Boulder Opal Craving from Budgerigar Mine, Blackhall, QLD. Layers of blue and turquoise opal mixed into the ironstone backing. Natural ironstone makes for a strong and durable stone with vivid slices of interesting pattern and colour visible inside.

BOULDER OPAL Called so because of the large iron ore boulders or nodules that water and silica have poured into over thousands of years to produce opal. Found only in Queensland, it is mostly mined using large excavators, and only 1 in 50 boulders normally produce gem opal (opal with nice fire). Most of our opal comes from Budgerigar mine near Blackhall (far western Queensland). It is mined by Adam’s friend Avon and his family, where Adam picked up most of his new stock in 2015. Australian Boulder opals are the second most valuable type of opal (following black opal). Boulder opals, as the name suggests, are mined from large ironstone boulders under the ground. Thin veins of colourful opal forms in cracks and fissures in these boulders. The thin layer of opal in boulder opals can display any colour of the spectrum in a beautiful play of colour, in this case rich blue, turquoise and translucent yellows are visible, all with great fire.

69g/347ct

Our Worldwide Shipping Fees based on packed weight:

0-100g = $6.10

101-250g = $7.32

251-500g = $11.00

501-750g = $14.33

751g-1kg = $17.71

1-1.25kg = $19.93

1.25-1.5kg = $22.26

1.5-1.75kg = $24.60

1.75-2kg = $26.93