The Flame Queen Opal is perhaps the most famous of all
opals. It is the best-known example of “eye-of-opal”, an eye-like effect created when opal in-fills a cavity.
The Flame Queen's flat central raised dome flashes red or gold depending on the angle of view, and is surrounded by a band of deep blue-green, giving the stone an appearance somewhat like that of a fried egg. The Flame Queen weighs and is somewhat triangular in shape, measuring 7.0 x 6.3 x 1.2 centimeters (2.75 x 2.50 x .50 inches).
The Flame Queen was discovered in 1914 by three partners: Jack Philips, Walter Bradley and “Irish” Joe Hegarty, at the Bald Hill Workings,
Lightning Ridge, New South Wales,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
Tunneling down at around revealed no trace of the tell-tale coloring in the clay that indicates the likely presence of opal. However, despite the poor ventilation and the constant danger of tunnel collapse, Bradley and Philips wanted to continue digging. At , Bradley's pick found a large, black opal nodule. It was not until they reached the surface that the true nature of their find was revealed.
Bradley was the most skilled
lapidary, and he was entrusted to cut and polish the great stone. By this time the partners were tired and broke; they sold the Flame Queen for just £93.
[Leechman, F: “The Opal Book”, page 200. Ure Smith, 1961]
The Flame Queen was exhibited at the Geological museum, London, in 1937 on the occasion of the Coronation of King
George VI and again at the
Gemological Institute, London
Gemology or gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials. It is a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy. Some jewelers (and many non-jewelers) are academically trained gemologists and are qualified to identify a ...
, in 1980–81. At one time it was a part of the renowned Kelsey I. Newman Collection, and more recently the Jack Plane Collection.
See also
*
List of individual gemstones
Other notable individual opals:
*
Andamooka Opal The Andamooka Opal is a famous opal which was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 on the occasion of her first visit to South Australia. The opal was mined in Andamooka in 1949. The opal was cut and polished by John Altmann to a weight of . I ...
*
Galaxy Opal The Galaxy Opal is the world's largest polished opal, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1992."The Guinness book of records, 1993" October 1992, p.22/ref> It was found at the Boi Morto Mine in Brazil in 1976. The finished opal weig ...
* Glorious Jubilee
*
Halley's Comet Opal
The Halley's Comet Opal is the largest uncut black opal in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is so named because it was unearthed in 1986, a year when Halley's Comet could be seen from Earth. It is the third largest ge ...
*
Olympic Australis Opal The Olympic Australis opal is the largest and most valuable opal yet found () and was valued at in 1997. It was found in 1956 at the 'Eight Mile' opal field near the town of Coober Pedy in South Australia.
The opal was found at a depth of . The ...
References
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Individual opals