This auction has ended. View lot details
You may also be interested in
Lot 8009
Opalized Branch Section
4 December 2005, 11:00 PST
Los AngelesSold for US$3,525 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Natural History specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistOpalized Branch Section
Virgin Valley, Nevada
In a remote high desert region, at an elevation of 6,000 feet, lies Virgin Valley, an area which since 1900, has become as famous a locality for opal as Lightning Ridge, N.S.W., Australia. For collectors, the region is renowned for its clear jelly or crystal opal. The location was once a large lake surrounded by forests of sequoia, spruce, hemlock and chestnut. A series of volcanic eruptions buried the region in layers of ash. Over the millennia, silica-rich water from the area’s hot springs infiltrated the ash and hydrated silica molecules replaced the buried wood. Under certain conditions, precious opal formed, and if one is particularly lucky on occasion the specimen may retain the characteristics of the ancient wood in precise detail.
Such is the case with the present branch section which has excellent bark texturing. It is notable for its deep black body color, very rare for Virgin Valley material, and a rich array of iridescent colors including blue, green and flashes of orange. A small corner piece was removed to reveal the interior in cross section—it exhibits a layer of black opal over a white opal core. Measuring 4 ½ x 3 x 2in.
In a remote high desert region, at an elevation of 6,000 feet, lies Virgin Valley, an area which since 1900, has become as famous a locality for opal as Lightning Ridge, N.S.W., Australia. For collectors, the region is renowned for its clear jelly or crystal opal. The location was once a large lake surrounded by forests of sequoia, spruce, hemlock and chestnut. A series of volcanic eruptions buried the region in layers of ash. Over the millennia, silica-rich water from the area’s hot springs infiltrated the ash and hydrated silica molecules replaced the buried wood. Under certain conditions, precious opal formed, and if one is particularly lucky on occasion the specimen may retain the characteristics of the ancient wood in precise detail.
Such is the case with the present branch section which has excellent bark texturing. It is notable for its deep black body color, very rare for Virgin Valley material, and a rich array of iridescent colors including blue, green and flashes of orange. A small corner piece was removed to reveal the interior in cross section—it exhibits a layer of black opal over a white opal core. Measuring 4 ½ x 3 x 2in.