January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:53 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 2:22 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
Attachment:
P1050351.JPG
P1050351.JPG [ 5.98 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]
Not no expert . Talked to a few people, (one invited me into here). Appears i have Mexican opal in sandstone matrix. Seems to not be crazed, From what i know it was found near topsoil, Jalisco region of mexico, (known for precious/fire opal). Rock has been passed down to me, found over 50 years ago by my grandfather, given to my mom, given to me ! Have put it in water before, currently in water (1day), no change in clarity/ color. Been in stored dry for as long as i can remember. Clear edges, milky center , some play of color inside.
Attachment:
P1050354.JPG
P1050354.JPG [ 6 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]


Attachment:
P1050346.JPG
P1050346.JPG [ 5.88 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]


Attachment:
P1050350.JPG
P1050350.JPG [ 6.23 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]


Attachment:
P1050351.JPG
P1050351.JPG [ 5.98 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]


Attachment:
P1050351.JPG
P1050351.JPG [ 5.98 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]


Attachments:
P1050353.JPG
P1050353.JPG [ 6.12 MiB | Viewed 2646 times ]


Last edited by idrmname on Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in sandstone matrix
PostPosted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 4:10 pm 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
Posts: 1542
It does look like Opal from the Jalisco area of Mexico. Unfortunately, it looks like it has dried out, and lost its color. You will likely not be able to restore that with stability. Also, the matrix from that area is normally Rhyolite not Sandstone.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in sandstone matrix
PostPosted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 4:24 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
Not no expert . Talked to a few people, (one invited me into here). Appears i have Mexican opal in sandstone matrix. Seems to not be crazed, From what i know it was found near topsoil, Jalisco region of mexico, (known for precious/fire opal). Rock has been passed down to me, found over 50 years ago by my grandfather, given to my mom, given to me ! Have put it in water before, currently in water (1day), no change in clarity/ color. Been in stored dry for as long as i can remember. Clear edges, milky center , some play of color inside.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in sandstone matrix
PostPosted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 11:44 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21600
Location: San Francisco
Yep, I was the one who recommended idrmname run this by our members.
I also suggested putting it in water for a bit to see if it changes character.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in sandstone matrix
PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:03 am 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
Been in water 2 days . No change so far. How long should I leave it?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:29 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21600
Location: San Francisco
Try a couple of weeks.
Won't hurt it.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in sandstone matrix
PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:35 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
1bwana1 wrote:
It does look like Opal from the Jalisco area of Mexico. Unfortunately, it looks like it has dried out, and lost its color. You will likely not be able to restore that with stability. Also, the matrix from that area is normally Rhyolite not Sandstone.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:59 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21600
Location: San Francisco
As it is right now, the opal is not gem material.

If you soak it and some color comes back, the opaqueness becomes translucence, it will still not be suitable for cutting but it would make a prettier specimen for the shelf.

I used to always keep my Mexican opals in a jar with water.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 4:13 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
I'll post updates in a few. Is it not suitable for cutting because it would be dry and brittle/ because of the worth ( clarity- gem quality)? Or both?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 4:59 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21600
Location: San Francisco
Let's discuss this in a couple of weeks. :D


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:37 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21600
Location: San Francisco
I think our couple of weeks is winding to a close.
Keep us updated now, idrmname!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:20 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
Attachment:
P1050368.JPG
P1050368.JPG [ 5.72 MiB | Viewed 2441 times ]
Attachment:
P1050367.JPG
P1050367.JPG [ 6.06 MiB | Viewed 2441 times ]

Attachment:
P1050365.JPG
P1050365.JPG [ 5.87 MiB | Viewed 2441 times ]

Attachment:
P1050363.JPG
P1050363.JPG [ 6.01 MiB | Viewed 2441 times ]

Attachment:
P1050367.JPG
P1050367.JPG [ 6.06 MiB | Viewed 2441 times ]
update! soaking near 2 weeks

Interior pocket seems like the window around it has clarified a bit. I can see the color play better .






Edge of opal (separate pocket) still milky and not to translucent.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 12:01 am 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
Last pics were ok . just took new ones. Major improvement after soaking, even since last pics!
Middle pocket Has got much clearer. I can see through to the rock backing !
Never remember seeing it like that ever! Looks beautifull!


Attachment:
P1050371.JPG
P1050371.JPG [ 5.99 MiB | Viewed 2424 times ]


Attachment:
P1050372.JPG
P1050372.JPG [ 5.91 MiB | Viewed 2424 times ]


Attachment:
P1050377.JPG
P1050377.JPG [ 5.84 MiB | Viewed 2424 times ]


Attachment:
P1050379.JPG
P1050379.JPG [ 5.78 MiB | Viewed 2424 times ]


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 1:42 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm
Posts: 21600
Location: San Francisco
And, the corner pocket is also getting more translucent.
So....would cabbing this material be a good idea?
Nope.

Consider a wet opal display dome for your specimen:
http://www.rocksinahardplace.com/domes.html

This one just came up when I googled. Other sources available.
The dome magnifies and holds water. Perfect for display!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Opal in Rhyiolyte matrix
PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 2:30 pm 
Offline
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type

Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
Thanks for the info. Just what it needs! A proper display, and to be displayed!
Filtered water? Distilled? Reg tap would probably grow algae. Contains chlorine/amine . Don't know if that's good for opal


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock