Ungraded / Untreated Queensland Matrix Opal
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 09. 2023
- www.opalauctions.com/stores/5...
Hey there, Opal enthusiasts! Get ready for a fun and maybe slightly crazy adventure with our fresh batch of Queensland Matrix Opal. Due to popular demand, we have secured a bulk quantity of this remarkable stone, presenting you with an exclusive opportunity to carve out your own fortune.
In the lot, you will find rough untreated and ungraded material, making your opal journey versatile and exciting. Whether you are an experienced artisan or just beginning your journey in the fascinating world of opals, we've got something special for you. The unprocessed rocks might look nondescript at first, resembling an ordinary garden rock, but don't let that deceive you. Inside, a treasure could be hiding, possibly with precious opal bars holding stones worth anywhere from a humble dollar to an exhilarating thousand. Maybe you'll discover a stone with a hint of green or red sparkle, heralding a significant win.
But, the thrill doesn't end here. Once you get your hands on these marvellous pieces, the real fun begins. You get to process them, potentially unveiling a stone that can be transformed from an unassuming rock to a precious gem. Treating the stone is a simple process, with options including the sugar method or a vegetable oil treatment, culminating in a heat treatment to reveal the stone's true beauty. Despite its rugged exterior, the Queensland Matrix Opal isn't heat-sensitive, or susceptible to thermal shock, making the treatment process more straightforward than you might expect.
Before you dive into this fun venture, make sure to stay tuned to our updates on Facebook and CZcams. linktr.ee/53frogs Hit the like button, subscribe, and join our vibrant community of opal enthusiasts. Get ready for a journey filled with surprises, fun, and potentially rewarding finds.
It's not just an auction; it's an adventure where you hold the key to uncovering hidden treasures. So, are you ready to turn the gamble into a thrilling win? Join us now and decide the future of this exhilarating venture!
Payment is required within 48 hours of auction end. If you select Standard Shipping, we are not responsible for any lost or damaged items.
Payment via PayPal or credit card via PayPal.
We ship all items within 48 hours of payment unless it's a holiday we will ship on the next working day.
Standard Shipping Time: ETA 5-21 working days
The buyer is responsible for any customs/import Duty or taxes levied in the buyers country.
Guarantee: Your satisfaction is guaranteed, and you can select a no-hassle return as long as the material is in original condition. If you are not satisfied for any reason, send back (unaltered)the item/s within seven days after you received it. It will take 2-3 days for us to check the items carefully. A full refund for your purchase, minus the shipping cost, will be given as soon as the items are confirmed to be in their original condition.
There is a lot of good information here. I liked hearing all of the treatment options for Qland matrix. I did not know that there is a difference between Andamooka and Qland matrix. I have heated Andamooka matrix to 260 degrees C without a problem, but I use acid and I have only tried heating Andamooka matrix once. I like the split screen effect a lot! I can lend you some cats if you need them ... or maybe Sheila. She loves to travel!
Thanks! yes the difference is mainly in composition of the base material. In Andamooka the Concrete/Rainbow material is a type of mudstone with solidified amorphous silica running through it. In Queensland the matrix is a type of sandstone. They look similar in a lot of ways. Generally though you can tell the Queensland variety because it tends to be a nice red/orange. The andamooka variety is more concrete coloured. I think you can actually head regular hard andamooka matrix up very hot with no problems as long as you do it very very slowly. I used to have problems with it blowing up when heating it but once you told me about how you cure your chert slowly over many hours. I remember as a kid growing up on the ranch, you always had to check the ground where your camp fire was to make sure there was no flint in that place because it would blow up. I put two and two together and started cooking my Hard matrix over a period of 5-7 hours depending on size and have not had a piece blow up since. I suspect the the water impeded in the matrix can get out if given enough time but if you dont, it turns to steam and the same mechanics that drive steam engines can easily blow matrix to bits!
A general rule for heat-treating any rock is, “the thicker it is, the more slowly you need to ramp the temperature.”
When heat is applied to a slab of rock, the outsides heat up first and expand. The central portion, which is cooler, does not expand as much, and shearing forces will generally cause a split through the cooler center.
When I’m treating chert, I ramp the temperature 50-100° F per hour every 100°F. I then hold the temperature for 3-8 hours. At the target temperature, I hold for 8-15 hours or more, because this is the temperature at which this particular material “anneals.”
With pieces of rock thinner than about 6 mm (1/4 inch), I may just ramp straight up to the annealing temperature without pausing. With a very thick rocks (over 3 inches thick), you can successfully heat treat but you’re going to have to ramp more slowly than about 50° per hour and you’re going to have to hold it for up to 15 to 25 hours for each step.
My heat treating method applies mostly to types of chalcedony (flint, chert, agate, jasper, etc.). Chalcedony is very dense, so heat transfer is predictable. For soft material, like some matrix opal, in which there is a lot of space between individual granules, I would think that this rigorous formula for heat treatment is probably not necessary, but the more basic rule - “the faster you raise the temperature, the more chance you have of any rock breaking” still needs to be considered.
What purpose to you "anneal" chert for? I know in the camp fire it gets really... glassy. Does it make it easier to flake? Seems like maybe a transition from Amorphous Silica to Crystalline silica? I wonder if opal would do this and if so, if there is any benefit?
The purpose of heat-treatment is to make flake more easily or rather, it makes flakes travel farther. In order to make arrowheads thin, the flakes need to travel past the midline (on average). One measure of knapping skill is width to thickness ratio. A W/T ratio of 5 is considered to be the thickest “acceptable.” Most Texas arrowheads are 5 or more. (The other measure of achievement is length.)
Thanks for the informative video. nnOpals.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for giving us new guys a chance to cut some interesting opals!
You bet!
Cool, I've never had the chance to play with matrix from Qld yet. Thanks for sharing
Any time! Good fun this material.
Top video .tks so much 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
So nice of you
Betting Don Pulitzer gets some of this.
I'm sure he will have a play :)
Good deal. They're selling low grade cabs of the Queensland Matrix / Fairy Opal for 5$ a cab at Denver show. So people would be stupid to pass this up seeing they can cut multiple cabs and double their money at least.
Easy money here. Matrix opal is one of the best opals for turning a dollar.
It sure looks hard to fill those jugs up with the dog around. Seems like fun though. ¦-)
The real trick is not to fill the dog up!
Lol, that does look tricky. What kind of dog is that? My buddy has a blue heeler and it looks similar but has some grey in its coat.
Correct! She is a little blue heeler. I think her blood line is closer to what is called a Stumpy here in Oz @@thedudeabides1445
Cool, I kinda thought so. My friends dog would go for the hose like that too I'm sure. He's a really good dog, super friendly and well behaved.
Not loading . Maybe im too quick
You too quick mate. It is in 4k so takes about an hour to load up.
Completely blind...
Me, after trying to mess with acid.
No acid here. Acid is typically not used with this material because it prohibits any resin coating from sticking properly. Although I do know a couple of guys that do it on really thin pieces and dont coat.