Different types of opals?

[lisam72]

I had all these opals in water since we first got them after purchasing a unit. Anyway someone told me I did not need to keep them in water so I took them out and let them dry. Now I don't know what to do or what types they are. Some of them are easy to fall apart, almost like sand but you can see inside. I know nothing about rocks or gems it is all new to me so any help would be appreciated. I am not sure if I need to chip away at them until I find something that looks like opal or? Some of them dont even look like opals but am going to assume maybe they are in the middle. Anyway, here are some pics so hopefully someone can tell me what to do or if it is even worth doing or?

Thank you for any help I can get
Lisa

 

[ToddsPoint]

Those are the raw deal right from the mine. It looks like you need to remove all the rock surrounding the opal. No idea how to do that. Carefully I think!

 

[opalboy]

Those clearish ones look like Ethiopian opal, some of which last longer in water.

 

[lisam72]

I had all these opals in water since we first got them after purchasing a unit. Anyway someone told me I did not need to keep them in water so I took them out and let them dry. Now I don't know what to do or what types they are. Some of them are easy to fall apart, almost like sand but you can see inside. I know nothing about rocks or gems it is all new to me so any help would be appreciated. I am not sure if I need to chip away at them until I find something that looks like opal or? Some of them dont even look like opals but am going to assume maybe they are in the middle. Anyway, here are some pics so hopefully someone can tell me what to do or if it is even worth doing or?

Thank you for any help I can get
Lisa

I can see some opals (i think) inside i just dont know the best way to get to them

 

[AU Seeker]

I can see some opals (i think) inside i just dont know the best way to get to them

On the TV show "Opal Hunters" they use a special wet grinding/polishing wheel to remove excess material from an opal, after cutting away most of it with a rock saw