Fire Opal Gemstones

Fire Opal Gemstones

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  • GEMSTONE:        Opaque Opal, 7.0 Carats (each), Faceted Gemstones
  •  ARTIST:               Commercial Cut
  •  MINE:                  Opal Queen Mine
  •  MUSEUM:           Unassigned

There are different ways opal can form and there many colors and combinations. Here at the Opal Queen Mine the opal the opal is formed within seams in basalt. From what we are told these seams were once part of a hot spring. The opal formed by depositing silica in the branch-like structure of the hydro-thermal system.

The mine is located on the top of a mountain with vistas nearly as beautiful as the opal. Nearly, but not quite as beautiful or as diverse. We’ve had the fortune to dig at this location over the span of many years. At one time the mine was known as Juniper Ridge Mine but is now operated by Troy Newman and his family as Opal Queen Mine.

The opal here can be opaque, translucent and/or transparent. Generally the opal with more clarity is yellow, orange,and/or red in color and is known as Fire Opal. Troy is still on the hunt for Fire Opal with flashes of color (called precious opal) but he gladly produces large quantities of Fire and Opaque Opal.

The Fire Opal gems of American Gemstones are cut from material that was mined by American Gemstones or the gemstone artist who cut the gem. While we’ve had a great time with the mine owners and gem artists digging beautiful opal at this location, the Opal Queen Mine is not open to the public for digging, but there may be a fee digging opportunity at Juniper Ridge Mine (which is now located down the hill)

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