306 ct black opal

[kenny]

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c4#/video/living/2013/05/10/dnt-miner-finds-giant-opal.koat


http://mineshaft.com.au/opals/million-dollar-black-opal/

 

[Enerchi]

(Totally needs a halo!! )

 

[innerkitten]

Wow! It actually reminds me of some sort of sea creature.

 

[JewelFreak]

Looks like a heavenly asteroid -- I wanna get aboard.

--- Laurie

 

[minousbijoux]

Wow! It actually reminds me of some sort of sea creature.

I'm with you, IK - looks like it might start moving slowly away any minute...

 

[VapidLapid]

awesome opal. but, um, did anyone notice the quintessentially Australian kangaroo pouch he took it out of?

 

[chrono]

Looks like a stingray or octopus just about to come out of hiding. Lovely opal indeed!

 

[aprilzephyr]

Amazing opal! it reminds me of Fiji's turquoise waters...

 

[SirensandAngels]

Wow! Possibly the most beautiful Opal I've ever seen! Way too big to set in jewelry... but I don't care, I'd find a way to wear it anyway

 

[katharath]

I am swooning over this. This is my favorite type and color(s) of opal, so I'm just dying over it! Thanks for posting it Kenny.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Wow! Possibly the most beautiful Opal I've ever seen! Way too big to set in jewelry... but I don't care, I'd find a way to wear it anyway

Ha, ha. Me too!

 

[GemFever]

(Totally needs a halo!! )

It's the UNIVERSE! Amazing.

 

[Gabriellehb]

It could be some sort of opalised fossil, hence the shape. When the America's Cup was on in Perth there was a jeweller that had in their window a complete opalised fossil skeleton of an animal the size roughly of a kangaroo.

 

[minousbijoux]

I would be curious to know (please don't hurt me for asking an ignorant question) whether that opal is worth more like that as a specimen, or cut up and made into jewelry size bits?

 

[sapphirecats]

i would love a piece of that rock! is that ever beautiful!

 

[chrono]

I would be curious to know (please don't hurt me for asking an ignorant question) whether that opal is worth more like that as a specimen, or cut up and made into jewelry size bits?

Size matters so in terms of rarity, a large one showing full colour coverage is worth more than 20 smaller pieces altogether.

 

[iLander]

It could be some sort of opalised fossil, hence the shape. When the America's Cup was on in Perth there was a jeweller that had in their window a complete opalised fossil skeleton of an animal the size roughly of a kangaroo.

See, this is what I don't understand about opals; they're some kind of mineralized, fossilized remains, right?

Remains of what, exactly?

 

[iLander]

(Totally needs a halo!! )

No, Kenny is making it into a pendant.

He will wear it with his shirt wide open on a big gold chain, circa 1974 . . .

 

[Enerchi]

(Totally needs a halo!! )

No, Kenny is making it into a pendant.

He will wear it with his shirt wide open on a big gold chain, circa 1974 . . .

ooooh baby!!! I'm all over that--- bring back DISCO while we're at it!!

 

[kenny]

(Totally needs a halo!! )

No, Kenny is making it into a pendant.

He will wear it with his shirt wide open on a big gold chain, circa 1974 . . .

But I already look so good with my gold cross.

 

[aprilzephyr]

It could be some sort of opalised fossil, hence the shape. When the America's Cup was on in Perth there was a jeweller that had in their window a complete opalised fossil skeleton of an animal the size roughly of a kangaroo.

See, this is what I don't understand about opals; they're some kind of mineralized, fossilized remains, right?

Remains of what, exactly?

I'm sure someone else can explain more clearly but the overall gist is that opals form within the cavities of rocks. Assuming all the right conditions are met for opal to form, if the presence of organic material is what creates the cavity in the rock (i.e. a bone is lodged in the rock then rots away and leaves an empty mould), then an opal can form a fossil clone of the original. The National Opal Collection in Sydney has an opalized skeleton of a two metre long pliosaur that is ~100 million years old which was quite cool to see.

*edited to add* thought it would helpful to add that opals are a mix of silica and water. More scientifically, they are classified as hydrated mineraloids (non crystalline form of silica).

This opal prompted me to dig up my old travel photos of Fiji... one can't even escape graffiti on a remote island but I do miss that view!

 

[epgs]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing with us. A fine opal may be my next purchase for my collection!

 

[Enerchi]

(Totally needs a halo!! )

No, Kenny is making it into a pendant.

He will wear it with his shirt wide open on a big gold chain, circa 1974 . . .

But I already look so good with my gold cross.

hubba hubba--- Kenny, you are even SEXIER than I imagined!! I barely noticed the cross....

 

[chrono]

Oh man, I cannot hold my laughter in anymore. Kenny, you are a hoot!

 

[alisonia333]

Just came here to at the gold cross picture. That man's beauty outshines the million dollar opal, IMHO.

 

[minousbijoux]

Umm, you guys can have the man and I'll even throw in the cross. I'll take the opal.