{"product_id":"natural-mintabie-opal-on-sandstone-115tf2031","title":"Natural Mintabie Opal on Sandstone TF2031","description":"\u003cp\u003eNatural Mintabie Opal on Sandstone\u003cbr\u003e\nApprox. Dimensions: 2x2x0.5 inches\u003cbr\u003e\nApprox. Weight: 36.8 grams\u003cbr\u003e\nLocality: Mintabie, South Australia\u003cbr\u003e\nMintabie opal comes from the Mintabie opal fields in South Australia, known for producing vibrant, high-quality opals ranging from milky white to black, often with striking color flashes and unique patterns like color bars. Mined from silicified sandstone, these opals are prized for their clarity, hardness, and diverse colors, making them popular for jewelry, though mining operations faced closure in 2018.\u003c\/p\u003e \n\n\u003cp\u003eCharacteristics \u0026amp; Types\u003c\/p\u003e \n\n\u003cp\u003e• Color: Exhibits the full spectrum, from milky white to deep black, often with bright rainbow flashes or distinct stripes from color bars. \u003cbr\u003e\n• Base: Can have a light (potch) or dark backing, creating contrast. \u003cbr\u003e\n• Vertical Opal: A unique type found in vertical joins of sandstone, sometimes showing dark\/light bands. \u003cbr\u003e\n• Hardness: Considered one of Australia's hardest opals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLocation \u0026amp; History\u003c\/p\u003e \n\n\u003cp\u003e• Location: Mintabie, South Australia, about 180km south of the NT border. \u003cbr\u003e\n• Discovery: First found in the 1920s but heavily worked from 1978. \u003cbr\u003e\n• Mining: Traditional shaft sinking and modern machinery are used, but the town closed in 2018.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMining \u0026amp; Cutting\u003c\/p\u003e \n\n\u003cp\u003e• Opals are extracted from sandstone, often requiring careful work to reveal patterns. \u003cbr\u003e\n• Miners cut the opal to maximize color, sometimes exposing stripes by cutting across color bars.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Little Lemuria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51304934539480,"sku":"115TF2031","price":144.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/6826\/0669\/files\/TF2031.png?v=1769807041","url":"https:\/\/littlelemuria.com\/products\/natural-mintabie-opal-on-sandstone-115tf2031","provider":"Little Lemuria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}