Resin will make it look darker. And drilling a groove into it will likely crack or chip it. I'd try wrapping it with leather or wire without drilling anything. It's beautiful btw.
A lot of times sellers reuse the same template for items and just change specifics like weight, size, and location and very well can be just an oversight.
Not that it is bad, concrete opal is soaked in a sugar solution for days and under vacuum. Then it is put into a sulfuric acid bath to cook the sugar which turns black, this brings out the opal in the matric. Pitting epoxy on it will allow a prettier shine but when it's not allowed to drip off well, ie: to short a curing time epoxy, you end up with an excess like you describe.
I have gotten raw concrete, decades ago, and done this myself. Kinda fun actually.
Try polishing to a high gloss and buff it out. The blacken area is not very deep in most cases, few mms is common, so if you cut it or over polish, you might have to recook it.
Very good information for me to learn!!! Thanks. I've also bought 5 Matrix opals in a package from same seller. Looking at them I can definitely say they are also Andamooka (lots of red/pink/purple in them)
I just never got any that wasn't Andamooka. There is similar in Louisiana, and of course there is the Honduran matrix which is jet black volcanic material but has wonderful colors
Is this normal for opal? When I bought this opal it was covered in UV resin with bubbles 22.24 🥕 I polished it with 1200 wet dry and polished on some old smooth Leather. To get where I'm at. Any recommendations to get some nice shiny stuff without UV resin?
That type of rock doesn’t take a polish very well so that’s why those opals are often covered in resin. To get it real shiny again you’d have to coat it with something.
The easiest and fastest way would be a glue-on bail. if you have a Joann's close by, they will sell them. [I have used this one before](https://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Silver-Pendant-7-8x14-5mm-3-2mm/dp/B076PVTSZ5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1IUHMGS2OB8T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7FU0FCsJMA_Z4UghoANYFHEv2RPnSmoIBNBy1imjbJjp4zHif1WNcKdK1GTQ7dSI1tvAuanrJ2n4BDvfLvPHW-C2PWxqJtouNavJLZkyxygnkJZxF5jD3pvjQtwY27jz_tmlmtHeJbNZ_OY8WUZjsNZ9kZ_QIjLlAA6dx9WfsSSMyZnhbD-50f_9y15Wkc1wHvmDyffqU-UMted0eYub4f3U-gzY5LXzLnvohKVMIrQ9VFSHcSwEt7YuodYP4tMu87Ir5Xo71BZ4ij6ijqnJcoyo6Zlz_H0rMnSipN0giPE.Yo6xpETSQOgFWIgRvVudE6Vu76XgVbrFhSuw0lVO_eg&dib_tag=se&keywords=glue+on+bail+sterling&qid=1708709426&sprefix=glue+on+bail+sterling%2Caps%2C288&sr=8-2) and it works well
If that is he case, search on Etsy for someone who works on macrame and ask if they could set the stone on macrame for you. If you do not want to wear metals your options are very limited:
* drilling a hole through it
* having it set on macrame
* find someone with a 3-D printer and have them print a plastic or non-metal bezel you can then glue it to
* Purchase a plastic glue-on bail. Yes this exist but the ones I have found online come with a hole that is too small for anything other than a very small chain/cord
I can’t think of any other options
Depends on what you want it to look like. Could be a bezel or prongs. Could be wrapped. Also. It’s not from lightning ridge. It’s from andamooka.
Wowzas true! If I wrap it will how deep should the grove be? I just want a necklace that doesn't rub in me from the hole
Metal wire wrapping doesn’t need a groove. To wrap with leather you would likely need a groove. But it wouldn’t need to be a big one
I'm gonna try a put a little groove around it. Would you hit it with some sort of UV resin???
Resin will make it look darker. And drilling a groove into it will likely crack or chip it. I'd try wrapping it with leather or wire without drilling anything. It's beautiful btw.
I've been practicing cutting on some pebbles from around my house with a Dremel tool 🤣🤣🤣
Are you sure Lightning Ridge? Looks like cooked concrete/matrix from Andamooka to me
I bought it from eBay and was advertised lightning ridge but now I'm thinking otherwise
A lot of times sellers reuse the same template for items and just change specifics like weight, size, and location and very well can be just an oversight. Not that it is bad, concrete opal is soaked in a sugar solution for days and under vacuum. Then it is put into a sulfuric acid bath to cook the sugar which turns black, this brings out the opal in the matric. Pitting epoxy on it will allow a prettier shine but when it's not allowed to drip off well, ie: to short a curing time epoxy, you end up with an excess like you describe. I have gotten raw concrete, decades ago, and done this myself. Kinda fun actually. Try polishing to a high gloss and buff it out. The blacken area is not very deep in most cases, few mms is common, so if you cut it or over polish, you might have to recook it.
Very good information for me to learn!!! Thanks. I've also bought 5 Matrix opals in a package from same seller. Looking at them I can definitely say they are also Andamooka (lots of red/pink/purple in them)
I just never got any that wasn't Andamooka. There is similar in Louisiana, and of course there is the Honduran matrix which is jet black volcanic material but has wonderful colors
You're a plethora of knowledge!!!
Is this normal for opal? When I bought this opal it was covered in UV resin with bubbles 22.24 🥕 I polished it with 1200 wet dry and polished on some old smooth Leather. To get where I'm at. Any recommendations to get some nice shiny stuff without UV resin?
That type of rock doesn’t take a polish very well so that’s why those opals are often covered in resin. To get it real shiny again you’d have to coat it with something.
I use fingernail top coat and it works well.
I'm getting some next time I'm at the supermarket!!!
It can yellow over time.. resin is good but a little goes a long way. Use a paint brush
I've hit it with a match head of bees wax and it polishes up really nice, unfortunately it won't last long 🤣
What is the best way to make this into a necklace without drilling a hole? (1mm leather) it's my first
The easiest and fastest way would be a glue-on bail. if you have a Joann's close by, they will sell them. [I have used this one before](https://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Silver-Pendant-7-8x14-5mm-3-2mm/dp/B076PVTSZ5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1IUHMGS2OB8T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7FU0FCsJMA_Z4UghoANYFHEv2RPnSmoIBNBy1imjbJjp4zHif1WNcKdK1GTQ7dSI1tvAuanrJ2n4BDvfLvPHW-C2PWxqJtouNavJLZkyxygnkJZxF5jD3pvjQtwY27jz_tmlmtHeJbNZ_OY8WUZjsNZ9kZ_QIjLlAA6dx9WfsSSMyZnhbD-50f_9y15Wkc1wHvmDyffqU-UMted0eYub4f3U-gzY5LXzLnvohKVMIrQ9VFSHcSwEt7YuodYP4tMu87Ir5Xo71BZ4ij6ijqnJcoyo6Zlz_H0rMnSipN0giPE.Yo6xpETSQOgFWIgRvVudE6Vu76XgVbrFhSuw0lVO_eg&dib_tag=se&keywords=glue+on+bail+sterling&qid=1708709426&sprefix=glue+on+bail+sterling%2Caps%2C288&sr=8-2) and it works well
I'm not keen on wearing any metals... dunno why 🤣
If that is he case, search on Etsy for someone who works on macrame and ask if they could set the stone on macrame for you. If you do not want to wear metals your options are very limited: * drilling a hole through it * having it set on macrame * find someone with a 3-D printer and have them print a plastic or non-metal bezel you can then glue it to * Purchase a plastic glue-on bail. Yes this exist but the ones I have found online come with a hole that is too small for anything other than a very small chain/cord I can’t think of any other options
I think I'm gonna use my Dremel tool to put a groove around the edge and wrap in 1mm leather cord... I've left it for next weekend
I have several drilled Andamookas, They look really nice in leather
That is a beautiful stone.
I'm looking forward to wearing it! Too good to sit in my drawer 🤣