Animal carvings Boulder opal is especially good to hand carve in to animals, especially strong ironstone with veins of opal colour is ideal and craftsman can obtain good polish or even have hand etched finish on animals like elephants or alligators. Black opal is expensive so rare to find animal carvings .Opal collectors enjoy these carvings. Source your opal carvings direct from opal wholesalers and or opal jewellery manufactures and carvers.