Opal News from Brazil and China

Frank Farnsworth, President Parle Jewelry Designs/ Idaho Opal & Gem Corp.
April, 28, 2009

In February 2009 a large parcel of Brazilian rough opal was purchased by a top Chinese cutting factory. This parcel was mined near Pedro Segundo in Northeastern Brazil. The Brazilian opal is hand mined in open pit quarries. This marks the first time in many years that a substainal amount of Brazilian rough material has entered the market. This parcel will cut several thousand carats of natural and doublet opals.

The timing of this new supply is critical as the supply of opal rough from Australia has dropped to very low levels in recent years. The reason for this drop in supply has been the increased mining cost and the higher gold prices. With higher gold prices miners are attacted to metals mining as it is now more lucrative and supports stable income.

The Brazilian opal has great stability and is found in a variety of base color from clear (jelly) to brownish white. The material has full play of spectral colors. Color patterns when combined with base color sometimes make the material identifiable as Brazilian origin to the trained eye. Often, however, the material is so similar to Australian material that origin cannot be determined. There is a high level of concern that this material will enter the market as Australian material. Opal dealers familar with the Brazilian material have experienced much less crazing with the material and it is know to be very stable and pehaps tougher than Australian material.

Pricing of the finished Brazilain opal is at this time very similar to the comparable Australian material with prices ranging from under $10 per carat for commercial material to over $300 per carat for top gem material. Look forward to seeing many of these beautiful gems entering the market soon!