The opal association web site gets a lot of inquires for valuations but as our members aren’t valuers we suggest they contact the national council of jewelery valuers in Australia. This is a interesting inquiry we received in regards to a opal blob which we will pass on to all members.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am just wondering if you do valuation of opal. If not, do you know where can we get it valued?  We live in Sydney

I would like to know the current value of the following rare and spectacular opal blob aptly named “Green Horses”.

The following is a laboratory report of “Green Horses” from Mr Barry O’Leary (founder and former president of the Opal Society of Australia) in 1991:

“Green Horses” is a spectacular opal blob from the renown Adamooka Opal field of South Australia, as detectable from the conglomerate impressions of the clay matrix.

This mass weighs, as is, 8.885 kilograms and is a compact, irregular shape and blocky, with diameters of its sides up to 200 millimetres in length. The exterior surface is coated with clay, part of which is broken through by broken opal surfaces which have a brilliant precious opal fire play, expressed in brilliant green and orange irisations which was the favoured colour combination for precious opal at the turn of this century. The opal shows pattern of the floral harlequin order and is of remarkable continuity as seen from its exposures over the surface by the occluded sections.

Although other large blobs have been found from Adamooka, they have all been cut up for their gemstone content. “Green Horses” as this blob is aptly named, is a objet de curiositee and as such is, therefore unique.

In my estimation, “Green Horses” could be cut to yield at least 9,000 carats of flawless stones. But whereas we can slab up a unique item to create small and regular stones. We cannot synthesise a large specimen from its smaller components. I imagine this piece could be shaped into an abstract style to create a superb modern carving just by grinding down to reveal the all over opal surface beneath the clay. This could reduce the overall weight to no less than 6,000 grams, equal to 30,000 carats.

I appreciate it if you are able to assist us of all the above.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Willie Hong

Disclaimer Note We forward all emails received for the Opal association to all members as a matter of course. This does not mean we support or endorse the product /message and suggest members do their own due diligence and checking.

CLOSURE OF MINTABIE OPAL FIELD.
The ABC has just released a critical report on the Mintabie opal fields this week. It appears the government has decided to close the field but there has been very little communication with the opal miners there. There is a article in the link below on the govt response to the Mintabie review panel. We are sending this to all members and welcome any comments.

GovernmentResponse[38549]

Interesting program about Lightning Ridge

https://www.discoverychannel.com.au/shows/outback-opal-hunters

Disclaimer Note We forward all emails received for the Opal association to all members as a matter of course. This does not mean we support or endorse the product /message and suggest members do their own due diligence and checking.