Australian Boulder Opal Specimen

This boulder opal specimen is cut and polished, showing that boulder opal forms as a vein within the host rock rather than as a standalone crystal. A fine red iron-oxide line traces the edge of the colour bar with the natural grey-brown ironstone matrix framing the fire on each piece.

About Boulder Opal

Boulder opal forms as veins of precious opal within ironstone matrix in the opal fields of Queensland — primarily Quilpie, Yowah and Winton. Unlike black opal from Lightning Ridge, the opal cannot be separated from its host rock; it's cut as a single solid piece, with the natural brown ironstone remaining as the stone's backing. This gives boulder opal its distinctive look — vivid colour against rich earth tones — and also makes it physically more durable than other opals, since the ironstone host is harder than the opal layer it carries.

Specifications

• Stone: Boulder Opal
• Form: Polished specimen 
• Matrix: Ironstone
• Colour Play: vain of opal and ironstone mixed
• Origin: Queensland, Australia
• Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 set available

Caring for Your Opal Specimen

Boulder opal's ironstone backing makes it more knock-resistant than other opal types, but it's still a natural stone and deserves care. Handle it gently, keep it somewhere stable where it won't be bumped or dropped, and avoid sudden changes in temperature — like moving it straight from a cold car into a warm room. A soft, dry cloth is all that's needed 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