My interpretation of history influences my view of the “Sedimentary vs Volcanic” opal discussion
There are two primary types of opal formation: Sedimentary and Volcanic.
By a vast margin of time, most of what humanity has known throughout history as “precious opal” has been Volcanic Opals.
From times of antiquity up until the finding of mass fields of Sedimentary Australian Opals in the late 1800’s, there were very few locations where ancient opals were mined. Europe’s ancient precious opal source was in Slovakia. The Middle East had precious opal sources in Turkey. The Asia’s are more uncertain but their civilizations are among the oldest and are known to have struck expeditions for precious resources.
In the Virgin Valley, Nevada, where I mine precious opals, ancient artifacts of Chinese mining equipment estimated to be 4,500 years old have been found. Expeditions for resources were dispatched long before Christopher Columbus ever arrived to the shores of North America. There were likely ancient trading partnerships amongst the Native Americans and the Chinese. Stories long lost. The Native American Tribes of the Klamath Basin Region were known to have crafted and possibly traded precious opal arrowheads. There are even accounts of Virgin Valley opals being worn as far away as Africa, in headdresses and ceremonial wear of ancient times.
Volcanic Opals are often derided by modern craftspeople as inferior to Sedimentary opal. This is usually only from two perspectives: modern jewelry wear/craft and protecting one’s own interests. The two opal formation types have their own tendencies, as far as physical traits go on the molecular scale. These differences are what determines how we interact with the material on a macro scale and where I am most excited to continue my research.
For as long as people have been hunting for precious opals there have always been secrets about them. Secrets regarding where they’re sourced, how they’re handled, how they’re processed, etc.
For almost all of history - for a person to harness all aspects of the secretive opal trade and end up with a cut precious opal in a piece of jewelry, it often meant you were royalty, persons of State or rich. This is because it took that type of money, connections and power to assemble all the aspects of knowledge (and secrets) around precious opal. It was also the equally privileged opportunity of craftspeople who had the immense task placed before them.
There are indeed many secrets regarding opals, of all types. Some can only be answered by experiencing the trade yourself via immersion. For this reason I advise caution when considering words of slander from individuals who do not have experience in handling the type of opal that they are aiming their ire towards. ie Volcanic Opals specifically.
For many decades entire swathes of opals have been written off as “uncuttable”, the Virgin Valley opal for example. Yet here I exist to prove this a lie, showing the public my ability to cut Virgin Valley opal. I am not the only one who can cut VV opal either. It’s a rarity to find someone who cuts VV opal. I think this is because it’s more a matter of where the volume of money in the opal industry has been directed - towards already established enterprises. This as well as other aspects of the modern opal industry also actively limit the market capacity of Volcanic Opals and thus the number of craftspeople. Even the opal grading and ID method is tailored to Sedimentary opals and gemologists have long been instructed by the structure of the modern opal industry that wet opals are unworthy of appraisal. I could go on.
This is why I source my opals myself from individuals all around the world. So I may learn the secrets of where they are found.
This is why I process all of my opals myself. So I may learn the secrets of how to handle them.
This is why I smith jewelry with my opals. So I may learn the secrets of how to craft with them.
This is why I call my business Unique World Wide Opals, because I am accumulating the secrets of all of the opals of the world, Sedimentary or Volcanic. Yes there are secrets about Sedimentary opals too, and their craft. I don’t see one type of opal as superior to the other. Just different physical properties to understand. The difference I see is akin to choosing a type of wood to craft a table with. Some wood may require varying skills to utilize, or bring forth its beauty, as opposed to the type of wood one may normally work with. We tolerate these wood differences and merely buy a different lacquer or woodworking tool. This concept in my mind is no different when applied to opals. Except that the Lumber Industry doesn’t seem to invoke the degree of tribalism that a shiny rock does.
(This stream of thought will be added to over time)
- Casey Sessions
