Lapidaryforum.net
Let's Rock => Mineral Specimens => Topic started by: Phishisgroovin on March 06, 2016, 08:45:01 AM
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anyone ever do anything with TECOPA-OPAL from death valley california?
I have a jar of it in matrix, not sure what to do with it.
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i might get a medium hard wire wheel on my flex shaft and go outside and wittle the sandstone down a bit to see if i can expose some of the opals.
Sure is filled with alot of fire in the tiny bits i can see.
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I did a little searching and most of the information I've found is that the opal is fiery, but very small. I think that's probably as good as it gets with that opal. I would love to have a piece of it in my collection, though, as I don't have any from that location. Would you be willing to trade for a piece of it?
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New to me. The net says it is in a matrix of altered tuff which looks right. A little iffy about the presence of fire in the opal.
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this stuff is full of fire. i took it out and under light it was flashing me like a perverted streaker!
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i feel like i need a coarse wire wheel and remove some of the sand stone and uncover the purtys for shelf bling bling.
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Hiya' Phish. Does this opal have small spots of play-of-color separated by matrix? If so, and it's like a sandstone matrix you might have to shape it, seal it, then do your final polish. What you'd have is a polished epoxy surface, but it could be a cool looking piece if there are enough opal "eyes" distributed through it.
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yeah, its small specks of firey opal in sandstone.
it will all need to be stabilized after exposing any nodules.