timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Dec 2, 2016 13:14:21 GMT -5
My girlfriend mentioned she had this jar of opals she got from her mom who got it from her mom, they had been in the same jar for 50 years maybe so I told her to bring them over and I'd take a look at them. They were in a small jar with what looked like some kind of oil. I dumped them out into some warm soapy water and cleaned them up. Pretty sure the "black opals" are some kind of high dome labradorite cabs. One looks more like fire agate maybe not sure it's an opal but I might be wrong. Two of them I'm pretty sure are genuine opals. Here's some pics: the jar: all: the labradorite: The middle one... opal? some kind man made stone maybe? opal 1: opal 2:
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Dec 2, 2016 13:48:14 GMT -5
The dark ones could be low grade star garnet or sapphire.
I'm on the fence about the middle stone...maybe opalite glass. Not convinced that it's a natural stone.
The bottom two are precious opals, white body tone. The colors are not real bright, so they're not high dollar stones.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2016 22:43:23 GMT -5
Top could be star corundum/sapphire/ruby or something like hypersthene (or corundum, diopside, black beryl or several other possibilities). Agree with the second definitely being star corundum/sapphire/ruby (same mineral, sold under all 3 names), as you can see some hexagonal structure in the photo. Third could be glass, or perhaps Caribbean blue amber. Look from the side to see if you can see any layering/lamination (a sign of older imitation opals like Slocum Stone, though most older imitations are more colorful). Agree that the last 2 are white opal.
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Dec 3, 2016 10:33:42 GMT -5
Yea on that artificial looking one there's like a layer of foil or something in it that gives it the reflections. Just tested the hardness of the black ones, looks like 8 for hardness so black beryl sounds about right. Thanks for the feedback!
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Post by paulshiroma on Dec 4, 2016 14:46:13 GMT -5
Whatever they may be, I love the backstory. It's always neat to hear about things "passed down".
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