Oregon Opals - Rare Pieces

Earth Minerals of Interest
528 Carat Opal from Oregon!

Finding the Ocean Inside of a Giant Opal
Images by InnaGem

While Australia produces over 97% of the worlds supply of opal today, there was a rare find in the state of Oregon recently. It had been over a century since opal was found in the forested land, yet this stunning specimen was found there, and when combined with light creates what seems to be a magical underwater scene from the ocean. The gem, which is owned by Inna Gem, is named the Opal Butte, which is derived from the name of a mine that existed in 1890s Oregon. Regarding the Opal Butte mine, Nature of the Northwest says:

“It has been more than 100 years since opal was found in Oregon. When the discovery was made public in the 1890s miners flocked to Opal Butte… When it was discovered that the supply of material at Opal Butte was limited, commercial mining operations shut down and the site became the province of rockhounds… The land has changed hands a number of times in the past six years. The new land owners are no longer able to provide a site for digging.”

There may be more opal buried somewhere in the Oregonian areas for those seeking. This particular gem weighs 740 ct and measures 60 x 45 x 41 mm. Inna Gem is currently selling the gem for those parties interested.

By SHAWN SALEME on September 14, 2013

Images by InnaGem - SOURCE

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