58vette's opals

rockds still telling self it's just a hobby Member since September 2005 Posts: 4,130	58vette's opals May 13, 2006 10:23:25 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockds on May 13, 2006 10:23:25 GMT -5 58vette asked me to cab up some opal for him and I was delighted to give it a go. Here are the 1st of 4 that I've done so far. sunlight w/o flash sunlight w/o flash, on my hand for size Hope you like them gary robert
	Last Edit: May 13, 2006 10:24:19 GMT -5 by rockds Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand. Ignorance and Prejudice and fear walk hand-in-hand.

Cher In Memoriam Tumbling is addictive - Resistance is futile - You will be assimilated Member since August 2004 Posts: 14,072	58vette's opals May 13, 2006 10:49:05 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Cher on May 13, 2006 10:49:05 GMT -5 Oooooooo nice! Great job Robert
	The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. George Carlin

stoner no longer being taken for granite THE EARTH IS JUST A ROCK TUMBLING THROUGH SPACE Member since March 2003 Posts: 7,715	58vette's opals May 13, 2006 11:01:02 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by stoner on May 13, 2006 11:01:02 GMT -5 Those look great Robert. Looks like you were able to bring out the colors in them really nice.

sandsman1 In Memoriam RIP John "sandsman1" Member since December 2003 Posts: 11,341	58vette's opals May 13, 2006 12:08:23 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by sandsman1 on May 13, 2006 12:08:23 GMT -5 lookin real good rob great shapes and shine
	GOT TO KEEP THE LOONEYS ONNNN THE PATH john-- NOMAD--- U.S.A. -- IN GOD WE TRUST

58vette starting to spend too much on rocks Member since January 2004 Posts: 125	58vette's opals May 13, 2006 12:49:17 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by 58vette on May 13, 2006 12:49:17 GMT -5 They look GREAT, love the shine. I sent you a PM a couple minutes ago. Thank you for taking time to cab them for me. Gary

pagstones noticing nice landscape pebbles Member since October 2005 Posts: 87	58vette's opals May 13, 2006 18:37:40 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by pagstones on May 13, 2006 18:37:40 GMT -5 Really nice Robert!!! Do opals have any quirks to watch out for when cabbing? Sandy

rockds
still telling self it's just a hobby

Member since September 2005
Posts: 4,130

58vette's opals May 13, 2006 20:12:18 GMT -5

Quote

Post by rockds on May 13, 2006 20:12:18 GMT -5

an opal is a softer stone (5.5-6.0) so you need to get a 'feel' for the stone before you jump right in - can easily mess one up if you don't watch out. Opal is also very sensitive to impacts and has a tendence to crack when cold (so don't cab it in the winter - ha ha).

Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand.
Ignorance and Prejudice and fear walk hand-in-hand.

kjohn0102 freely admits to licking rocks Member since April 2006 Posts: 774	58vette's opals May 14, 2006 0:39:53 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by kjohn0102 on May 14, 2006 0:39:53 GMT -5 Robert-these are really nice! I love opal, and you have brought out the colours nicely. Love the shapes too. kj
	Striving for World Peace one rock at a time!

Condor driving up their electric bill Woodward Agates Member since February 2005 Posts: 2,772	58vette's opals May 14, 2006 19:47:38 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Condor on May 14, 2006 19:47:38 GMT -5 Oh man, those are nice. Check out the flash. Condor
	Walking through the land where every living thing is beautiful. Why does it have to end? (Thom Pace, theme song to Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.)

joe still telling self it's just a hobby Member since June 2005 Posts: 4,900	58vette's opals May 15, 2006 0:45:06 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by joe on May 15, 2006 0:45:06 GMT -5 Great work Robert. Those look so good.
	"Always keep a diamond in your mind"

rockyraccoon no longer being taken for granite Member since December 2003 Posts: 7,980	58vette's opals May 15, 2006 0:57:05 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockyraccoon on May 15, 2006 0:57:05 GMT -5 you did a good job on those robert. kim

stefan Cave Dweller Member since January 2005 Posts: 14,113	58vette's opals May 15, 2006 13:24:42 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by stefan on May 15, 2006 13:24:42 GMT -5 Sweet- Love that opal warmth!
	I can't tell if thats some Gneiss Schist, or that Schist is Gneiss. All I know is don't take it for Granite

gemkoi
Guest

58vette's opals May 15, 2006 14:50:59 GMT -5

Quote

Post by gemkoi on May 15, 2006 14:50:59 GMT -5

Good Job Rockds! I know opals well, and though they look nice in the photos, i believe they look better in person!

Sandy; Depends on the opal grade and type really. As Mexican Cantera opals like to dry out real easy on you, so does the Virgin Valley opals. The brazil and and Australian opals are hard and outside of certain fire types, are easy to cut and polish.

My personal favorite to cut is the natural Black Matrix opals from Honduras. easy to cut and orientate the fire, but a real pain to polish. Believe it or not you must heat the opal really high in order to polish the basalt matrix.