Thanks for the info. When I get around to the camera again I will try this. I now have to find my little tripod for the camera again. Too much to do. Summers...
That got your attention. The Refuge is finally posting the mining district boundaries. Around the bottom inside first but going over the table eventually I...
I think this is a better URL / Google Search for results of CombineZM: combineZM photo site:mindat.org. Do that, & go there, & see the amazing results people...
... Yes, I have been mining boulder opal in western Queensland,Australia. After years of prospecting and mining had developed a theory, i would like you...
PLEASE SEE THE PHOTO ALBUM NAMED SUNSET MINE (you wont be disapointed) As im sure you all have seen in the Barstow Opal Mountain photos the findings have been...
Spent a few days hiking around the area of an old " almost" claim that an aquaintance of mine (yes he is a member)and i had tried to claim on ( lets just say...
Hi, I have an Ethiopian chocolate opal nodule that I cut and mostly polished. I cut the nodule in half with a diamond trim saw. I must say that I am only an...
Please don't spray it with acrylic. I'm off to bed but I'll write back and offer some advice. As I too use a dremel. And have cut this type of opal with great...
I polish my opal by hand sometimes. I use 220, 600 and maybe 1500 grits of silicon carbide wet/dry sandpaper. Once I have worked the opal on the 1500 I put a...
David, Simichrome is for metals, not gems. Cerium oxide is good, but only for the very last final polish stage; it does not have any cutting power to get...
Since all you have is a dremel, you have a few options to make use of it: a) Buy "Nova Points" - these are diamond impregnated burrs that come in different...
I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area and wish to sell my opal collection. I've got pictures ready in my email box. The opals are from Australia. The collection...
After spending two weeks in Tucson this February I am more confused than ever on how to place a value on Ethiopian Opal. I priced strands of nice quality opal...
In all reality the Ethiopians are valued basically like any other opal... By brightness and pattern, only instead of darkness like the black opal it is by the...
Hi Linda, I basically agree with Micheal's post; that Ethiopian opal is priced like all other opal. The problem with Ethiopian Opals, specifically Welo, is...
I have already tried that with the felt wheels and diamond compound. All I get with that is the before mentioned smooth but matte finish. I am not sure about...
im not sure if you know this ,but if you go to harbor freight tool supply,they are in almost every city,you can buy a small drill press for $80,flip it...
shape first, then 400 to 600 grit, lots of grit and firm pressure and water to keep it cool.most opal will actually polish out better with grit alone i...
David, Sounds like the problem is the Dremel. IE: it runs to fast and builds heat "fast" unless you are using water to cool things you will get a fine surface...
If anyone is interested in buying bulk amounts of medium grade cut and polished fairy opal please contact me. The body of the opal is sandstone from the...
This was discovered and published in 2009, The Australian Gemmologist. Is there any way to tell the treated Ethiopian opals from natural un cooked stones at...
Hi, I invite you to join http://www.coollectors.com, the World's Free Marketplace & Community for Collectors. Coollectors allows Collectors to Buy, Sell,...
Anyone work with boulder opal? I have been seeing high end finished pieces that are worked without smoothing out the surface. They are calling it a rubbed...
Hi Cori, I agree with your instincts; a boulder opal, these days, does not have to have a smooth surface; you can really get more out of a stone if you contour...
