I think i found a precious Opal

[viliam26]

I am beginer in this gem hunting, and i thnk i found a precious opal near my home town.im living in small meditrenian country, near Greece. So can you please tell me is this precious opal. Ive watched it under light and magnifging glass and it sparcles ornge and green and little blue colors on some spots. size of the stone is aproximately around 2.20x 1.50 cm in Eu size Thank you.

 

[DizzyDigger]

I have no idea if that is Opal, but did want to welcome you
to the site...

There is also a "Rocks/Gems" forum under the Geological Forums tab.
You might have better luck there.

 

[arizau]

The nearest opal deposit in the Mediterranean area is in Slovakia according to the following link. Opal Deposits Around the Globe.

I have no idea what you have but good luck.

 

[Goodyguy]

Looks like decomposed quartz that has been tumbled in a waterway to me.

GG~

 

[Eu_citzen]

Goody is right, of course.

 

[viliam26]

Thank you all for your quick relplys, i found many quartz type of rocks but this one is lighter in waight, its shines diferently and the one that is closes to mine is etiopian yellow opal, i think. the place where i found this peace, i heard there was a lake long time ago, milions of years, big one. Now it istotaly dried of course. So thats why i asumed it is an precious Opal, and i still think it is..

 

[viliam26]

we have mines 20 miles from my home town and there is a gold found there, it is a lead and zinc mine actualy.

 

[Goodyguy]

Thank you all for your quick relplys, i found many quartz type of rocks but this one is lighter in waight, its shines diferently and the one that is closes to mine is etiopian yellow opal, i think. the place where i found this peace, i heard there was a lake long time ago, milions of years, big one. Now it istotaly dried of course. So thats why i asumed it is an precious Opal, and i still think it is..

I think you could be right. Definitely appears to have a bit of fire in it.
Would not be the first time I was fooled by a photograph.

My advice would be to take it to an expert for a hands on identification.


GG~

 

[arizau]

Ethiopia is noted for opal production so what you have may be one. Gem dealers can confirm that. Nice find if it is.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Well, if you want to know for certain Opal is quite easy to ID.
First of all, it has a glassy luster. Second, it will be scratched by quartz. (check under magnification, 10x)
If still uncertain, a specific gravity test is recommended.

Here's an example of a Ethiopian opal:


I've worked professionally as a gemstone cutter/ lapidary artist and I'm 99.9% sure it isn't a precious opal.
The iridescent look is very likely the result of the cracks/fractures breaking the light.