Opal-AN (Hyalite Opal) ("Blood Vessel Opal")

Item Description

We obtained this piece literally a week after it was collected in January 2019 from a new mine in San Luis Potosi. A good friend of ours has been mining exclusively for the past few years at this locale specifically for these specimens These are genuinely some of the most attractive, unusual, interesting and impressive specimens of Hyalite Opal we've ever seen from anywhere. This particular specimen is loaded with very gemmy to translucent colorless to soft blue-grey colored spherical groups or "balls" of Hyalite free of matrix. The underside of the specimen has more of a Chalcedony appearance with grey / smoky colored spheres. The specimen has formed in an unique and beautiful almost "egg"-like or "slipper"-like shape with a slightly rounded and raised edges / sides. The attractive shape of the piece certainly draws one's attention, but what really makes this one special is the fact you can see small inclusions of golden to orange colored iron oxide that resemble thin organic "capillaries" or "blood vessels". This inclusions have created the nickname "Blood Vessel Opal" for this material. These inclusions are unique for this kind of Opal and really gives the piece character. Like a lot Hyalite specimens, this piece shows a brilliant green fluorescence under SW UV light. These specimens are incredibly limited, and you honestly can't find anything like on the market. A great piece for anybody who collects Mexican minerals, worldwide Opals or fluorescent minerals. A wonderful specimen of this beautiful Opal variety. Weight on the specimen is 295.79 grams. Lastly, it should be noted that the term "Hyalite" Opal is no longer valid, and the material is now called Opal-AN. Priced at $1,000 in the inventory.