Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Apr 30, 2017 20:45:09 GMT -5
I haven't posted a slab bucket shot in a while and thought I would share a few photos of today's cuts. I found some Louisiana Opal rough and slabbed it up. I didn't think to photograph the rough ;\ It isn't top grade material but as hard as it is to find, it isn't bad either. This material came from the Louisiana Opal Exchange Mine which closed in the early 1990's. The opal is made up from sandstone, quartzite and precious opal.     I also cut a heat treated tube agate. I wasn't sure what to expect from it..I pulled out the first slab and my jaw dropped.  Backlit  Hope everyone had a great weekend, Roger |
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geodes4u
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 144 
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Post by geodes4u on May 1, 2017 12:07:49 GMT -5
I find the opal very attractive. Would work up a nice piece. Had not heard of it.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 1, 2017 12:25:41 GMT -5
I had the pleasure of having an old guy for a neighbor at the Austin show one year that mined precious opal in LA. Very interesting conversation and he gave me a signed copy of his book. Mine was in a pulp wood forest if I remember correctly and shut down by environmentalists.
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Post by pghram on May 1, 2017 20:26:24 GMT -5
The opals are very nice,but the tube agate is superb.
Peace,
Rich
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Post by deb193redux on May 1, 2017 21:41:47 GMT -5
the opal will look better dry. the Louisiana stuff loses flash when wet. still, if the sandstone is too course, maybe stabilize.
I only have about 4sq in, but it is very solid.
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Post by deb193redux on May 1, 2017 21:42:48 GMT -5
I had the pleasure of having an old guy for a neighbor at the Austin show one year that mined precious opal in LA. Very interesting conversation and he gave me a signed copy of his book. Mine was in a pulp wood forest if I remember correctly and shut down by environmentalists. I have the book too. but I always heard it was the family that shut down the mine. |
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Post by johnjsgems on May 2, 2017 19:32:46 GMT -5
Daniel, it was a long time ago. I thought I remembered he lost access when the pulp forest operation was closed down or sold or something. I need to look for that book.
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Post by morerockspleaz on May 3, 2017 8:42:09 GMT -5
That's an interesting opal, love to see it cabbed. That tube agate is outstanding. Wow
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on May 3, 2017 8:46:53 GMT -5
Wow that tube agate is awesome! Does the opal polish up well and maintain it's flash?....Mel
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on May 3, 2017 21:23:18 GMT -5
The tube agate is outstanding! What color was it before you heat treated it?
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Post by beefjello on May 7, 2017 17:39:04 GMT -5
Neat stuff Roger! Had to go dig out my little stash. Pretty solid stuff  Wet, flashes blue and green mostly  one little piece is somewhat worked. One of these days I'll get brave enough to work some myself   |
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on May 11, 2017 21:12:03 GMT -5
Neat stuff Roger! Had to go dig out my little stash. Pretty solid stuff Wet, flashes blue and green mostly one little piece is somewhat worked. One of these days I'll get brave enough to work some myself Nice Beef! I think yours is more solid than what I have |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 12, 2017 11:10:46 GMT -5
Loving that tube agate! So, it was heat treated for color?
Is LA opal like the Honduras where it can be sugar treated to darken the matrix and make the opal pop? I have never seen it done this way, so I'm guessing no.
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Post by deb193redux on May 12, 2017 16:19:34 GMT -5
I think maybe it could be sugar-acid treated. I don't want to try on my pieces though.
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Post by drocknut on May 12, 2017 18:34:15 GMT -5
Never heard of LA opal before, very cool looking.
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on May 12, 2017 21:28:32 GMT -5
I think maybe it could be sugar-acid treated. I don't want to try on my pieces though. I have enough to try it out. What is the process? |
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Post by deb193redux on May 12, 2017 23:11:18 GMT -5
I think maybe it could be sugar-acid treated. I don't want to try on my pieces though. I have enough to try it out. What is the process? soak in saturated sugar (or honey) solution for weeks, then heat in sulfuric acid. I saw adamooka opal recipe that used 160 deg F potpourri dish for 2 weeks. The agate recipe calls for boiling the acid for 30 min. but that is over 500degF and might crack opal. since the sandstone is more porous than agate, I would try the low heat method. as long as you get sugar solution in matrix and then use acid to strip hydrogen and oxygen out of sugar (leaving pure carbon) you get black. The opal is not near as porous and should not absorb any sugar. www.opalauctions.com/learn/opal-information/history-about-andamooka-opal-and-how-to-treat-it |
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