The House of Tibara, Opal Specialists - Opal Types & Composite Stones

Here are some examples of different types of opals.
Clicking on a small image will open a new window revealing a larger version.

AUSTRALIA

The main opal producing area of Australia is shown by a red square. It contains the rich opal-producing areas of Mintabie, Lightning Ridge, and Coober Pedy. Listed below are some examples of the types of opals produced from this region.

	Rare light-based black opal from Kingfisher mine in Mintabie.
	Medium dark base material from Lightning Ridge.
	Coober Pedy material showing iron stains that are penetrating through the stone.
	Harlequin pattern, from Crystal Valley #1 in Mintabie.
	Black opal from Andamooka.

The key opal producing areas of the United States are Virgin Valley Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. There are some very nice pieces coming out of Virgin Valley, some of which are shown here.

UNITED STATES

Opal that is "Stable" will not crack or craze under normal heat and climactic conditions?

See the FAQ for more info.

	Tumbled Virgin Valley pieces.
	Thunder egg opal from Oregon.
	Virgin Valley, pieces of limb casts.
	Opalized fossil pine cone from Virgin Valley.

Opal should not be stored in mineral or other oils?

See the FAQ for more info.

OTHER COUNTRIES
	An opal from Ethiopia which has been faceted.
	High quality Brazilian opal.
	Brazilian boulder opal.

A composite stone is composed of more than one stone. A composite stone makes use of very thin slices of precious opal that otherwise would be wasted.

	A triplet is a thin layer of precious opal, onto one face of which is fixed an opaque base of natural or artificial material, and onto the other a clear quartz domed top.
	A doublet is a layer of precious opal, onto one face of which has been fixed an opaque base of natural or artificial material. The base is generally black to enhance the opal's fire. An overlay is a doublet with a bolder opal backing.
	Mosaics are small pieces of opal glued to a black surface to form a picture or jewelry. Intarsia: Opal is combined with various materials, lapis, malachite, sugilite, jades in geometric patterns or other designs (like inlaid wood).

Epoxy should be used rather than dopping wax?

See the FAQ for more info.