Opals

[zorgon]

Opals

My favorite stone and I need to cut a bunch this winter... but recently a small pocket of opals was found in Oregon.  Turned out too small for commercial mining and was turned into a rock hound collecting site. Sadly the new owners have stopped allowing digging.

But THIS awesome piece came up...

Finding the Ocean Inside of a Giant Opal

While Australia produces over 97% of the worlds supply of opal today, there was a rare find in the state of Oregon recently. It had been over a century since opal was found in the forested land, yet this stunning specimen was found there, and when combined with light creates what seems to be a magical underwater scene from the ocean. The gem, which is owned by Inna Gem, is named the Opal Butte, which is derived from the name of a mine that existed in 1890s Oregon. Regarding the Opal Butte mine, Nature of the Northwest says:

"It has been more than 100 years since opal was found in Oregon. When the discovery was made public in the 1890s miners flocked to Opal Butte... When it was discovered that the supply of material at Opal Butte was limited, commercial mining operations shut down and the site became the province of rockhounds... The land has changed hands a number of times in the past six years. The new land owners are no longer able to provide a site for digging."

There may be more opal buried somewhere in the Oregonian areas for those seeking. This particular gem weighs 740 ct and measures 60 x 45 x 41 mm. Inna Gem is currently selling the gem for those parties interested.


Read more at http://www.visualnews.com/2013/09/14/finding-ocean-inside-giant-opal/#KRdeCeHiVvWLH4BY.99

http://www.visualnews.com/2013/09/14/finding-ocean-inside-giant-opal/

[sky otter]

WOW
that is amazing...what a rock

[Shasta56]

I have some Idaho opal jewelry that I bought years ago when I visited Yellowstone.  I remember the information stating that it was fairly rare.  It's also a different color than any Australian opals that I've seen.  More of a periwinkle with red and green sparkles.

Shasta