Camping Trip: OPALS!!!!!

[BurntBear]

We discovered opals on our recent camping trip. Here is a photo of one specimen; mainly beautiful lavenders and yellows.
We found bags and bags of opals! One of the bags ripped open on the way home and there were hundreds of opals floating around the back of the van....never thought I'd have THAT problem!

Specimen below is Approx. 1,500 ct.

 

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[BurntBear]

A couple more random pieces. I will try and get good photos tomorrow.

 

[Garrett424]

Nice finds. I've been a rock hound for years and Those stones are awesome.

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice rocks.

 

[BurntBear]

Thank you! We were stunned when we hit this pocket. Simply beautiful stuff!

 

[Msbeepbeep]

I love opals! So pretty!

 

[BurntBear]

Good, I'll have plenty of pretty photos for you! You'll like the 20 lb., lavender-pink Opal specimen I found.

 

[DDancer]

Outstanding Got a lead on some gemmy stuff there. Good on ya

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Very nice rocks there BB !!

 

[BurntBear]

Thanks again for the compliments everyone! I just got done cleaning up one small bag. Ended up with 1,500 cts. of good rough. Now, I have about 6 other bags to go through.

This was one of the small pockets.











This is the largest specimen. Approx. 20 lbs. of opalized petrified wood. Very little remains of the petrified wood itself. I dug this one out of the hillside. About a 3" section was exposed and I ended up with a boulder.

 

[voodoo]

great photos and finds! thanks for sharing!

 

[BurntBear]

Thanks Voodoo! I've never seen lavender/magenta-colored Opals!

 

[dig kzoo]

stunning! cant wait to see more photos.

 

[H-2 CHARLIE]

I would like to see one cut and polished

 

[BurntBear]

I would like to see one cut and polished

Speaking of...my partner started smoothing a few pieces out with a diamond file. Gorgeous!

 

[beez0404]

Excellent finds.

 

[BurntBear]

Thank you beez! This has been one of our most successful trips yet. We also found a good bit of Topaz, petrified wood (some opalized) and a little Sapphire in the mix.

 

[jewelerguy]

super cool!

 

[LI Tom]

Being totally ignorant about opals what is the value of your finds?

 

[BurntBear]

Being totally ignorant about opals what is the value of your finds?

That has yet to be determined by our geologist. No opals like this have been documented where we found them. Kinda cool actually.

UPDATE:

Our finds are more valuable from a collectors standpoint than anything. Due to the fact that the only varieties of Opal found in this region are Hyalite & Diatomite; our specimens are new discoveries. Our quality of specimens and the locality in which they were found will impact the value. We will know more soon, but the general conclusion is; they are very valuble.