horsinaround
spending too much on rocks
If you don't lick rocks...you ain't cool
Member since November 2006
Posts: 315
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Post by horsinaround on Apr 26, 2007 17:40:19 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Where in the heck do the boulder Opals come from ? They are some fo the nicest looking gems Betty and I have seen in a long time. they are really eye catching. If anyone knows where we might be able to obtain some of them..let us know thank you very much Steve & Betty
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Post by Toad on Apr 26, 2007 17:42:50 GMT -5
They come from eBay.
I think they are Australian, but someone else will know for sure.
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Post by cpdad on Apr 26, 2007 17:59:25 GMT -5
i cant give a thumbs up or thumbs down...since i havent tried them...but they got pertty stuff www.opalauctions.com/
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Apr 26, 2007 18:10:42 GMT -5
From the pics I've seen posted here of them they are amazing and so varied in the patterns you end up with. Are they tumbleable (think thats a new word or are they best left for cutting and polishing?
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Post by Tweetiepy on Apr 26, 2007 18:18:11 GMT -5
Rose I don't think you could tumble these - well you could, but they might not turn out very nice - the fire layer is sometimes pretty thin, if you tumbled, you might lose it! you could lose it too cabbing but I think at least it would be easier to check.... they mostly come from australia
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lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Apr 26, 2007 18:19:11 GMT -5
From the pics I've seen posted here of them they are amazing and so varied in the patterns you end up with. Are they tumbleable (think thats a new word or are they best left for cutting and polishing? When I opened this thread this was exactly what was on my mind too as well as the best place to acquire them. I just got a piece off of Ebay. I think I got a good deal @ $15.00 shipped for a piece aroudn 10 ounces. I don't think that they can be tumbled though. I'd love to hear from others on this as well. Sure is pretty. I'll see if I can post up a pic of it. Last Here are the pics from the Ebay ad;
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Post by Toad on Apr 26, 2007 19:25:07 GMT -5
Nice buy there last.
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Post by texaswoodie on Apr 26, 2007 19:27:02 GMT -5
Wow, that's bootiful.
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lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Apr 26, 2007 21:45:55 GMT -5
Thanks guys! But does anyone know if it can be tumbled? I also heard that opal auctions had some excellent deals if you're willing to be patient. I do think that their material is outstanding. I think I just got lucky with this purchase. Last
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snowdog
fully equipped rock polisher
RIP David Fildes, aka: snowdog
Member since January 2005
Posts: 1,527
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Post by snowdog on Apr 26, 2007 21:52:33 GMT -5
Stoner would be the one to ask about those -- he's cut some "beatuies" --- that looks to be more what I would call "seam" opal ---looks like you could get rid of the matrix and have some good just solid opal ---- boulder is usually little individual areas in an iron oxide matrix -- not continous like that is --- but I may be wrong too ;D
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Apr 26, 2007 22:34:36 GMT -5
I would have to say do not tumble cab only
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2007 3:39:17 GMT -5
I am no expert in boulder opal but e-bay and opalauctions.com are a good place. Its not the easiest stuff to work and can be frustrating at times. I wouldn't tumble the stuff either do to the cost and waste involved. Keep us informed.
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horsinaround
spending too much on rocks
If you don't lick rocks...you ain't cool
Member since November 2006
Posts: 315
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Post by horsinaround on Apr 27, 2007 7:17:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the info y'all.....will look at e-bay this weekend Steve
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Post by freeform on Apr 27, 2007 15:29:03 GMT -5
yup, I concur. Boulder opals are not ideal for tumbling, but that doesn’t mean they wont tumble. But becasue of the cost, and the way the material is best worked to 'pull' the fire out. Tumbling will most always result in ruined b-opals.
See, the color and pattern in B.opals are held in veins and vienlets. Allot of the original Boulder opals have concentrated pockets of blue/green opal. But these pockets can still be less than 10% of the actual stone you buy. The nodular types like Koroit and Yawah, have rounded layers you can follow. But these are always best worked by hand. So you can follow the layer correctly to pull out the pattern and color. They are not easy to work, unless you folk out for the primo or proven rough. I suggest if you are knew to boulder opals in any regard and want to buy some. Buy proven pieces first, like slabets, preforms, rubs, or faced pieces.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 28, 2007 3:17:22 GMT -5
Hi Steve & Betty, Australian Boulder Opal from Queensland Very Beautifull stuff, You can buy 400 t0 500grm packs quite cheap as starters I was going to say contact Nephrite but I see he has already answered , He IS the expert, no matter what he says, see some of his cabs in that section& his fab pictures and post today in the photo's section But have a lookat this site it is very helpfull www.lapidaryjournal.com/jj/opal2_jjw.cfmit has excelent tutorials on every aspect of buying and cutting and polishing (sorry its linked to part 2 ) Jack Yorkshire UK
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cleo12797
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 279
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Post by cleo12797 on Apr 28, 2007 15:32:15 GMT -5
They absolutely CAN NOT be tumbled but can be done with a grinder.
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