Shut-Up already!

I just couldn't resist, don't ya feel like this sometimes? I received a raft of awesome photos from a friend. I don't know who took the photos but they should get an award of some sort. I'll be posting more, just for fun. Feel free to add a caption in the comments. (still chuckling over this photo)

Ethiopian Opals Now Available!

While most commonly referred to as Wollo, this Ethiopian province can also be spelled/translated as “Welo” or “Wello”. Currently, all spellings are considered valid, although Wollo seems to be the preferred spelling among English speakers.

The nation of Ethiopia, in north-eastern Africa also produces some beautiful specimens of volcanic opal.
The hydrophane variety known as "chocolate opal (aka "hydrophane fire opal") is found at Yita Ridge, near Mezezo (the woredas, or district of Mafud Mezezo Mojana) in the Amhara Region of the Ethiopian highlands. The "Wello Opal," also known colloquially as "Crystal Fire Opal" is found to the north of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, in the province of Wollo.

Opal Color Classification Precious opal is divided into numerous sub-groups depending on
its body color, incorporating matrix, size/shape of the areas of color. Thin pieces of precious opal can also be attached to, laminated to, or backed by  foreign material forming an opal "doublet," or glued between a clear glass cap and a foreign backing (potch, glass or ironstone) to form a "triplet." These are sometimes referred to as "assembled opals." Both of these last constructions can produce attractive durable gems, but are much less desirable than gems made from solid opal. Opal is typically cut into a cabochon, although highly transparent fire opals can be faceted. Opal's color varieties are classified as: "Black Opal" (black body color) which has three designations from dark to light (Black 1, Black 2, Black 3), "Semi-Black" of "Grey" (dark body color), "Light" (between semi-black and white), "White" (hydrophane opal with very light body), and the rare "pineapple" psuedomorphic opal (ikaite) from White Cliffs in NSW, Australia.

General opal classifications are: "Boulder Opal" which is opal on a dark ironstone matrix (typical occurrence: Quilpie, Queensland); "Crystal Opal" which is transparent to semi-transparent black, semi-black or white opal which has a play of color (typical occurrence: South Australia and New South Wales); "Fire Opal" or "Arananjado Opal" which is translucent to transparent, with yellow, orange, or red body color (typical occurrence: Querétaro, Magdalena Jalisco, Mexico); "Contra Luz Opal" which is a precious opal where that only displays a play of color when held up to the light (typical occurrence: Opal Butte, Oregon); "Matrix Opal" or "Mass Opal" which has thin seams of precious opal in an ironstone matrix (typical occurrence: Andamooka, South Australia).

Opals are available for purchase on the small and fine gemstones gallery.

Feature Stones of the Week with Bonus

Make a pendant, bracelet and earrings with this combo! Buy both and save $2.00 Go to the Web Site for complete descriptions.

Gorgeous Blue Agates

Green Beryl, it's Mintie

I purchased a fairly large lot of this Greenish Beryl in slab form. Although it isn't as "translucent:" as the fine Beryl costing hundreds of dollars it will make a fabulous piece of jewelry and rare too. You won't see
this any other place as far as I know; I've looked.
 

Priced at only $12.95

Aquamarine is characterized by a pure sky-blue, bluish-green, orgreenish-blue colour, very similar to the tint of sea-water; hence its name,

and the old saying that this stone when placed in the sea becomes invisible.

Aquamarine of a deep shade of colour is very rare; it is found, in small amount

and of a fine deep, sapphire-blue, at Royalston in Massachusetts, U.S.A. A

distinction is sometimes made between sky-blue beryl and beryl of a

greenish-blue or bluish-green colour, the former being considered as aquamarine

proper and the latter referred to as Siberian aquamarine. All pale bluish and

greenish beryls are, as a rule, however, included in the term aquamarine.

(Photos are taken with bright light. DifferentMonitors can alter the colors)

Australian Boulder Opals

New This Week

Australian Boulder Opals

Love them Opals!

Featured Stone of the Week

I'll be yours if you be mine!

RED ALERT!

Cabochons, Pendant Focals on Sale! (My Thankyou Sale)

Go To:  GotRocks4Sale.com

Don't forget the free ship offer for orders of $20.00 or more including Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.