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»  » Diamond Prices and Grading »
 » RockyTalky
»  » Gemstone beetles in Australia
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Gemstone beetles in Australia |
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| P: 12/20/2003 5:17:07 AM | |
joeq Rough Rock Total Posts: 38 Last Post: 2/8/2005 Member Since: 9/30/2003 |
I saw an article today that they found a beetle in Queensland, Australia that naturally makes the precious gemstone opal.
The beetle evolved to make the gem on its back due to the exceptional light return: The pattern appears strongly colored, whatever angle you look at it, which helps to make it recognizable to other members of its species in the dim light under the forest canopy. So "brilliance" and "light return" are important in nature, too...
This beetle is particularly interesting because humans have not been able to successfully synthesizing solid opals yet. By studying this beetle, they hope to develop a way to synthesize solid opal and other photonic crystals. Beyond gemstones, this has important uses in optical computing.
Apologies if it is off-topic. I thought it was pretty cool. Maybe someday we'll find the elusive D-IF H&A beetle
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| Posted: 12/20/2003 5:17:07 AM | |
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There are 4 replies to this message. There are 4 replies on this page. |
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| P: 12/20/2003 12:43:43 PM | |
valeria101 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 14,048 Last Post: 4/30/2006 Member Since: 8/29/2003 |
I thought opal has been synthetized? Or wasn't it good enough? This is a way cool... analogy.
Ana "The greatest experts are only as good as the sum total of what they have seen." [Souren Melikian] |
| Posted: 12/20/2003 12:43:43 PM | |
| P: 12/20/2003 2:31:53 PM | |
DiamondExpert Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,243 Last Post: 6/20/2009 Member Since: 1/16/2003 |
G'day: Kewel! Nothing succeeds like nature itself! Nice find! |
| Posted: 12/20/2003 2:31:53 PM | |
| P: 12/20/2003 6:25:09 PM | |
Garry H (Cut Nut) Ideal Rock Total Posts: 11,581 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 8/16/2000 |
Scientists at the Aussie CSIRO developed synthetic opal around 35 years ago. They tried to patent it to control illicit production because it is so easy to make. There are buckets of it being made in China. All you need is a bucket and silica jell and a stable (correct) room temperature and a month or 2. Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT |
| Posted: 12/20/2003 6:25:09 PM | |
| P: 12/20/2003 7:47:20 PM | |
Toska Cut Rock Total Posts: 114 Last Post: 7/7/2004 Member Since: 11/3/2003 |
---------------- Where does Harry Kewell come into this topic? True, he is an absolute genius. He put's any player from England to shame 
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| Posted: 12/20/2003 7:47:20 PM | |
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