Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2007 0:19:54 GMT -5
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 20, 2007 8:10:14 GMT -5
don't stop! buy more! max can hold it a litle longer....actually it looks like he's been into the happy food and he's ready for a nap.
KD
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jjckitti
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 775
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Post by jjckitti on Jun 20, 2007 17:11:51 GMT -5
absolutely beautiful stone!
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lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Jun 21, 2007 19:27:38 GMT -5
Absolutely love what you're able to do with these opals! We just got some "Nut Opals" that are similar to the Koroits but different for sure. They don't have the many, many inclusions like the Koroits do. However in the center of most there is a very tempting little nugget shaped piece of some awesome looking opal much like you're getting in your cabs. Question is, can we cab these much like you're doing? Or should we 'trim' (with a diamond bandsaw) the edges away to get at the center nugget then cab from there? You do seem to be the Opal King when it comes to the Koroits, hoping you have some advice on the Nut Opal versions.  Thanks for any & all advice & or opinions. Last |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2007 21:11:43 GMT -5
Mr vette,
You are going to have to post some photos of your opals to be sure. I have only been working opals about 2 years and have lots of practice to go. But what I have seen of the nut opals they are really nice and higher quality. The matrix on the outer side can be ground away, but I think this is what gives this type of opal character. If I can see a photo I would be able to tell you better if the matrix is worth saving. If it is the lighter brown I would definitely cut it away, but the really darker brown would be worth saving. Hope this helps and would be glad to help with what I know anytime.
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Post by joe on Jun 21, 2007 23:20:37 GMT -5
Nice stuff! I like the "Fang" piece.
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lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Jun 22, 2007 15:28:54 GMT -5
Mr vette, You are going to have to post some photos of your opals to be sure. I have only been working opals about 2 years and have lots of practice to go. But what I have seen of the nut opals they are really nice and higher quality. The matrix on the outer side can be ground away, but I think this is what gives this type of opal character. If I can see a photo I would be able to tell you better if the matrix is worth saving. If it is the lighter brown I would definitely cut it away, but the really darker brown would be worth saving. Hope this helps and would be glad to help with what I know anytime. Here's a pic of what we have.  Any thoughts, advice, opinions? The largest one, in the center of the photo is quite deep, I'd say up to 1/4" or so, but it is surrounded with the light brown sandstone? This is why I'm thinking about using a diamond bladed band saw. I do definitely see what you're saying about keeping the "darker brown" matrix as part of the Cab. It's all so much clearer now! Thanks a bunch for all of your help & your messages! Last Thanks a bunch Tony. Last |
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Post by freeform on Jun 25, 2007 12:43:56 GMT -5
Nice batch there Tony, i like the second cab the best, nice shape and full zoning. Though the frist one is really nice becasue its a large potch, the pattern on the second stands out better for me. Those roughs looks typical in my opinion Last. What makes Koroits, Yahwa, and a few others (typs of "boulder opal"), is they are a nodule or "nut" form. However, what made "koroits" more desireable, is they had a higher precentage of tight vienlet fire, like in Tonies avatar, with extremely intense fire brightness. Then on top, they produces more warm colors of fire that is often not found in tradistional "boulder" opal. But they are work and should be generally treated the same way. If there is a visable, solid, simi-large vein you can follow with a saw cut, do it. If its nodule potch or nodular vienlet like what you seem to mostly have there. I find its best to always work these types right at the grinding wheel. Though with a band saw you can minmize the waste, you will still have more loss then just using a grinder. Any good nodule type rough that shows any bright color potenial around its permeter, i personally perfer tackling by cutting all the rind off the core. Some of the best valued Boulder opals are done this way to preserve any veinlet pattern, which often is only a few mm deep, as one of the layers of the core nodule. That piece you show dead center may be able to slice matching sets out of. I posted this a while back here, but cant seem to locate it here, so this is on my forum, but is the same info. www.forums.freeformcabs.com/viewtopic.php?t=58And please, i dont mean to overtake the question as it was driected at Tony, which i am sure has some good advise to share on the subject. |
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