GEMSTONES

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="1ce00500dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Swordfish Mining:   Virgin Valley Opal</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Swordfish Mining: Virgin Valley Opal"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="black_precious_opal.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BLACK OPALS">BLACK OPALS</A>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_precious_opal_mining_claims_from_the_miners_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CLAIMS">CLAIMS</A>   |   <A HREF="opal_from_nevada.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PRECIOUS OPAL">PRECIOUS OPAL</A>   |   <A HREF="what_we_do.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, JEWELRY">WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, & JEWELRY</A>   |   <B>GEMSTONES</B>   |   <A HREF="opal_twigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LIMB CASTS">LIMB CASTS</A>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_wood_replacements.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PINE CONES BARK">PINE CONES & BARK</A>   |   <A HREF="precious_opal_snake_head_cast.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE SNAKE HEAD">THE SNAKE HEAD</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GOODS">GOODS</A>   |   <A HREF="leah_and_john.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT ME">ABOUT ME</A>   |   <A HREF="picture_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SWORDFISH PICS">SWORDFISH PICS</A>   |   <A HREF="the_sheldon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHARLES SHELDON NWR">CHARLES SHELDON NWR</A>   |   <A HREF="numbers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ADDRESS">ADDRESS</A>   |   <A HREF="map_to_virgin_valley_fee_digs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DIRECTIONS">DIRECTIONS</A>   |   <A HREF="qa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FAQ">FAQ</A>   |   <A HREF="links_to_friendly_web_pages.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS">LINKS</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="045d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> Virgin Valley gemstones. <IMG SRC="0bebd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="Gemstone selection late nineties" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Very nice opal wood with perfect cell structure multi-color opal replacement. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="0e4bd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="Gem opalized Wood Cab bright olors in every cell." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0fc8d6a0.jpg" border=0 width="141" height="106" ALT="Gem opalized wood" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> $200 ct wood grain bright multicolor cell replacement that shows color from every angle.</div> <div> Sold</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> GEMSTONES</div> <bR> <div>      I display cut Virgin Valley opal gemstones in direct sun without crazing. I repeat; <U>cut stones have sat in direct sunlight on black without cracking for weeks on end in the middle of winter in Arizona and summer in Nevada with wild daily temperature swings. 2012, they just did another week in the direct sun, again NO STONES CRACKED ONCE CUT</U></div> <bR> <div>      Year after year these cases have been displayed at outdoor shows in Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, and California. When done cutting, the stones first go into a tray in the back of the opal display from the top of the Pixie (By Diamond Pacific.  I also use a Genie.)  To show that freshly cut stones are not cracking again, and to be proven, before being weighed into some gem case.  Folks want to see what was cut recently. Some stones do crack in the blazing hot case,  but that's why I do it. It proves the stone can stand the dry out.  I stand behind the stones I've cut as stable because I have not babied them. I should say I tortured them indirect sunlight for weeks while attempting  to show the naysayers. Gem cases heat shrivel. </div> <bR> <div>      These wonderful opals come in crystal clear, white, gold or tan, Root Beer glass, black, semi-black, green, and the various colors of replaced woods.  Contra Luz, which is precious play of color when backlit,  is commonly found in the tailings opal from here.   When dry it is usually a pleasant blond color.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1b3ab400.jpg" border=0 width="427" height="320" ALT="Aunt Jeannes Black" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not for sale.</div> <div> This single stone is almost a troy ounce.  Bright full spectrum roll of multi-color, scales or honeycomb pattern in areas.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2c2c4580.jpg" border=0 width="452" height="600" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  2.56ct yellow tops stone with rare pattern. $1800 special offer </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> This is a photo of stable Virgin Valley gemstones showing the cases shriveled from direct sunlight. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2af2f0a0.jpg" border=0 width="815" height="778" ALT="Black Opals, Crystal Opals Tops Opal Riker White Opal too from nineties" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>      There are opals that spotlight the color. The color rolls around a central point in the stone or that rolls cats-eye like when cut on rolling fire or the long tubular Harlequin.   Broad flash can be found in all colors with some stones shifting entire colors when rotated. In person is really the best way to appraise opals. I have cut stones for sale that are cut freehand,  not on dopsticks or, calibrated. I do not cut others opal. </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0bf25dc0.jpg" border=0 width="293" height="220" ALT="Gem Semi-Crystal Opal The guy with glasses" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 2.3 ct for $360 Green multicolor with Red broad flash. Gem Semi-Crystal Opal, baroque again because there is something that keeps me from grinding away half the stone to make a calibrated setting fitter.</div> <div>  </div> <div>      I am an active opal miner and cutter. Local prices are on the wholesale side everyday because YOU traveled to the middle of nowhere to select from the miners themselves.  We have all variety's of opal for sale here. All us miners have cut opals and some jewelry for sale. Stable dried cabochons are available commonly they are not common once you leave here. Most stones are cut freeform not in a calibrated sizes. That being said; I am also a pioneer (read making a homestead from nothing while surviving day to day by ones own skills and entrepreneurship) who takes years not months to do things while managing to be a good citizen out here.</div> <bR> <div>      Here are more of the selection of stones focusing on boulder opals and Mexican Fire Opals.  The Peridot are from AZ and a few silver pendants.  Tanzanites, some citrines, and moonstones with some Yowah Nut stones. Those 2 bright stones in row 2 are from here. I like to polish all sorts of gems and I do trades with other miners and venders.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2b02a0a0.jpg" border=0 width="554" height="778" ALT="Faceted Mexican Fire Opal Bolder Opals Yowah Nut Lightning Ridge Opal Virgin Valley Opal Peridot" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Faceted Mexican Fire Opal, Boulder Opals, Yowah Nut, Lightning Ridge Opal, Virgin Valley Opals and some faceted side stones.</div> <bR> <div>      These cut opals are proven survivors. Many are MELTED into the gem box liners inside the melted gem boxes from summer outdoor shows.</div> <bR> <div>      We wore our Opalized wood jewelry daily for years 24/7. Lots of hot spring soaks (weekly) for years without the stones showing changes.  Leah's' (and all four of the girls) wood slab beads are bright and alive in person.   Full spectrum, bright green wood grain with electric full spectrum broad flash crystal opal. The ladies in the family each got a matching one for a heritage set of gem bright matched beads.</div> <bR> <div>      I have had to repair one already from being broken in half while we were building rock cribs for the horse fences on Roaring Springs Ranch side of the new Steen's National Monument in Oregon. Desert Dog Mining was lied to in the creation of the monument and deserves some business. He has Cinnabar Geodes and Sunstones.  They do repair because they break cleanly usually on the grain. That is a nice way of saying they are structurally similar to wood. Stronger when you work with the grain than against it. Against it is the cross sections.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="13740f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Leahs Opal Bead from opalized wood from Rainbow Ridge." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" > Leah's Opal Pendant Bead  Good opal is good opal and a good opal can take it! The Super glue can save the piece after you break it with a chunk of lava if you administer proper first aid...take it off to be repaired saving the 2 pieces.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>      I try to show the best side up in the cases but almost every stone has colors and patterns on both sides.  These opals have not been breaking under our temperature extremes (for opals) of 50 degree a day swings, with freezing. I feel our opal gemstones are no less sturdy than other districts after being worked.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0ca25dc0.jpg" border=0 width="293" height="220" ALT="Liquid fire. very bright. surface imperfections" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  ELECTRIC 360 DEGREE REFLECTION FIRE 2.26 cts  $675. It has small surface pits but the color spotlights out of the crystal stone and I couldn't grind any more away to make a tiny stone. There are small whitish pits on the surface but liquid colors that can't be described.</div> <bR> <div>      If you need to have no doubt about a stone being stable when buying cutting rough: buy a finished stone then re-cut it to your liking. Needless to say, any real world class opal cutter accept the loss that is inherent in all cutting.  If you buy the rough DRY in the SUN you can tell what it did when drying. Opal CT does have a trickier relationship with water than non CT opal.</div> <bR> <div>      Mr. Liddicoat of the Gemological institute of America GIA once stated:  "If there was a scale of difficulty in the understanding and appraisal of gemstones, then diamonds would rank as the easiest at #1 and opals as the most demanding at #10." Opal is the hardest gemstone to find, to mine,  properly cut, and then to grade and price correctly.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Note: all text and photographs copyrights reserved by John Church.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Re-publication not for gain is permitted with proper URL credit given. </div> <bR> <div>  <img align=bottom src="http://www.thebook.com/cgi-bin/thebook/Counter1/Count.cgi?ft=0|tr=0|prgb=0;255;0|md=7|dd=B|st=333332|sh=1|df=virginvalleyopal_5_own.dat">  </div> <div>   </div> </td> </tr></table></body>