The finest opal ever unearthed will be publicly displayed for the first time in Australia

[G_j]

http://artdaily.com/news/80497/The-finest-opal-ever-unearthed-will-be-publicly-displayed-for-the-first-time-in-Australia#.VcMFJHFVhHx



Opals were first discovered at Coober Pedy -- widely-known as the opal capital of the world -- in 1914 by a boy named Willie Hutchison. Photo by Richard Lyons, courtesy South Australian Museum.


Thursday, August 6, 2015

The finest opal ever unearthed will be publicly displayed for the first time in Australia

SYDNEY.- An Australian museum said Monday it would exhibit what it believes is the best opal stone ever found -- a 6.0-centimetre (2.4 inch) multi-coloured gem unearthed in the Outback named the Virgin Rainbow.

The South Australian Museum said the stone, valued at more than Aus$1.0 million (US$730,000), would go on public display for the first time in September to mark the centenary of opal mining in the country.

"It's of unequalled quality, it's a fully crystal opal," museum director Brian Oldman told AFP.

"It's almost as if there's a fire in there; you see all different colours. As the light changes, the opal itself changes. It's quite an amazing trick of nature."

Dug up in the South Australia desert town of Coober Pedy in 2003 by local miners, the Virgin Rainbow came into the museum's possession about 18 months ago and will be part of an exhibition opening in Adelaide next month.

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[G_j]

1. --

[msanthrope]

2. Just beautiful....nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. Though I've never been there, Coober Pedy is a fascinating place.

Lots of normal living is underground;

Homes;


Churches;


Restaurants;


Stores;

Shops;


Hotels;


And Pubs!


Of course, lots of stuff on the surface as well;

but it is famous for its underground facilities.

And no doubt, the Opals. Gorgeous stones.
On the Bucket List, for sure!

[MineralMan]

4. Awfully pretty, that is.

Awfully pricey, too, I'd think. Nature does some spectacular things.

[snooper2]

5. that is stunning, but one of my first thoughts was bad...

Looking at it, I was thinking that would make the most beautiful dildo in the World! Like fit for royalty LOL