OPAL EGG. Opal Butte, Morrow County, Oregon. ...

Description

OPAL EGG
Opal Butte, Morrow County, Oregon

Although not particularly known as sources of precious opal, there are areas in the U.S. that have consistently produced small quantities of very fine material with good "fire": Oregon, Idaho and Nevada being the most consistent with occasional bits from California and Louisiana. The Oregon Butte area is south of Heppner, Oregon, in pretty much the middle of nowhere. Quite a bit of Opal is found here but the precious variety is rare and highly valued. Some exquisite carvings have been made from the precious type and the egg seen here is one of them. It is composed of a chocolate brown matrix of volcanic Rhyolite with cracks and fissures where transparent opal has been deposited by water in these open cavities. Some of the opal is merely transparent, but there are three sections bearing the precious type showing excellent flashes of: red-orange, green, blue and purple color as the egg is turned. It is in excellent condition with fine polish.
Overall measurements: 2.5 x 2 inches (6.4 x 5.1 cm).

Provenance: West Coast Mining [Hoppel # D1634]

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