THE PREMIER MARKETPLACE FOR REAL OPALS
Wayne Sedawie
Wayne Sedawie

Published at 8th May 2018

Modified at 14th Nov 2023

How To Split Boulder Opal

how to split boulder opalBoulder Opal is found in the state of Queensland, Australia and is the second most precious type of opal after black opal. The process of mining the rock and then turning it into a polished stone is explained here, how to Split Boulder Opal.

Boulder Opal is formed in Ironstone and in veins of colour bars. This Ironstone can be sandy in composition to deep consolidated dark brown ironstone. Boulder Opal can be found around Yowah, Australia and is more deep brown in colour compared to the sandy ironstone around Winton to Quilpie in Queensland.

splitting boulder opals

 

This rough boulder opal is also formed in rocks and pancake shaped rocks that need to be split open so that they can be cut and polished into stones. Most opal miners crack open a rock to expose any colour so that they can ask a greater price for the rock. It’s worth noting that not all rocks have colour. It takes a lot of work to mine the rock in the first place and then sometimes miners can crack open a rock with a hammer and find no colour. It can sometimes be a game of luck for the miners. Once colour is found the miner will ‘slab’ the opal bearing rock.

 

 

 

How to Split Boulder Opal

  1. Make sure you wear safety glasses while chipping and sawing Rough Opal at all times.
  2. After slabbing the rock the best method when you get to a color bar is to take to thin saw blade and place small cut along the colour bar.
  3. Most times this will crack open and the next morning it will show a clean split.
  4. If the rock does not split take a hammer and a screw drive or a blunt edge and hit along the saw cut and the rock will split open exposing the colour bar.

   

how to split boulder opal

   

SHOP FOR BOULDER OPAL


12 people found this article helpful

Was this article helpful?

Share this article:

Search the Opal Encyclopedia

Related Articles

Australian Black Opal Information

Australian Black Opal is one of the rarest gemstones on earth. It has every color of the rainbow on a black ground which makes the colors dance.

8th May 2018

Boulder Opal Information

Boulder Opal is one of the most undervalue opals valuable on the market. Learn more about this unique opal and browse the beautifully stones we have for sale.

29th May 2019

Opals Make for colourful Business

With a passion for opals, Wayne and Estella Sedawie established Opal Plus more that 14 years ago and have found the internet to be a valuable tool. It’s where most of the company’s international transactions take place.

17th Oct 2018

Latest Articles

Opal Value: How Opals are Graded & Prices of Each Type

An opal’s price comes down to a variety of factors, all of which we’ve broken down in this guide to opal grading and prices. Learn all about opal grading and the prices of each type of opal!

19th Jul 2023

The Healing Power of Opal

Come on a journey and learn about the healing power of opals from our guest writer Vivien Schapera from Crystal Healing Techniques!

20th May 2023

The Flame Queen Opal: World's Most Expensive Opal

The Flame (or Fire) Queen opal is the world’s most expensive opal, sold for the modern equivalent of $3 million dollars. Learn all about its history and qualities!

18th Feb 2023

Article Categories

Opal Information

Information about Opal and its colorful history

103 Articles

Testimonials

Feedback from our VIP customers

5 Articles

News

What's trending in the Opal Industry

41 Articles

Technical Opal Information

All there is to know about Opals including Black Opals, Ethiopian Opals & Boulder Opal

15 Articles

Did you know?

Check out our fascinating information and articles on all things amazing in the Opal world

43 Articles

Opal Stories

Feel like reading a yarn or two?

6 Articles

How To's

All of your favourite Opal How To's

20 Articles

A-Z Of Opals

A complete list of your favourite Opal from all over the world

31 Articles

Opal Auctions Verified Sellers

Opal Auctions sellers who are approved as opal Verified Sellers

4 Articles