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Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Gem and Mineral Specimen Finds or Processes _ Opal info
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Dec 8 2006, 10:02 AM
Opals are quite spectacular.
We picked up a few cheaper pieces from a local shop to try our hand. 
There is alot to learn concerning opals and some are worth considerably more than others.
Here is a great site to start learning about opals for those interested.
http://www.opalsmith.com/aboutopal.htm
The opal in the pic is the 2nd opal I've done from scratch.....whew, man it's tough to do with partial bands rather than solid opal color. This piece was a band in the "potch" material.
The play of color is mainly the blue with hints of the green you see.
Is a low grade white piece.... 
Still looks really pretty though....and of course is much nicer to the human eye in sunlight. Hard to catch the flash/play on the color with the camera.
Anyone else have any pics of opals they have worked or other links to opal websites?
CP
Posted by: cornwall84 Dec 8 2006, 10:56 AM
This is my favourite Dan, its a must read, lots of rough opal for sale and a monthly journal of a working opal miner,
Posted by: jmann Dec 8 2006, 05:39 PM
Nice lookn rock Dan. You did a fine job. Joe
Posted by: Mrs.CP Dec 9 2006, 03:08 PM
Good job Dan!
Here is a picture of opals that Snowdog gave us in water.
Posted by: jmann Dec 9 2006, 05:53 PM
Lets cut and polish them puppies. hehe Joe
Posted by: Sparky Dec 12 2006, 07:35 AM
Here is a link to the Wyoming USGS on opals. http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/metals/CedarRimOpalField.aspx
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Dec 13 2006, 08:43 AM
Thanks for the link Sparky.
Here is a pic of some rough pieces Wyodust gave us.
Pieces are Australian....nice colors.
One black piece came out rather nice....I'll try to get a photo posted...hard to get a pic of the color flash in cabbed opal sometimes. 
CP
Posted by: wyodust Dec 13 2006, 03:02 PM
that wyodust must be some kind of nice guy 
the piece you cabbed looks great buddy
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Dec 14 2006, 03:31 PM
Wyo.
Thank you all for the compliments.
Here is a pic of the Black Opal that will soon be on it's way north to Wyoming.
Turned out pretty nice I thought. 
Weight is 1 ct.
CP
Posted by: wyodust Dec 22 2006, 02:51 PM
wow dano, looks awesome, thanks
Posted by: cornwall84 Jan 10 2007, 07:26 AM
Thats really nice dan.
this is the link that i thought i had posted.
http://www.internetopals.com/Updates/archived-pages/archived-3.htm
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Feb 4 2007, 01:53 PM
Thanks for the kind compliments folks!
Everybody was talking about opals so much this week in chat .........it got me wanting to cab some......so here is what turned up from the rough in the pictures above after some very careful cabbing.....whew took a while too!
Two of these came from one piece ......first pic of rough.....long skinny piece on top left.
Hard to get 4 opals to play the light in one pic....but this shows some of each ones color.
In real life they are much much flashier! 
Oh and before anyone asks......big tear drop is for my sweety! 
Enjoy
CP
Posted by: Mrs.CP Feb 5 2007, 06:49 AM
Thanks honey, they turned out great!
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Mar 11 2007, 04:07 PM
Here's another small opal cab done this last week in the CP lap shop.
Man it's tough to catch the flash of color in the pics on some opals.... 
CP
Posted by: Mrs.CP Apr 12 2007, 05:23 AM
Here are a few videos about opal......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrjGANFmftk&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxIUb6zxiJg&mode=related&search=
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 17 2007, 05:30 PM
Here is an opal matrix Jim sent out to see what cabs lived inside.
We are thinking it's mexican fire opal in matrix.......how about you?
A pic of a rough piece
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 17 2007, 05:33 PM
and here are the cabs that came out of their shells in the CP lapidary shop.
Looks alot different after the lapidary shop.
CP
Posted by: El Dorado Apr 18 2007, 11:23 AM
Here is a ring made for Jim and Barbara Polk from one of the above opals Dan cut from rough. It was tricky to get the play of color in the picture.
Steve
Posted by: cornwall84 Apr 19 2007, 01:55 AM
Yeah looks mexican opal to me,probably comes to life when under water and loses colour when dry.
Posted by: wyodust Apr 22 2007, 04:50 AM
nice ring, sweeeeeeeeeet
Posted by: jim Apr 23 2007, 02:59 PM
Thanks wyodust,
Eldorado did a fine job on the ring.We are very happy with his work and pricing.
He also did the work in record time, and kept us posted on his progress. Iwould recommend him to anyone.The stone came from Dan and Denise.Again if anyone is thinking about getting opal jewelry made one could not go wrong in using thier services.Dan and denise have opal on hand and they are willing to go that extra mile to please thier friends.
Thanks Steve, Dan, and Denise for a delightful process of making a great ring.
Jim
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 24 2007, 06:23 PM
Thank you Jim for the kind compliment. Very nice ring El D, nice work!
We are going to try out some boulder opal from a small lot of rough we recently purchased. These are four pieces that headed to the trim saw today along with a small teddy bear sculpture Mrs.CP just started on.
Hope they turn out nice......time will tell.
CP
Posted by: El Dorado Apr 25 2007, 09:24 AM
Jim,
Thank you for the kind words. I really had fun making this ring.
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 25 2007, 06:45 PM
Here are the first couple cabs from the boulder rough batch above.......both pieces are from the rough pic piece to the lower right.
Boulder opal is fun too....
Enjoy
CP
Posted by: thegeno Apr 26 2007, 10:23 PM
EL D makes the absolute best jewelry... If you don't like his work, then you have no taste whatsoever and need to crawl back under the rock...
D&D, those boulder opals are really nice... maybe I can get me some of those during the Rally...
Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 11 2007, 05:58 PM
Here is another cool like with lots of info on Opal.
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/silicate/tecto/quartz/opal.htm
Posted by: ScottKS Sep 11 2007, 07:36 PM
what is the hardness of opal (range) and what hardness is it "usually" referenced as?
Opal is listed in most references with a hardness of 5½. This is not fully correct, since some Opals are as low as 4½ and some as high as 6½.
Posted by: Bertwrld Sep 11 2007, 07:46 PM
What is opal's specific gravity
1.90 to 2.23
Posted by: colorado Sep 11 2007, 07:46 PM
Opals Specific gravity is 3.22 - 3.45
Posted by: ScottKS Sep 11 2007, 08:26 PM
1.) what page they are both on Pg. 2
2.) who posted them Dan
3) when did they post them Apr 17 2007
Posted by: Bertwrld Sep 11 2007, 08:34 PM
1) what page they are both, who posted them, date?
pg 1 and 2 , coloradoProspector, Dec 13 2006, 08:43 AM Apr 17 2007, 05:33 PM
Posted by: ScottKS Sep 11 2007, 08:37 PM
1.) what page they are both on 1&2
2.) who posted them Dan and El Dorado
3) when did they post them Feb 4 2007 and Apr 18 2007
Posted by: Bertwrld Sep 11 2007, 08:39 PM
what page they are both, who posted them, date?
pg 1 Mrs CP, Dec 9 2006, 03:08 PM
pg 2 ColoradoProspector Apr 17 2007, 05:33 PM
Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 12 2007, 07:59 AM
You all did fantastic last night in chat with all the questions. Didnt know we had so many Opal fans here.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 27 2007, 07:49 AM
<-----------Loves Opal!!
Here is another Opal link I think you all will enjoy.
http://www.opalinda.com/index.html
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 15 2008, 02:49 PM
Here's another piece of the Mexican fire opal that was sent out for lapidary work from Nova Scotia. This rock has already traveled a long long ways........
So, now it's here in Colorado and we will see what beauty can be hacked out! 
A pic of the rough chunk.......not really big.
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 15 2008, 02:51 PM
This pic shows the two pieces after cutting with oval cab patterns marked also.
Looks like the window is opening up there. 
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 15 2008, 02:53 PM
And from the front side after finishing the windown on the larger one is wide open!! The smaller one is very thin and the matrix flashes all through the redish tinted areas.
Man this is some pretty neat stuff......and these pictures can't show a quarter of the flash............red, orange, green, blue, yellow and........whew boy!
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 15 2008, 03:05 PM
And when rolled or moved in the sunlight..... OH MY!!
As you can see there are a couple little fractures within and one at the tip but I just can't bring myself to buzz off all that purty opal meat..........no no no.
This oval is a 24 x 14 mm and 6 mm thick weighing in at a chunky 15 carats.
Enjoy
Posted by: ScottKS Apr 15 2008, 06:20 PM
WOW Dan nice work.......it's always cool to see the before and after and the steps inbetween
Posted by: faaus Apr 15 2008, 06:42 PM
Really beautiful Dan!
Reminds me of planet with a transparent globe.
Posted by: jim Apr 15 2008, 06:54 PM
whoa dan,
thats some purty opal ya got there,and as usual it looks like you have captured its best.
Posted by: nm jack Apr 16 2008, 10:39 AM
Beautiful opal. Have you ever done any emerald? I bought some and was trying to figure out what to do with it. I'm just beginning to get into lapidary work so I'm a newbie at this stuff. Dan do you ever come to Albuquerque to any of the gem & mineral shows?
Posted by: russau Apr 17 2008, 04:12 AM
wow that has a lot of pop to it!!!
Posted by: Mrs.CP Oct 20 2008, 12:16 PM
You did a fantastic job on that piece of Opal Dan!! 
This is a great site for learning more about the ins and outs of Opal.
http://www.opalinfo.com/
Here is a little Opal guitar with an Opal inlay for the center In the works.
This will go with the Opal teddy bear Im working on(page 2 of this thread).
Posted by: Mrs.CP Aug 30 2009, 07:20 AM
Here is a Australian Boulder Opal. I love the colors in this one!
Sure shows the patterns in the stone and its purple and light blue colors well. The color flashes are purple, blue and green out of the light like shown,
and green, blue and bright pink in the sun. Here is picture of both the front and back side. 
Posted by: jim Sep 30 2009, 06:23 PM
Wow!!!That's a beauty!
Posted by: jim Oct 1 2009, 08:37 AM
I'm on a roll!! 
I did purty good with my fire agate pics so I'm gonna try a piece of white that I've had for a long time. This piece is 3/4 inch long by about 3/8 inch. It's such a wierd shape that I've yet to figure out what to do with it. The fire runs all the way through the piece.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Dec 8 2009, 10:53 AM
You like that last one I posted? "It weights at 12 cts and is 25 mm long and 6.35 mm thick." We decided to add it to the http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2686 of prizes. Its going to make someone happy, and a drawing is coming up soon (12/22)!!!
Nice work on the white Opal Jim, lots of flash in that one! I see a bird sitting there with its head up looking to the sky.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: ASTROBLEME Dec 9 2009, 07:25 PM
Sure shows the patterns in the stone and its purple and light blue colors well. The color flashes are purple, blue and green out of the light like shown,
and green, blue and bright pink in the sun. Here is picture of both the front and back side.
Dear Mrs. CP:
Many years ago, my family acquired an opal collection, some of which was from geologists working in Australia more than 60 years ago. Since I am more familiar with gemstones composed of the driest minerals (tektite) my limited experience with the "wet" opal mineralogy has generated some questions.
Here are two photos I took tonight of some of our Boulder Opal specimens.
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I was told by the original collector that the thick veins of opal in the matrix is better preserved in water until it is cut. I have always made sure that these specimens were submerged under water in the jars just like when they were purchased. Do you think this is correct? I am always worried about the water freezing and damaging the opal... especially with this morning’s low temp of -17 F! If these specimens could be stored dry, it would be less of a concern and worry when winter sets in.
Sincerely,
Astrobleme
Posted by: Mrs.CP Dec 10 2009, 07:40 AM
Beautiful Opals Johnny! 
Definately worth having in your collection!!!
Im no expert or geologist, but I do read alot.
Here is some info on storing Opals from http://www.minerals.net/mineral/silicate/tecto/quartz/opal.htm....
A very gradual drying process over months or even years can in some cases effectively stabilize the stone and allow it to be cut and polished with a substantially reduced risk of crazing.
Uncut Opals are often stored in water; this reduces the chance of crazing. Once a specimen is taken out of the water its susceptibility increases. Opal should not be taken out of the water for more than several minutes at a time. Cutting or polishing Opals, especially Opals from localities notorious for crazing, is a risky process; it is a matter of chance if the Opals will craze or not.
To further protect Opals from crazing, they should not be washed with chemicals or detergents and should not be subject to sudden changes in temperature or lighting.
I have heard conflicting stories though. Some of the old Opal miners would say they would mine out the Opal and leave it sit in the sun for days and even years,
and what happens happens. Not sure that was the best plan though! Sounds like quick temp changes is what Opals dislikes most!! I do know that storing it in oil is a bad thing though.Hope some of this info helps Johnny. I can understand wanting to keep it stored as best as possible.
Posted by: ASTROBLEME Dec 10 2009, 10:14 PM
Dear Mrs. CP:
Thanks for clearing up the question on storing opal in water. Maybe you can help me on another opal question.
Here's a couple of photos of turquoise colored opals that have been stored in water in an old Del Monte quart jar that didn't have any identification with it. Do you have any idea as to what it is called or when it may have been mined?
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Sincerely,
Johnny
Posted by: Mrs.CP Dec 11 2009, 06:29 AM
Very nice Johnny! Im thinking maybe Peruvian blue Opal?
Here is a quote I grabbed from the net......
Peruvian opal is between 5.5 and 6.5 on the mohs hardness scale, and it streaks white.
The stuff is so popular the market is flooded out with fakes, so the tests help.
Sometimes they will even take the real stuff thats not so blue and dye it to look more appealing.
I prefer the all natural stuff.
Hard to say, but sure looks Peruvian Opal to me.
Sweet pieces too!!!
Posted by: ASTROBLEME Dec 11 2009, 09:28 AM
Dear Mrs. CP:
I hadn't seen anything like those on the internet sites I checked so I was hoping you'd have an idea. The original collector kept everything well labeled except for that jar. Given the other mineral and gemstone specimens that were sourced out of South America, that the collection contained, opal from Peru is a good possibility.
Thanks again for your assistance!
Johnny
Posted by: Hawkewind Dec 11 2009, 01:06 PM
I am just a noobie but did go to college in Queensland, Australia for a year and have always loved gemstones. So I went around to sites with boulder opals, opal museums, and being the friendly sort, also dealers asking them lots of questions. I also bought some cut (not set) black and green opals from Coober Pedy area and raw boulder opals. Anywho.....I just thought back to that time and never once remember seeing anything in water, oil or whatnot when it came to opals in Australia.
I mentioned this to Jim earlier (from these forums) and worth mentioning here........boulder opals were sooooooo cheap back then and considered much inferior to the Coober Pedy/Lightening Ridge more recognized kind. Queensland was really trying to push for them to be recognized for their unique beauty but back then, people wanted gemstone cuts not wire wrapped stuff. Of course with hindsight, I wish I would have got a lot of high quality stuff.
I went back for my honeymoon a year ago and went back to some of the same sites I did in college 20 years earlier.......and wouldn't you know it, boulder opals were a LOT more expensive albeit still second fiddle to the normal opal cuts from down south. Many places had a lot of raw, big slabs for sale that seemed pretty cheap but I am not sure as I didn't pay a ton of attention, I think one remote shop had a 100 pounder for about $1800 with lots and lots of veins in it.
I am at work and staring at a raw boulder opal I brought back from my honeymoon on my monitor stand right next to a Coober Pedy raw matrix opal.....have started at the Coober one for over 15 years in the same office and I still play with it weekly when I think.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Jan 12 2010, 05:43 PM
Thats great Hawkewind! I can understand the love for Opal, sure is pretty stuff. Almost hypnotic to look at.
Ok..........The jig is up though, we know you have a camera!
Lets see some pics of that Opal you like to play with at work while you think.
Posted by: Hawkewind Jan 13 2010, 05:37 PM
Here are the two I play and stare at while working...over 15 years for the one;
rock opal;
a simple necklace i wear sometimes;
Posted by: Mrs.CP Jan 16 2010, 06:38 AM
Very nice Opal! I think just having them sitting there to enjoy looking at, is the best thing.
If you asked Dan or Jim, they would say "whack it up" ! 
Great color flash in your necklace, its a very nice piece.
Posted by: jim Jan 31 2010, 01:47 PM
Uh Hawke.....ya really need to cut those chunks...They begging for it.
Posted by: jim Jan 31 2010, 01:52 PM
Here is a piece of boulder that a lady ask me to try to do something with. As you can see.. it has begun to break down some. I am hoping that I'll be able to get a decent cab from it.
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Posted by: Mrs.CP Feb 12 2010, 03:49 PM
Nice cab Jim. Hows it coming along? Here is one I did (double sided) that has this great metalic like shine to it after polished.
The picture sure doesnt do it justice. It has lightning like Opal veins running through the whole piece.
Thanks for sharing the Opal pictures here with us everyone! Lets keep them coming. Love those Opal pics! 
Posted by: jim Feb 15 2010, 12:56 PM
I finished the piece of boulder that I posted last.This is a pic of that piece and the other two pices that I got out of the original chunk. The wrap is a grove wrap with half round silver, a natural pearl, and silver beads. Not the best pic that I ever took but it was the best of about ten. Oh well... 
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Posted by: Gold_Barnstormer Feb 20 2010, 12:23 PM
This is a great site for learning more about the ins and outs of Opal.
http://www.opalinfo.com/
Here is a little Opal guitar with an Opal inlay for the center In the works.
This will go with the Opal teddy bear Im working on(page 2 of this thread).
Did you ever finish this bear playing guitar, aka an homage to the G.D.?
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Feb 20 2010, 01:25 PM
She did finish that teddy bear and although it wasn't intended as an homage to the G.D. it sure would fit well wouldn't it? 
The teddy bear is actually the prize for the http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2097.
Here's a picture of the teddy bear finished with his guitar posted in that thread.....Nice work Denise! 
Posted by: Mrs.CP Feb 21 2010, 07:34 AM
Hes many things depending on the eyes of the beholder. I just know hes Rockin'!
He is kind of flashy like the Grateful Dead bears though. 
Posted by: Gold_Barnstormer Mar 6 2010, 06:28 PM
finished yow nut in s/s setting.......very tiny
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Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 7 2010, 01:28 PM
Fantastic job GB! 
Love those Opals! Your sure bringing out the beauty in them!
Keep up the good work, and us posted on any other new creations.
Posted by: jim Mar 8 2010, 10:21 AM
I bought some rough at our annual club show. This is a new type of opal for me. It's Ethiaopian desert opal. I could not be happier with the stuff!! The bigger is 3/4 of an inch long.The other is a cone shape that's 3/8 inch tall. Both are flawless and chock full of flash. The pic does not show even half the flash that's in them.
The second pic is of the little cone wrapped in a tiny pendant.
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Posted by: swizz Mar 8 2010, 10:11 PM
WOW
Incredible stuff there Jim! Very nice setting on that piece.
Posted by: jim Mar 9 2010, 07:21 AM
Thanks Swizz. A very pleasant surprise fer sure. I had no idea that those few pieces of rough contained so much beauty. And like I said previous those pics don't show even a fraction of what's really there.
Posted by: Gold_Barnstormer Mar 9 2010, 05:23 PM
very nice clean wrap on that jim.......dig it
Posted by: Gold_Barnstormer Mar 9 2010, 05:28 PM
not the best photo or the biggest rock you've ever seen but still lookin' kinda cool i think,.......salvaged opal...know what I'm sayin'.
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Posted by: Gold_Barnstormer Mar 9 2010, 05:35 PM
This one will be going back onto the grinder........very carefully
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Posted by: Mrs.CP Apr 24 2010, 01:58 PM
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Beautiful work Jeff! Nice patterns in that kind of Opal, very classy looking I think!
I definately know what you mean by "salvaged opal". We use every bit we can also. The smaller pieces are always nice for inlays too.
Keep up the good work on your lapidary projects! Your turning out some sweet pieces.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Apr 28 2010, 04:50 AM
When I think of Opal, it gets me craving pineapple. 
An "Opal Pineapple" that is.
Here is a link for where http://whitecliffsopal.com/html/introduction.html come from and how they are formed. This is a picture of one from their website.
If you get a chance, look at their pineapple Opal collection.
Posted by: jim Apr 28 2010, 07:20 AM
Thats incredable!! I had no idea that opal could do that.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Apr 28 2010, 04:17 PM
They are definately cool!!
An "Opal Pineapple" that is. Here is a link for where http://whitecliffsopal.com/html/introduction.html come from and how they are formed. This is a picture of one from their website.
If you get a chance, look at their pineapple Opal collection.
Sure makes you want a pineapple (opal) doesnt it?!
Posted by: ColoradoProspector Apr 28 2010, 07:04 PM
OOOOOOOOO those are neat "pineapples" Denise!
I'd take one for my birthday if anyone is shoppin'. 
They are priced at a mere $100 per carat I think. 
The opal pineapple pictured is only 702 grams (5 cts/gram) Some of those opalized fossils are mind blowing too!
Opals are pretty fun to cut though when they aren't a keeper specimen.
Here's a group of new boulder opal cabochons I cut this week. Nice blues in the pictures and in hand there are some bright deep green flashes in them as well.
The triangle is 16 x 7 mm weighing 2.5 carats and the oval being a bit thicker is 5.5 carats at 14 x 10 mm for idea of sizes.
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Posted by: Mrs.CP May 1 2010, 07:39 AM
I have good taste dont I?
I really like the yellow and pink looking rectangle. It has great flash in hand, even pink and purple in the clearer spots where you can see the matrix under the Opal. The oval reminds me of a 5 point Thunderegg. 
Nice work Dan!
Posted by: ColoradoProspector May 12 2010, 12:35 PM
Yes dear you have excellent taste!
Thanks, I thought the oval had a neat look with it's orientation on the viens too.
Here are a few more recent cuts from the same material. Even though it's not all super flashy, the color hues that travel through in blue to purple is stunning in hand. Then you catch little sparkly greens, blues or even reds at the right angles.
Impossible to catch in the camera's view though. 
The parallelogram is a 100% opal face, looks like a nebula picture in outer space.
For anyone interested in some of this same boulder opal for cutting yourself, check the for sale section of the forum. We've listed a few small lots of rough (slabs) cut from the same piece these were cut from. http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2971
CP
Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 3 2010, 06:23 AM
Here is a lot of Opals that is going to make some beautiful creations.
Two pieces I have picked out already for sculpting........sssshhhhh, dont tell Dan! 
Both will be fish in the end......Rainbow Trout maybe?
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Posted by: swizz Nov 3 2010, 07:13 AM
Two pieces I have picked out already for sculpting........sssshhhhh, dont tell Dan!
Both will be fish in the end......Rainbow Trout maybe?
Holy cripes, there's so much fire in there... it burned my retinas when I enlarged it.
Rainbow Trout from Opal eh??? That could be incredible!
Coincidentally, I recently made a stone fish silhouette fashioned after a biggun I had caught (and released). I made an illustrated silhouette of the beast from digital imaging, reduced size, and traced it onto a small piece of Chrysoprase which I had left-over from the table project. Dremel + diamond bits shaped it well. It's about 4mm thick and I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet.... maybe inlay into a wooden fly box? hmmmmmm
Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 3 2010, 07:43 AM
Your doing what??? Project tease! 
Sounds like you're holding out on us again!
So why havent you posted some pics .........maybe in the stone sculpture projects thread??
That way I can ask all those good questions like what your dremel set up look like?
Im wounded right now, so Im going to have to run around till I heal so Dan dont catch me. Then i can run to the diamond wheels and dremel and start working them.
Posted by: swizz Nov 3 2010, 07:53 AM
Your doing what??? Project tease! Sounds like you're holding out on us again! So why havent you posted some pics .........maybe in the stone sculpture projects thread??
That way I can ask all those good questions like what your dremel set up look like?
Im wounded right now, so Im going to have to run around till I heal so Dan dont catch me. Then i can run to the diamond wheels and dremel and start working them.
Well, it's a piece without a project... I don't know what to do with it yet.
![confused0082[1].gif](http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/confused0082[1].gif)
I was just bored one day and decided to try cutting the Chrysoprase and a fish silhouette seemed easy enough since I don't have any lap gear.
I'll take a couple pics of it today when the sun pokes over the mountain.
(ps... we all warned you to wear a helmet)
Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 3 2010, 08:12 AM
Too funny Swizz! Its actually my index finger thats injured. Swelled badly due to a tendon injury. 
Im tough on myself but one would think I took better care of my hands for doing art work......
Yeah right! 
Im looking forward to the pics Swizz!
Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 12 2010, 08:11 AM
Here is an Opal pictured in the group above. The opal hearts are doing so well, Im going for another.
This piece screamed out to me....."Make me a heart!".....so I will.
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Im going to name this one "Love In Lavender".
Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 14 2010, 07:29 AM
Or "Lovin' Lavender" depending on who says it.
Posted by: Voltaire Nov 16 2010, 04:40 PM
Let us know how it ends up! 
Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 12 2011, 12:31 PM
Here is a beautiful piece of Australian Boulder Opal. It weighs about 1.75 pounds.
To me it has the shape of a velociraptor head looking to the right. Great veins of color in this one!
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Posted by: swizz Mar 12 2011, 12:44 PM
haah.. totally!
That is an incredible piece! Can't wait to see what you guys do with it.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 12 2011, 12:52 PM
Sorry to say, Dan did not let me sculpt it into the dino head I saw.
You have already seen some of what we have done with it Swizz. This piece was slabbed up several months ago. Dan had "cut it up" on his brain the whole time he was looking at this one. The shiny wet spot on the stone in the pic is where he was drooling on it.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Apr 13 2011, 07:36 AM
Several of the last few pieces we posted were from that beauty, like those beautiful hearts. We even listed some of the slabs in the for sale section of the forum here...... http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2971
Opal sure is some amazing stuff, but I bet lots of you didnt know that the old Opal mines in Cobber Pedy Australia are also used for homes.
Check it out!!
http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/coober-pedy-australia.html
Posted by: Mrs.CP Feb 2 2013, 09:16 AM
Here is a sweet little Opal I cut just recently by hand with diamond files and wet/dry sand paper.
Depending on the lighting, this Opal looks completely different. Here are several pictures of the same Opal in different light.
I still need alot of practice at Opal picture taking.
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Posted by: Voltaire Mar 6 2013, 03:56 PM
Some older pics, thought I'd also share some 'eye candy'.
A days work.. all aussie opal. (Koroit & LR)
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/?action=view¤t=grindin005_zps4ec26584.jpg
Different day, all small opals. They are resting in a bottle cap
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Opal/?action=view¤t=007.jpg
More Aussie, love LR opal.
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Opal/?action=view¤t=cabbingdays021.jpg
A favourite Welo (Ethiopian opal) of mine, both cabbed and recut (carved) to remove flaws:
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/?action=view¤t=1_zps2f0d8aa7.jpg
A faceted welo.
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Faceting/?action=view¤t=040.jpg
Nice, large welo.
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Opal/?action=view¤t=003.jpg
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Opal/?action=view¤t=001.jpg
Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 8 2013, 08:08 AM
Nice stones Voltaire! Too bad the pictures aren't bigger so we can see them better. You can put up large pictures here and it will size them down for you. Max size for upload is 4 MB.
Posted by: Voltaire Mar 8 2013, 01:00 PM
Those are already thumbnails, clicking on them should enlarge them me thinks.
Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 8 2013, 04:20 PM
Sorry Voltaire, I should have noticed that. I really like the Koroit Opal! The really crazy colorful patterns are great in that stuff! The Lightning Ridge (LR) Opal is definately beautiful stuff. Good job!
Posted by: Voltaire Mar 11 2013, 05:06 AM
*grins* Haha, been there, done that.
Here is a little curiosity from Ethiopia, often referred to as "fern pattern".
Probably precious opal which has replaced dendrites or something similar.
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/?action=view¤t=SGUOpal002.jpg
A very nice, large welo phantom I cut for a "client". Ended up around 53 cts.
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Opal/?action=view¤t=019.jpg
Appears to be a cat's eye opal, from Aussie land. (The play of colour acts like a cats eye)
Not very large, sadly.
http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc389/Voltaire_Lapidary/Opal/?action=view¤t=cabbingdays025.jpg
Posted by: Mrs.CP May 21 2013, 07:02 AM
Nice pieces Voltair! Here is a freeform boulder Opal. You can see through most of the stone when held up to the light.
The other side is just as amazing but with more flash in the tip.
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