Opal-AN (formerly Hyalite Opal) (4 pieces) (RARE LOCALITY)

Item Description

Opal of any variety is rare from Minas Gerais. MINDAT does not list Governador Valadares as one of the localities. What we used to call Hyalite Opal is now defined as Opal-AN, an amorphous Opal with a glass-like structure, The "A" in the name stands for amorphous; the subscript "N" is to imply its structure is network-like similar to silica glass. Here we have four striking thumbnail nodules which resemble intergrown glass beads with excellent transparency and soft greenish to yellowish coloring. The pieces measure from 2.4 x 2.1 x 1.1 cm to 1.2 x 1.0 x 0.7 cm. No fluorescence on these. This rare, and old quartet comes from the collection of Ron Romanella. Ron was a prominent New York mineral and gem dealer from the 1950s into the late 1960s. He was the mentor and employer of both Larry Conklin and Herb Obodda, who became prominent dealers in their own right. This is from an old stash of his lapidary and reference material we picked up. Priced at $950 for the set.