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Post by vegasjames on Nov 11, 2024 21:42:51 GMT -5
This last one of the dark green pieces are partially opal and partially jasper as opals convert in to some form of chalcedony, including jaspers, as they dehydrate.
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Post by liveoak on Nov 12, 2024 7:24:39 GMT -5
Nice green color, does it take a good polish ?
Patty
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 12, 2024 7:27:22 GMT -5
Nice green color, does it take a good polish ? Patty I never worked with the green, but it is a harder opal and so should take an excellent polish.
Some of it is in the conversion process to jasper an so is partially opal and partially jasper.
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Post by liveoak on Nov 12, 2024 7:31:13 GMT -5
Interesting, I hope you'll post some after you get into it.
Patty
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 12, 2024 9:06:38 GMT -5
Interesting, I hope you'll post some after you get into it. Patty I have worked with the red, which I find is the most unstable. In fact, I rarely ever find pieces larger than a dime because it tends to fracture. And when cabbing the red, I got close to finishing several times when chips flew out of the face.
The green I have found in very large chunks.
Most likely I will end up tumbling the green instead of cabbing it.
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 12, 2024 9:21:37 GMT -5
Second pic bottom left would make some nice cabs!
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 12, 2024 17:12:48 GMT -5
Second pic bottom left would make some nice cabs! When I get a chance, I will cut that one.
Have more of the common opal I recently collected still to photograph including a nice multicolored layered one, and a green, white and blue opalized wood.
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 12, 2024 17:16:34 GMT -5
Second pic bottom left would make some nice cabs! When I get a chance, I will cut that one.
Have more of the common opal I recently collected still to photograph including a nice multicolored layered one, and a green, white and blue opalized wood.
Can't wait to see them. I especially like opalized wood. I've only cut a few, but they are very satisfying and don't disappoint. |
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Nov 12, 2024 19:02:31 GMT -5
We are relatively (3 years now maybe) new to the world of all things rocks.
This is the first time I have come across the idea that opal dehydrates into jasper. That is quite an intriguing concept as I have sourced some of the rocks called Opalite by the Australians (they called some of their rocks Opalite before that company came up with the name for a particular kind of thing, so I am going to stick with their naming). And they have tons of different kinds of the Opalites which are essentially common Opals with weird and wonderful colours and whatnot. So given some time, all of that will change into Jaspers! Pretty cool!
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 13, 2024 0:18:02 GMT -5
We are relatively (3 years now maybe) new to the world of all things rocks. This is the first time I have come across the idea that opal dehydrates into jasper. That is quite an intriguing concept as I have sourced some of the rocks called Opalite by the Australians (they called some of their rocks Opalite before that company came up with the name for a particular kind of thing, so I am going to stick with their naming). And they have tons of different kinds of the Opalites which are essentially common Opals with weird and wonderful colours and whatnot. So given some time, all of that will change into Jaspers! Pretty cool! I just did a lecture on opal formation and conversion to chalcedonies for our club a couple months ago. Have the Powerpoint, but don't think it would post here.
In short, as the water content of opal drops below 3%, the opal starts to crystallize in to some form of chalcedony (common chalcedony, agate, jasper, chert/flint).
There are around 300 types of opal. Any type with a play of color is precious opal. Any type without play of color is common opal, also known as "potch" or "opalite". The term opalite though also refers to a manmade opalescent glass leading to confusion. Although, the term opalite was in use for common opal long before the glass was invented.
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Nov 13, 2024 2:06:30 GMT -5
We are relatively (3 years now maybe) new to the world of all things rocks. This is the first time I have come across the idea that opal dehydrates into jasper. That is quite an intriguing concept as I have sourced some of the rocks called Opalite by the Australians (they called some of their rocks Opalite before that company came up with the name for a particular kind of thing, so I am going to stick with their naming). And they have tons of different kinds of the Opalites which are essentially common Opals with weird and wonderful colours and whatnot. So given some time, all of that will change into Jaspers! Pretty cool! I just did a lecture on opal formation and conversion to chalcedonies for our club a couple months ago. Have the Powerpoint, but don't think it would post here.
In short, as the water content of opal drops below 3%, the opal starts to crystallize in to some form of chalcedony (common chalcedony, agate, jasper, chert/flint).
There are around 300 types of opal. Any type with a play of color is precious opal. Any type without play of color is common opal, also known as "potch" or "opalite". The term opalite though also refers to a manmade opalescent glass leading to confusion. Although, the term opalite was in use for common opal long before the glass was invented.
Any chance of emailing it to me pretty please? theocarter2911@hotmail.com |
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 13, 2024 2:34:11 GMT -5
I just did a lecture on opal formation and conversion to chalcedonies for our club a couple months ago. Have the Powerpoint, but don't think it would post here.
In short, as the water content of opal drops below 3%, the opal starts to crystallize in to some form of chalcedony (common chalcedony, agate, jasper, chert/flint).
There are around 300 types of opal. Any type with a play of color is precious opal. Any type without play of color is common opal, also known as "potch" or "opalite". The term opalite though also refers to a manmade opalescent glass leading to confusion. Although, the term opalite was in use for common opal long before the glass was invented.
Any chance of emailing it to me pretty please? theocarter2911@hotmail.com Sent it.
By the way, the answer to the question on page 1 of the Powerpoint is none of the above. Opal is neither a solid, a liquid or a gas. It is a gel, and so not a true solid nor a true liquid.
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Nov 13, 2024 3:07:07 GMT -5
Any chance of emailing it to me pretty please? theocarter2911@hotmail.com Sent it.
By the way, the answer to the question on page 1 of the Powerpoint is none of the above. Opal is neither a solid, a liquid or a gas. It is a gel, and so not a true solid nor a true liquid.
Appreciate that, thank you kindly! :-) |
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 13, 2024 3:17:20 GMT -5
When I get a chance, I will cut that one.
Have more of the common opal I recently collected still to photograph including a nice multicolored layered one, and a green, white and blue opalized wood.
Can't wait to see them. I especially like opalized wood. I've only cut a few, but they are very satisfying and don't disappoint. Here is some pics of the opalized wood from a previous trip until I get a chance to photograph the new stuff:
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Nov 13, 2024 3:22:16 GMT -5
Sent it.
By the way, the answer to the question on page 1 of the Powerpoint is none of the above. Opal is neither a solid, a liquid or a gas. It is a gel, and so not a true solid nor a true liquid.
Appreciate that, thank you kindly! :-) That was a brilliant read! Many things I did not know! Shukran! |
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