123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!
ALL >> Business >> View Article

Black Opals

Profile Picture
By Author: Ali Underwood
Total Articles: 39
Comment this article
Facebook ShareTwitter ShareGoogle+ ShareTwitter Share

Black opals are the most valued of all opals mined in Australia. The rarity of this particular gem has caused its price to increase dramatically in recent years. After all, most of the world's supply of black opals comes from one small mining town.

Origins of Black opals

Lightening Ridge is a small town, in New South Wales, about 10 hours from the Gold Coast (give time north-west of Sydney). Over the years, millions of dollars worth of black opals have been mined in Lightening Ridge. Mintabie in South Australia is another source of black opals.

The first record of a black opal found in Lightening Ridge goes back to 1873, but it was not until 1903 that people realized how valuable this gemstone was. Black opals mined in Lightening Ridge changed the market value of opals and set a new precedent for the gem.

Characteristics of a Black Opal

The main characteristic of a black opal is a dark body, ranging from dark gray to soot black. The body tone is only a general characteristic and is in no way related to the spectral or rainbow colours in the gem. Many people think that a black opal is completely ...
... black in colour. If it was so, it would have been totally worthless.

The dark body tone of the opal is caused by traces of iron oxide and carbon. The dark tone is an advantage because it ensures that the rainbow colours in the opal stand out. The contrast of the body tone against the fire colour makes black opals highly desirable and increases their prices.

Cutting a Black Opal

Gem cutters will usually leave a layer of potch (common opal) behind the stone, which enhances the dark tone of the gem and lends it extra vibrancy. The darker the colour of the potch backing, darker is the body tone of the stone. Triplets and doublets, which imitate black opals, are based on this principle.

Most black opals are cut into oval shapes, but the shape also depends on the stone's natural shape. as a result opals are also cut into teardrop or free-form shapes to maximize the carat weight and size of the gem.

It is not necessary that a black opal should fetch a high price. There are other factors such as the pattern's uniqueness, brightness, cabochon shape, and the color of the pattern (the most valuable pattern colour in a black opal is red, but green and orange fire colors are also good for investment) which affect the price of a black opal.

Total Views: 280Word Count: 416See All articles From Author

Add Comment

Business Articles

1. Single Screw Plastic Extruder Demystified For Manufacturers
Author: ADVAN

2. Leed And Its Impact On Today's World
Author: Agile Advisors

3. Enhancing Safety And Sustainability: Tempgenius Blood Bank And Environmental Monitors
Author: Chris Miller

4. Verg Restoration
Author: PAVEL VERGULYANETS

5. Key Players And Competitive Landscape In The Insect Pest Control Sector
Author: MarketsandMarkets

6. Earthing Rod And Its Types
Author: EARTHING ROD AND ITS TYPES

7. Unveiling Excellence: The Journey Of A Pcb Manufacturer And The Innovations In Rigid-flex Pcbs
Author: Shenzhen Shuoqiang Electronics Co.,Ltd.

8. Exploring Multilayer Pcbs, Aluminum Base Pcbs, And Choosing The Right Pcb Supplier
Author: Shenzhen Shuoqiang Electronics Co.,Ltd.

9. Best Wati Alternatives In 2024 To Improve Customer Engagement
Author: Vilas

10. Revolutionizing Retail Spaces With Architectural Cad Design And Drafting Services
Author: Pavantheaecassociates

11. Professionell Diskning I Stockholm: Ta Hjälp Av Erfarna Diskare
Author: hemstandind i sigtuna

12. Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organization
Author: otis

13. Best Static And Dynamic Website In Mumbai
Author: Techstreat Web Solutions

14. Mastering The Road: The Essential Training For Becoming A School Bus Driver With Northstar Bus Lines
Author: Northstarbuslines

15. Exploring The Potential Of Hydrogen Technologies: A Clean Energy Revolution
Author: yogitamnm

Login To Account
Login Email:
Password:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address: