Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect

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PinkDiamond
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Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect

Post by PinkDiamond »

Wow, here's an opal that's so rare GIA had never seen one like it before with an insect encased in opal. This is one for the books! :)

Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect
Dec 31, 2018 7:12 AM By Rapaport News

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"RAPAPORT... This story has legs: A US jeweler has obtained a colorful opal featuring an encased insect.

The rare stone originates from Java, Indonesia, and features a well-preserved invertebrate, apparently with its mouth still open. Looking closely, one can even see thin fibers extending from the limbs, noted Philadelphia-based gemologist Brian Berger, who recently acquired the gem.

The phenomenon is much more common in amber, as insects are attracted to tree sap, and become stuck when the fluid hardens into a solid resin. Berger’s stone may have originally been amber that later turned into opal, he posited. ... "

https://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem. ... d%2BInsect
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Shea_O
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Re: Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect

Post by Shea_O »

I saw this fella trying to sell this specimen online about a month ago. He was asking for a good bit of coin for the specimen

I love opal fossils

It’s interesting that he would posit amber as being the original host rock. This makes sense in many ways - and suggests a lot about the origin of a few unusual types of opal out there. It’s got me thinking....
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OpalSpectrum
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Re: Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect

Post by OpalSpectrum »

wow this is really awesome and unique find :shock:
it's very intersting because it change a lot about opals :oops: :lol:
here other article with 2 more pics and a bit more info
https://www.sciencealert.com/an-insect- ... tone-forms
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PinkDiamond
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Re: Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect

Post by PinkDiamond »

Oh my, what awesome shots they've got in that article! Thanks for sharing that one OS!! I like the details you can barely see of the insect in this one. Wow! :!:

Image
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Iskandarman
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Re: Rare Opal Contains Trapped Insect

Post by Iskandarman »

Yeah.. That's Banten opal!! Its means the insect is 3-4 million years old because they deposited in Genteng formation layer.
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