• Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm
  • Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm
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Rocks On The Rocks

Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm

Australian Black Opal Specimen – Blue-Green Opal in Clay Matrix, 80x35x33mm

$280.00 AUD
$280.00 AUD
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Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

This black opal specimen is a striking example of how opal forms in the ground — pale blue and green opal breaks through a warm reddish-brown clay matrix in several places across the piece, rather than in a single pocket. Nothing has been cut away to isolate the colour; the opal sits exactly as it was found, threaded through its host rock. It's a compact, dense piece with real weight in the hand, and the multiple opal pockets mean there's always a new angle to turn it toward the light and catch another flash of blue.

About Black Opal

Black 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.

Specifications

  • Stone: Natural Australian black opal, rough specimen with opal veins in matrix
  • Weight: 0.095kg
  • Dimensions: 80 x 35 x 33mm
  • Colour Play: Pale blue and green flashes across multiple opal pockets
  • Matrix: Natural reddish-brown clay host rock, with opal embedded throughout
  • Origin: Australia
  • Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available

Caring for Your Specimen

This 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.

Provenance

Hand-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. Read Joseph's story →

Common Questions

Is this a natural Australian opal?
Yes — this is a natural, untreated opal specimen. It has not been dyed, treated or assembled as a doublet or triplet; the colour play you see is the opal's own, formed within its clay host rock.
What is the reddish material surrounding the opal?
That's the specimen's natural host rock — a clay matrix the opal formed within and is still embedded in. 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.
Why does the opal appear in several separate pockets?
Opal often forms as veins or pockets following cracks and cavities in the host rock, rather than as one continuous mass. This piece shows several of those pockets breaking the surface, which is why you'll spot colour in more than one spot as you turn it.
Certification, shipping, returns?
Every piece is backed by Joseph's personal guarantee, ships fully insured within Australia, and can be returned within 14 days. See Buying an Opal for the full breakdown.
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