{"product_id":"australian-black-opal-speciman-838","title":"Australian Black Opal Specimen – Lightning Ridge, Green Flash, 75x70x40mm","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e.rotr-faq { border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; padding: 14px 4px; margin: 0; } .rotr-faq:first-of-type { border-top: 1px solid #e5e5e5; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary { cursor: pointer; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding: 4px 0; outline: none; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary::-webkit-details-marker { display: none; } .rotr-faq \u003e summary::after { content: \"+\"; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1; margin-left: 12px; transition: transform 0.2s ease; } .rotr-faq[open] \u003e summary::after { content: \"−\"; } .rotr-faq-answer { margin: 10px 0 0 0; }\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis rough black opal specimen comes straight from the opal fields at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, left largely as it was found. A polished window on one face opens onto blue, green and pink flashes of colour, while the rest of the piece keeps its natural, chalky sandstone-toned matrix intact, tracing the seam the opal formed within. Held in the hand it has real heft and presence — more a piece of geology than a cut gemstone, the kind of specimen collectors keep on a shelf or desk as a genuine sample of where Australian opal comes from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Black Opal\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack opal is the rarest and most sought-after variety of Australian opal, mined almost exclusively from Lightning Ridge in New South Wales. Its dark body tone — from dark grey to jet black — creates a dramatic backdrop that intensifies the stone's natural play-of-colour, producing vivid flashes that appear to glow from within. Black opal with strong fire is particularly prized by collectors and is considered among the most valuable gemstones in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural Australian black opal, rough specimen\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.25kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75 x 70 x 40mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour Play:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue, green and pink flashes of colour visible through a polished window\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMatrix:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural sandy\/claystone host rock left intact around the opal\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCaring for Your Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a natural opal specimen meant for display rather than wear. Handle it by the base rather than the thinnest edges, and keep it somewhere it won't be knocked or dropped — opal is softer than many other minerals and chips easily along an edge. Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as moving it from a cold room straight into direct sun or near a heater. A soft, dry cloth is enough to keep it dust-free.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand-selected by Joseph Bernecki, sourced direct from the Australian opal fields and set in his Sydney workshop. Meet him any weekend at The Rocks Market, stall under the bridge, Sydney. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/about-rocks-on-the-rocks\"\u003eRead Joseph's story →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs this a natural Australian opal?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eYes — this is a natural, untreated opal specimen straight from Lightning Ridge. It has not been dyed, treated or assembled as a doublet or triplet; the colour play you see is the opal's own.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhat is the pale material around the opal?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eThat's the specimen's natural host rock — the sandy claystone matrix the opal formed within. Leaving it intact is part of what makes a specimen interesting: you can see exactly how the opal sits in the ground it was found in.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs this specimen polished or natural?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eIt appears to have been lightly ground back on one face to reveal the colour play, while the rest of the specimen is left in its natural, rough state — a common way of presenting an opal specimen for display.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"rotr-faq\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCertification, shipping, returns?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"rotr-faq-answer\"\u003eEvery piece is backed by Joseph's personal guarantee, ships fully insured within Australia, and can be returned within 14 days. See \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/buying-an-opal\"\u003eBuying an Opal\u003c\/a\u003e for the full breakdown.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","brand":"Rocks On The Rocks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42942896046263,"sku":"838","price":550.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/9176\/1987\/files\/IMG_0003.jpg?v=1717492977","url":"https:\/\/www.rocksontherocks.com\/products\/australian-black-opal-speciman-838","provider":"Rocks On The Rocks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}