Why Australia’s Most Beautiful Opal is its Rarest
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 เม.ย. 2024
- The most important aspect of this video is how Australian opal REALLY forms. The old theories are incorrect!
The digit pattern in precious opal, particularly notable in Australian opal, is a rare and striking phenomenon characterized by finger-like structures within the gemstone. These structures, resembling fingers or digits, were first documented in a 2013 article in Gems and Gemology by French authors, Rondeau, et al, who termed it the "digit" pattern.
Justin Thomas of Black Opal Direct notably discovered a large example of this pattern, named the "Rainbow Serpent," in 2016. While this digit pattern is more commonly observed in Ethiopian opal, its occurrence in Australian opal is relatively scarce. The formation of these finger-like structures, termed prismatic photonic colloidal crystals by Australian gemologists, is believed to be the fundamental process behind all precious opal formation.
This digit pattern is the natural way that all precious opal forms and this is exemplified the creation of synthetic opal, in which the digit pattern forms naturally. The intricate process of opal formation involves the deposition of colloidal silica within sedimentary rock, resulting in the formation of columns of opal that are often disrupted by subsequent silica flows. However, some opal seams, such as those found in Coober Pedy and Andamooka, manage to preserve the delicate columnar structures, contributing to their beautiy, rarity and value.
Link to Black Opal Direct's Video of the Amazing Black Digit opal, the Rainbow Serpent:
• One of the rarest opal...
Links to Videos on How to make Opal:
• Making Opals for Free ...
• Can you GROW an Opal?
That is the best explanation of opal formation I have ever heard. It also makes sense that geologic pressure rather than seepage formed the opal. Thanks Colonel!
Opals, kitties & Mr P, what a great start to a Wednesday morning!
Love the education given through these videos. Our knowledge becomes greater, thanks to you.
I can’t believe that nobody put this together before, Trish. The geoscientific data jives with recent experimental information about how synthetic opal forms and I believe that mostly explains everything. I am going to look into it more, though. Thanks for the nice comment.
Heterogeneous nucleation is a hell of a drug. Opal has it figured out...
As a geologist who believed in the traditional explanation for opal formation, this is now my favorite video of yours. Thank you for distilling the info in such a digestible way. It sounds a lot like the formation of joints, hydrostatic pressure reduces the stress necessary to fracture rock and so there is a natural fracking process. This can also help explain what looks like flame structures in some opal, where tectonics might force/press less competent colloidal opal into surrounding rock...
Scrrrrrrrr!
I need to read more about it. I spent a very long time putting this all together because an explanation as to how Australian opal forms, where color bars come from, and that the digital pattern is THE primordial pattern for opal formation all over the world .. I had to do it
Scrrrrrr! 🏴☠️
Let me know what you find. I also am checking mine and in opals from elsewhere in the world. Info@pulitzeropal.com
wow, That digit pattern opal is amazing. thanks for the visual treat.
I love how you blend science, cats, pretty rocks, cute edits, and humor in your videos :) Boy that is extremely generous to raffle off such beautiful pieces of opal. You are such a wonderful addition to the lapidary community :)
Thank you for the kind words. I try to put a little of all of that in my videos.
0:54 I love how not serious you are on your channel. Everyone else seems to be so serious, but I can always count on you to be silly and I love it!
You CAN DEFINITELY count on that. Without it, I might not be doing videos, a! Fun is #1 (opal is #2)
It's amazing watching you cut and polish these opals and the changes that happen.
And this is the reason why I love this channel. Opal facts, kitties, and beautiful gems
Hey Colonel, it’s good to see you back with more videos that was very knowledgeable. I had no idea about any of that but I’m gonna have to watch this video a couple times to get all the information properly but thank you for another great video and I look forward to many more take care and God bless.
Thank you Charles. When I discovered the information in scientific literature, I was fascinated. It explained how Australian opal actually forms and provides an explanation for important things, like color bars. But that literature also talked about the digit pattern, which is very rare in Australia. Then I did some reading about digit patterns elsewhere in the world and based on that and specimens that I actually had, it became pretty obvious that this digit pattern is how all opal starts. I was about to post the video of me cutting the Coober Pedy digit opal when I discovered this information, but I felt compelled to tell the whole story at once. I'm glad that I did.
You my good sir have still got it! the learning and the humour and the ability to mix them together. I've got some catching up to do with watching your videos! Because i hadn't been posting any for such a long time, i couldn't watch any cause i'd just be making myself feel bad for not taking a break from my break sorta thing. But i got so excited when i saw this pop up and it felt so much like the first time I saw a Pulitzer video. You're a legend mate! Its so good to be back on board!
Thanks for the nice comment, Rook. If there is anything that I can do to help you and your channel, please let me know. I have a lot of interesting rocks. TH-cam can be very hard for creators. I can only do what I am able to do with the time that I have available. Getting discouraged is very easy, and nearly everybody gets discouraged at least occasionally. Take care. If you need anything, email me (it is the contact or info link on my website.. which I have not touched in years!) dp
Thank you for explaining all that. I find it fascinating learning about how stones and gems are formed. Awsome video😊❤.
Glad you enjoyed it, karla
Great seeing a new vid from you today. Always learning in a fun way, that's the best!
Thanks for that! This may be my best video ..... change that ...... it may be my most IMPORTANT video. I IS my most important. The TRUE origin of Australian Opal??? (I never expected to ever have a video with that in it!)
I stumbled across your videos by accident. However, I started watching them (this is the third one). I am absolutely astonished and completely sold on "digit patterns." Never seen anything like it. 😮🧐 And, I want to thank you for your full descriptions, research and explanations between how it was formed onward. I learned so much!
Briefly, I had a chance to buy a pinfire red necklace and earrings set many years ago. I kick myself every time I watch one of these videos. It was only $180 dollars for 4 carat total. After watching this video, this is exactly how the pattern looked like!! That would have been worth a whole lot more money! Only to find out right now how rare it is! 😭 I walked by the lady's booth for 3 years and looked at them- even held them in my hands! Now, I think the lady passed away as she no longer has a booth. My loss. I just pray that whomever has them, they do some research to learn about valuable that set is. I'll just keep crying now....... 😔😱
Thank you for this. Very educational as always! I have a much greater appreciation now for the digit pattern. It wasn't my favorite initially but having the additional context on how it's formed does it make it more interesting.
People who cut Ethiopian opal like the honeycomb pattern. It is interesting, but once you have seen a few, it's not that great. But the "fingers" make great patterns, and I believe that all Ethiopian opal, for example -- although it does not appear to be related to digit patterns, I think that it all is. I am doing research on it.
Thanks for another great video. Always learn a few things and always have a few laughs. Thanks for both! Looking forward to your next video.
Great show Col., and the scientific data on the newly stated information about how opal is formed every where is very interesting! Thank you!
I learned more about my birthstone gem from this video than I ever knew. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in an interesting way that kept me engrossed.
That is by far the most in depth scientific description on the formation that might ever grace the platform of youtube! Amazing video and incredibly educational. Thank you! Not sure...but something is telling me to ask Justin at BOD if the digit pattern is rare? but could be a figment of my imagination...
You're great! Thank you! :D
I assume that Justin's amazement with that stone is an indication of its rarity. By black opal standards, it's got great color, but it isn't as black as it could be. I therefore think that the source of his amazement was the pattern, which, as I suggested, MUST be because he had either not seen it before or had only seen it once or twice. But ... maybe he had never seen one that large? I would be interested in what he would say about it. He did a video after the original in which he went to the mine where it was discovered and looked for more ... and he found a small piece of it.
The revised explanation of australian opal makes so much more sense. Great video as always, and great kitties too.
love the digit pattern on those coober pedy opals! Another great video as always
Scrr Colonel , you've just changed my knowledge of opal for ever , and for the better. Thank you for another great video , love the science section.
It change my knowledge, too. When I cam across the information (10 years old) it was in "technobabble." I can't believe that none of those geologists thought to get the information out in understandable language.
Appreciate all the knowledge. I've always loved Opals but didn't realize so many new discoveries have been made about their formation.
The discoveries happened more than 10 years ago, but nobody ever sorted through the scientific "technobabble" and explained it in normal human terms, woody!
@@PulitzerOpal Well thank you for explaining it in an easy to understand way.
Thank you for yet another vi visually beautiful and intellectually informative video
I can't get enough of you and your opals.
That made me go wow... Now I have to look up all the latest research on the formations ..
Wow, shaking the whole world's understanding of opal formation! Love the vids!
As always a fun and informative video from you, nice digit patterns.
My whole world of opal formation has been changed forever. Ive always really enjoyed the column pattern, but i would often chase the honeycomb pattern because i thought it was the "better one". maybe ill go for the columns in the future. Another ridiculously fantastic video, thanks pulizer!
You just have to cut at least ONE honeycomb, C, but after that ... I like the digit pattern. Thanks for the nice comment!
I still really love the honeycomb pattern, but there's a strong possibility that I'm biased. I tend to lean heavily in favor of anything that has to do with honey. 🍯 🐻
The side opposite the honeycomb pattern is most colorful overall, but the digit patten has color and organization. (I do love the honeycomb, though)
OMG Carlyn! I just watched a live show by Don and subbed to watch your live lattice sunstone vid after his! These stones are absolutely gorgeous and I learned a ton. Read my post and you will know. Blessings from Alabama ❤️
@@susanturcotte3176 glad you enjoyed the lattice live susan, thanks for stopping by my channel and watching!
I've been a rock hound most of my life and That opal always catches my eyes every time. I love them. It was a great video. Thank you. I can't wait for the next time.
It's a fascinating insight into how opal was actually formed. It makes sense if you look at numerous examples. It's just amazing how many different, beautiful patterns the shifting earth has created. Great information sir.
I was very lucky to have stumbled upon something that has been known for over 10 years, Chris. It was not known by opal-lovers because it was in the form of scientific technobabble! All I did was translate it!
Thanks for all the great opal information you provide.
You bet! I actually shocked myself. I stumbled upon information that had never been explained in non-scientific terms.
Was proud of myself that I’d been paying attention. I knew you’d say digit pattern at the end. What gorgeous opals! And Sheila has come alive. The one positive thing I’ve seen from all the AI hullabaloo. Saw you on IG and came over. ❤
I was looking at some Ethiopian opals on Instagram and tried to find a way to link my TH-cam video, but was not able to. So I decided to upload a video from my computer ... any random video, just to try it (upload to Instagram), but it was unsatisfactory, so I had to dictate an explanation. Maybe I will make a YT short out of it, too. As far as AI, I think that people will get VERY tired of Sheila speaking, so I am going to use it sparingly. (The good part of AI is the opal mountain, that I made out of Ayer's Rock. The AI would not make the whole mountain opal, so I helped with some photoshop. The story in this video is very important .. at least to opal people. (How Australian opal forms, how opal starts out everywhere, where color bars come from, and the digit pattern is how precious opal forms without help --- you just let it sit and it forms digits all by itself!
Hi again my friend. this has to be up there with the best of offerings from Pulitzer Opal. I found the Opal formation update to be thought changing indeed. The stones, as par usual, were top class. See you again soon.
Thanks, Wayne. Always good to see you here
Thanks for the opal education. Very interesting.
That's fascinating, I've been watching opal videos for years but only just found your channel. I'm addicted already - and your cats are beautiful!
Great group of cats! Opals, too.
@@PulitzerOpal In order of importance, obviously!
I like Blaclfish the most, good lord!
That was a great explanation of how seams get disrupted, thank you! Digit is the name I prefer, so good!
I also like Blackfish, but the "people" seem to like ... the doublet.
That was really good information and a lot of words for pretty dang beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Oh man I missed this! TH-cam’s has been really glitchy this past week. I was getting either no notifications or I’d get o e after a live video was over. I never got yours. If ember Justin cutting that o-Al and you got some too! That’s amazing. It’s a really beautiful pattern.
the quality of your videos only goes up! wish wed get more of them! opal is such a beautiful stone! I hope someday i can find my own and polish it myself
You can do it with sandpaper (mostly)
Informative and fun as always. Thanks for another great vid!
You have the best videos. The cats, the science, the opals, Sheila…edutainment at its finest!!!
Amazing work as always! And I learned something new about opal even after 5 years of cutting Australian opal!
So did I! I was reading the research and I was shocked, "Finally, somebody is telling me how Australian opal forms, where color bars come from and that the digit pattern is how opal forms in all precious opal (everywhere)! You see, nobody ever bothered to "translate" this important new scientific information from Technobabble into English. But you know, from a scientist's perspective this information is only "vital" for other scientists to stimulate more scientists to research new topics. That's probably why it was not "translated." I"m sure some scientists felt that it was beneath their dignity to put the discoveries into the words of a layman. I understand, but it isn't difficult. I had to do that for years ... and the people that I was explaining things to were mostly other doctors!
SCURRR, you have my digits dancing with joy. Loving it all Colonel. Thank you for updating my opal knowledge 👍😁
Scrrr!
@@PulitzerOpal , I know, I spelt it wrong but I didn't want to leave u out 😁. Loving your work as always. Thanks.
That was an amazing explanation of the difference between how Ethiopian opal and Australian opal are formed! The color bars and patch soup in the Australian opals I have make so much more sense now.
I was shocked when I found out all of this stuff. It was there all along ... in sophisticated scientific publications! I spent a long time figuring it out. (I am best at chemistry and biology; geology ...I"m a rookie, but my science background helped ... and so did Wikipedia and other info sources!) There were so many new things ... how AU opal forms, it forms from digit patterns .. all opal apparently does - the digit pattern is the way that opal comes together naturally, not just in synthetic opal ... the origin of color bars. Exciting stuff. Probably the ONLY "important" video that I have ever done. Thanks for the comment.
Oops, typo. Potch, not patch...😢
Love your videos and the "deep science" explanations were great - I've been looking more at opals recently and this explained so much about the patterns I didn't quite get. Thanks!
Don that was massively educational, thankyou! Really interesting about how we were wrong in our thoughts about opal formation, im kinda feeling the need to do a bit of a deep dive and see what else I can find out! Thanks again
There is more to find, for sure. I am working to try to find out the prevalence of digit patterns (worldwide).
Awesome! I'm looking forward to hearing about your findings, education and continued learning are so important ❤️
I’ll do my best to I’m worried about people not believing what I find.
I'll totally believe you, you are a man of science afterall!!! Seriously though, I know that you don't talk shite, you make fun on occasion but you make that obvious, so if anyone does not believe you, well, jokes on them ❤
You are correct, and I really am NOT worried about being believed. I don’t know why I even said that!
amazing presentation, you set me on the right path to understanding opal. I've been an opal nut for over a decade and seeing your examples makes me buy more and more lottery tickets.
Always great to wake up and see one of your videos! Opal is just so beautiful, no matter what pattern it comes in I love them all!
I agree!
Thanks for the info Colonel. Good to see you and the kitties again, and Sheila too.
My whole life has been centered around Prismatic Photonic Colloidal Crystal or something like that. Nice vid, keep up the good work.
Mine, too! I am all PPCC, 24-7-365 .. 366
Thanks again for another great video Mr. Pulitzer
its interesting how that 'finger opal' look is a lot like the illustrations you showed us on synthetic opals.
Love your videos. Edit: should have watched fhe whole video before commenting, because you show us the pinstripe synths sgain. Thanks for the info yet again. That fish was dying for a drink!
I agree with the use of the name Digit Pattern. It pays respect to the original author. I now have a new appreciation for this pattern and I want to add this type of opal into my collection. Amazing job teaching us about our favourite gem and keeping it interesting. 😻💎😻
I still remember the picture legend of the spirit of animals being stuck in the stone. I've always wanted to own a decent pice of Nevada Opal.
As always kernel, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for this fascinating information. I'm sure that Roy will be glad to get the new pieces. 😊
I hope so!
PPCC just blew my mind 😂
So you're telling me that Outback Opal Hunters are telling me half truths? Reality TV shows would never do such a thing.....
Excellent video as always 👌
What did they tell you? Ohhh ... about silica water collecting in seams? That's b.s. (as we now know)!
I am a nut and I’m here till the end!! Thank you, Colonel. I love watching you cut Opal and I learn something new every time especially this video. It was probably my favorite one yet!
Skrrr! I was all about the science. I’m really shocked at all the awesome opal you inadvertently purchased when just starting out that turns out to be so amazing. I can’t get enough of the information you keep pumping out. Thank you.
You and me both! This "vital" information has been available for at least 10 years and nobody tried to turn the "technobabble" into something a little more understandable! I was doing the video on that parcel of Coober Pedy light opal, and that led me to articles about Australian opal formation. When I discovered why there are few digit pattern AU opals and found out where color bars come from, I felt that I HAD to tell everybody. It took me many hours every day for more than a week, translating (from technobabble), organizing, and recording. It was worth it! Skrrr!
For what it’s worth, on behalf of us technobabically challenged people, thank you. The translations mean that I can actually understand what it is that I am trying to learn without having to google every 3rd word or so. Cheers! @@PulitzerOpal
I'm set up to be notified of all your videos, but I didn't get notified about this one.
Great stuff as always.
You have really level uped with the addition of the deep science department. Thanks for sharing about the digit pattern. So interesting
Thank you for an excellent video as usual. The science is well explained and understandable. I wasn't aware that Brazil had sedimentary opal. I'd like to see more examples in the future.
Have you seen this? th-cam.com/video/6bY54RM48pE/w-d-xo.html
You always seem to find the best stones and make informative content!!
huge fan of the science part of rocks and crystals. the pear shaped opal you cut with the pattern running diagonal in color bars. thas the most beautiful opal Ive ever seen.
Loved learning about the technical aspects of opal formation 👌 always good quality videos
Came for the color, stayed for the science! I'm guessing it's hard to figure out how to cut such beautiful specimens to get the best presentation possible. I would be afraid to cut some of those stones you showed. My hat's off to a true artisan!
You get used to it, I guess. Just like playing the cello, I'd say
In my limited cutting experience, i feel Ethiopian Opal has kind of colourbars, just more spherical in shape. Like a more white "shell" and an orangy core scrrr.
Thanks for the Video 👍
I recently bought some roughs from Ethiopia that got some crazy colour bars.
Well, in the "digit opal" original article, they show an opal with colorbars, but if you look closely, only one of them appears to be precious opal. The orange layer in that photo is precious opal. I'm not sure about the rest of it. Now there IS what appears to be a second layer in many Ethiopian opals. The tips of the fingers are dissolved away a little over time and the resulting silica -- non-precious opal forms a "potch" layer above the digit layer. I suppose that you COULD call that a color bar, but the color is off white ... always. (almost always!)
As an indigenous Australian, it's an honour to have an opal named after a creature from the Dreamtime
I agree
Amazing info. My love of opals just expanded even more. Tanks for the wonderful education about the frozen rainbows 🥰
Oh my, Skipper is stunning! I am always blown away by how amazing opals are!
Amazing video as usual! Those opals are astounding! Thanks for the educational piece, you do wonders for the opal community.
Thanks 👍 for the nice comment, u!
G'day again from Australia.
I always enjoy your video and narration on opals and especially your cats.
A few years ago I bought my wife a small opal pendant for her to wear of Australian opal.
Opal and it's colorful patterns and also watching rough opal being cut interests me a lot as the mystery of whether or not a stone is salvageable from what is inside it.
Thank you.
Andy
I think that is why people like to see opal cutting videos. Sometimes you catch a big fist and sometimes you catch an old shoe! (I HATE old shoes!)
Watching your wonderful episode, I have learned more here than I have in the last year.. awesome content and explanation.. keep up the fantastic work...ps loooove the kitties❤
I learned things in researching the science articles for this video than I never imagined I could ever know. I appreciate the nice comment. Hopper is here and I am rubbing his belly … his favorite! He comes up beside me and manages to wiggle under my arm a get his tummy under my hand. I have no idea how he figured this out. Thank you for the nice comment, lynn
This was super informative. Thank you for taking the time to teach us nuts!
That was a truly interesting video and I loved all the scientific reasons and descriptions. Love all your videos and thank you for another stunning look at the different opals.❤❤❤
Great video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
That digit pattern is incredibly interesting. Now I've gotta check through some of mine :)
I really appreciate the science! It's interesting to learn (or re-learn) how the beautiful things in our world came to be. I always hunt through Ethiopian opal to see if I can find the digit pattern to try to cut a good honeycomb cabochon. No luck yet, but the hunt is fun! Now I have a new reason to hunt out the pattern and try different angles to get the prettiest stone I can. Thank you as always for sharing your adorable kitties with the world! Their adorable antics give me the warm & fuzzies.
Love the effort and humour you put into your videos
The opal you call skipper is truly amazing
I think so too, but it's not black opal ... it's a doublet. I do love doublets!
Thankyou for sharing your vast knowledge of opals ❤
It's not vast. I just started a month ago. (I took over from the REAL Colonel; I'm just a Sergeant!)
Skipper is the perfect name for that piece you do such good work
Great video. I learned a lot. I can always tell you care about opal when you teach about it. You make it fun, but instructive.
Thank you for the lesson. Learning about opal always brightens up my day
Digit pattern it is. It’s settled and final. Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed the Deep Science segment.
Glad you enjoyed it! Digit pattern opal is what most of the world's precious opal looks like all of the time. (I am still trying to confirm this).
That digit pattern is so amazing. Scrrr! 🙀 The kitty play sessions are fun to watch as well. 😸
Wowzers. This changes everything i thought I knew about Opal. Thank you for the Opal education. Stay Blessed
I was shocked, myself when I figured this out (I didn’t figure it out, I just put information from different sources together). The Australian opal flow patterns and how color bars form. Amazing
Your is the first channel I subscribed to deliberately and go back and rewatch episodes both for the opals and for the herd of cats!! All those orange mini tigers! I have been lucky enough to own a few pieces of opal (tiny ones) and cherish them! My most recent acquisition is a piece from a yard sale! It is a nice ring with a center garnet and two small opals on either side. I also picked up a set of pearls which at first look appear to be real cultured pearls. Happy opaling!
Thanks for the nice note, Sheri. I have a lot of kitty videos…. And a lot of opal!
I really enjoy your channel and all the great opal information.
Now that was very interesting and really informative. And of course some absolutely beautiful opal!!
Amazing patterns! Sookie looks so comfy while cleaning her paws! Thank you for the lesson and the entertainement!
Sooky is comfy, except when she is chasing the boys.
As always, love the episodes and what you do.
I know every time I click on one of your videos I'm going to learn something new, Thanks Pulitzer.
Beautiful opals & awesome a new video been waiting for this... Thank you again for your time & effort into making these, again beautiful opals woooohooooooo yusssssssss
7 day old comment. I thought that I had seen most of them ... I guess not! Thanks for the nice comment!
I also watch a channel where the host describes the geology of how precious metals are deposited in cracks and fissures in host rock during epithermal events. Those same geologic processes most likely influence opal formation where the columnar pattern is disrupted by subsequent intrusions of silica-rich colloidal fluids.
Correct! I have seen how a slight disruption during opal synthesis (fake opal) will cause a jagged area -- all fingers grew knuckles, then they continued to grow the same fingers. In Ethiopia, volcanic action is right there, ready to shake things up.
Another excellent information packed video with some utterly exquisite opal, thank you!
Love them all but splash takes my eye! Great work as always...
🤯 You never cease to amaze me Colonel!
I like the digit pattern - easy to remember name as well. I love seeing your cats as well
Absolutely scrrrr vid Don! As usual. It's what we all have gotten used to here at purrrrlitzer opal.love your work
Thanks, Gary!
Awesome video. Enjoyed the explanations of the types of opal.
Glad you liked it, Debbie!