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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 20, 2018 0:40:49 GMT -5
Well, here's a photo of a "test" piece from an opal parcel. Grabbed a flattish piece of rough to see how it would face up, and to find out if it was good healthy opal or cracky crap. Turned out to be nice healthy crystal - with a few little sand spots and an internal "feature" near the bottom.
This one is directional, so it only works as a pendant stone, but thought it was a decent result for the first piece from a parcel.
-Edit-
Oh yeah, it's 14x12 and 3.49ct.
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Post by fernwood on Oct 20, 2018 6:16:33 GMT -5
That is nice looking.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 20, 2018 10:34:07 GMT -5
Thanks.
Really is transparent crystal opal too. That's why it's so easy to see the blasted little sand spots inside the stone in this close-up.
Thought about making the photo smaller after I saw it up here. Left it to show how much "fun" opal cutting can be sometimes. The sand isn't obvious in-hand, but those are the kind of surprises you get.
Just have to recite my mantra - "You can only cut what's there." - and make the best of that particular piece of rough.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Oct 20, 2018 10:56:54 GMT -5
Nice and a nice size, too. Australian or Ethiopian? Looks like the former to me.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 20, 2018 11:18:13 GMT -5
Beautiful opal! And nice big size, too. I'm assuming Aussie.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 20, 2018 11:34:57 GMT -5
Yep, it's Aussie opal from Coober Pedy. From an area called Piping Lane according to the vendor.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,019
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Post by gemfeller on Oct 20, 2018 11:58:38 GMT -5
Very nice Vince! I wouldn't have guessed Coober Pedy; looks more like some LR crystal I've worked. Glad it's healthy opal but those sand-shot stones can drive you nuts when cutting. It's good the stone faces eye clean. It'll make a great pendant piece.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 20, 2018 12:34:49 GMT -5
Thanks Rick. Does look like Ridge crystal except for the jelly bars in the rough. Have had Hans Peak jelly rough that was similar.
This was in one of the jars you saw here - lost I'm sure amidst all the other crap... .
Hah! Just found Piping Lane via a random google search! Hans Peak is just northeast of there.
Here's a link to a map: mapcarta.com/28819352
Never could find Piping Lane until now. Cool...!
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Post by beefjello on Oct 20, 2018 19:27:47 GMT -5
Oh man, that reminds me of the portal to the City on the Edge of Forever Excellent work!
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Oct 21, 2018 7:24:37 GMT -5
Beauty...very well crafted cab.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 21, 2018 15:39:26 GMT -5
Thanks. I'm glad it looks good - since I cut it twice. People who just-don't-care about cutting opal might want to change channels now... .
Since it was first out of a parcel I smoothed the back and worked the girdle down - looking for cracks. Then put a quick dome on it to see how this rough would face. Still just a test piece at that point.
Polished it up to play with it in different lighting conditions and found it was still so directional I had to change the orientation. Took thickness off the bottom of the back side to tip the top forward. Took about 20% off the size at 11 and 5 o'clock to rotate the top counterclockwise. That brought the best flash in line vertically with the way it will be viewed in a pendant.
Best part about cutting this one is that it still has no cracks. I cut one once that I put down after the final polish, went downstairs for a cup of coffee, and when I went back upstairs (about 5 minutes) there was a big ol' crack running across the thing. Healthy rough is a wonderful thing!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Oct 21, 2018 20:21:50 GMT -5
I like your photo setup with the opal resting vertically or near-vertically. Considering all the contortions with lighting and positioning when photographing opals that are lying horizontally, that orientation would seem to have advantages with quite a few.
Now I'm thinking of making a couple of simple, small stands made from foamcore and sprayed flat black. Perhaps vertical, 20 degrees, and 45 degrees. Thanks for the idea, Vince.
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