine job too with your polishing and cutting.

Fwiw, there are collecters who buy polished specimens too for your beautiful rough that is not appropriate to cut.
 
Daniiopal,

Why do you use templates at all? When cutting freeforms, or even disciplined shapes like pears, ovals, etc., your eye can easily determine shape and proportions -- especially in opal where you''re constantly chasing color and brightness. I never use templates. If the opal is worth cutting, it''s worth making a special setting.

I don''t understand your comment about your cutting and "not being able to win the hearts of all of them." Your cuts look fine to me and I''m seeing constant improvement.

"Crystal" opal is any transparent opal with such intense play of color you can''t easily see through it. "Jelly" opal is transparent but has less intense play of color and is easily seen through. "Full spectrum" means that all rainbow (spectrum) colors are visible. Some opals show only one or maybe 2 or 3 spectral colors. Some are full spectrum multicolors. In others the predominant color like red, green, orange etc. determines whether a stone is "red crystal," "green crystal," etc.

At the 2007 Tucson gems shows I spent a lot of time with a couple of Ethiopian opal dealers. I bought some of their nodular material (the kind that occurs inside what we call "thundereggs" here in the States, roundish nodules with a rhyolite exterior). It has crazed without exception. Crazing occurred not just with the brown material but clear jelly and crystal types as well. It has been a great disappointment. I believe there''s something about that type of nodular opal formation that not only retains too much water but also stresses the opal, making it subject to rapid crazing when exposed and worked. I''ve mined similar nodules here in the U.S. with the same results.

Just as a matter of routine I leave all opals exposed to the air and normal temperatures for at least 6 months after cutting before selling them. If they haven''t crazed in that time they''re not likely to unless they''re subjected to very rapid temperature changes or extremely arid conditions. Opals need to recharge their normal water content from humidity in the air to maintain stability. That''s why they often don''t do well in bank safe deposit boxes where air is dehumidified. And it''s not smart to subject them to steam cleaning, for instance, taking them from ambient air temperature to intense heat. Opals can and do take a lot of heat or cold, but the transition must be made slowly.

I was interested in the mining depth because opals found at depths near the local water table are likely to have excessive water content that leads to rapid crazing when it evaporates after mining. There''s no way to generalize because conditions vary from location to location.

It appears you''re living every opal-addict''s dream eiyh a handy source of fine opal on your own private property! Wish I was as lucky.
 
Dani,

Generally, I''m fairly ambivalent about opals. But I must say, that last crop of photos you posted were lovely, lovely stones.

There is a gemology website that might give you advice on developing and marketing your material. It is mostly a professional site. I am loathe to mention it in case I get into trouble. I have mentioned it in the past, so if you search my posts, you will likely find it. Richard Wise has a link I believe.
 
Daniiopal,
You''re a lucky duck! Btw, our very own Richard M. is also an opal expert. He''s spent many a year studying them.
 
Date: 2/24/2009 2:05:49 PM
Author: Richard M.
Daniiopal,


''Crystal'' opal is any transparent opal with such intense play of color you can''t easily see through it. ''Jelly'' opal is transparent but has less intense play of color and is easily seen through. ''Full spectrum'' means that all rainbow (spectrum) colors are visible. Some opals show only one or maybe 2 or 3 spectral colors. Some are full spectrum multicolors. In others the predominant color like red, green, orange etc. determines whether a stone is ''red crystal,'' ''green crystal,'' etc.




Richard, what is the name of this variety by any chance?

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Judging from the image I''d call it Orange Crystal. Opal of this type without spectral play of color is found in Mexico, Brazil, the USA and elsewhere, and the yellow-orange-red varieties are called fire opal.

Sometimes those potch colors also display play of color and they''re often mistakenly called fire opal as well. Opals with orange and other potch colors displaying spectral color play are also found in many places besides Mexico. To prevent confusion opal experts recommend that they be be named first for the potch color (in this case orange) and then "crystal," which distinguishes them from fire opal. Typical names include "black crystal," "yellow crystal," "green crystal," etc. Transparent clear opal with intense color play is simply called "crystal."

These terms follow a fairly new comprehensive opal nomenclature system put forward in Australia. If adopted worldwide I think it would greatly lessen the confusion surrounding opal types and their names.
 
Want want want want want! Opals are my birthstone too and yours are just about the prettiest i''ve ever seen! I''d be glad to take some "mistakes" off your hands.
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Have you thought about an Etsy store? I think it might be easier than ebay for you.
 
Date: 3/4/2009 7:01:55 PM
Author: Richard M.
Judging from the image I''d call it Orange Crystal. Opal of this type without spectral play of color is found in Mexico, Brazil, the USA and elsewhere, and the yellow-orange-red varieties are called fire opal.


Sometimes those potch colors also display play of color and they''re often mistakenly called fire opal as well. Opals with orange and other potch colors displaying spectral color play are also found in many places besides Mexico. To prevent confusion opal experts recommend that they be be named first for the potch color (in this case orange) and then ''crystal,'' which distinguishes them from fire opal. Typical names include ''black crystal,'' ''yellow crystal,'' ''green crystal,'' etc. Transparent clear opal with intense color play is simply called ''crystal.''


These terms follow a fairly new comprehensive opal nomenclature system put forward in Australia. If adopted worldwide I think it would greatly lessen the confusion surrounding opal types and their names.

Thank you yet again Richard.
You sure know your stones.
Any knowledge i get from ''round the mines are whats good to sell n whats not
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I have found full green bases, full caramel color, full pinkish white, full grey, green crystal n blue crystal at times... all of which are unnamed in most sites.
Thanks again




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Date: 3/5/2009 1:15:44 AM
Author: redfaerythinker
Want want want want want! Opals are my birthstone too and yours are just about the prettiest i've ever seen! I'd be glad to take some 'mistakes' off your hands.
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Have you thought about an Etsy store? I think it might be easier than ebay for you.


redfaerythinker thank you... i'm still new to cutting opals so naturally feed my ego with all the compliments i can get
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i considered ebay and i checked out etsy and obviously they seem to be the easiest way to retail or wholesale for most but due to location, i can't follow up on orders nor be able to send one piece at a time.
I would have asked some of my friends in the US to distribute them when an order was placed but they have their own businesses to run and i don't want to impose. Not knowing anyone involved in precious stones or jewelry in general tends to make things a lil harder also.

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Date: 2/19/2009 11:08:10 AM
Author: daniiopal
thanks all... i just can''t stop taking pictures as i see a new color or smthin new on it at it snap ....
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Oh this one is just gorgeous!
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Anyways i''d like to let evryone know i ordered some templates, grits, and a bunch of stuff from the American Lapidary Wholesalers and the bastards don''t have a voice mail box that aint empty (i''m guessing too many ppl got ripped off), and the email dont respond.
I don''t advise anyone to use the site as its all a little bit of a hoax. I personally spent over 400 dollars to get nothing so please be warned.
 
my latest find...a 2 Kilogram black green brown piece...
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ehem...my new cuts....
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Very pretty! I especially like the green ones. How have the ones you''ve cut a while ago been holding up?
 
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