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Pics?

I woulkd expect that stuff to cut around a min of 500 a carat. Ive seen one cut you see, really good color like the old days.
The pic above was about 3/4 oz.
I may be able to smaller stones from same parcel we will see.

A lot of shells are being found here, lots of seam opal too. Its all going to Asia. The shells, because of the curve, they use for inlay.

Anything the factories can buy around the world after bargaining you down to cost, is sold. Nothing is wasted there and even the dust is mixed with resin and reconstituted. The finished products are less than you could ever make one for and will be back at a show by you in years. The industries change as much as anything else in a dynamic environment. There is definitely an entire consumer class in China now that was not there 2 decades ago. I'd like to see some cutting shops open up instead of it all going to factories as that sets the price too low. Are there any wire saws still running down there?

SwordfishMining wrote:There is definitely an entire consumer class in China now that was not there 2 decades ago.

Yes, you're right about that John. I was just reading an article that discussed how jewelry sales are soaring in China among the masses, like never before.

in anticipation of that class i did some work
but, problem with anticipation is you cant convince others till its too late
too late

I just found out about this a few days ago on “Outback Opal Miners,” which apparently was only released in the US fairly recently. (I think) — dp

Pulitzeropal wrote:I just found out about this a few days ago on “Outback Opal Miners,” which apparently was only released in the US fairly recently. (I think) — dp

so you didn't know that 'OpalQueen' with which I had an 'argument' under your YT video about Ozzie vs Welo was from ''Outback Opal Miners'' ?
lucky the Queen was graceful and this didn't ended with tar and feathers

btw. I think they already made 3 seasons ?

What about the colors, is that also pricey if deep white but with only green or something? Do you know more about what color they value?

Just like any, barring Nevada doesnt get extra points for all the red multicolor. Might be a "field rules" I dont know about locally, but its the same ol same ol on the market. Red & then down the spectrum with pattern weighing in the most for rarity, I guess. I cant remember off hand as when you are cutting or mining, you get what you get. The shell patch i had was multicolor in the best, brightness, saturation & thickness being the multipliers then fossil value. Lots i sold too & miners here think "is it gem rough or not" and how easy is it to finish?