The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-15
FACTS ABOUT oPALs.
Who're the Finest Specimens Of tn
Gem Are Obtained.

The records regarding old opal
mines are lost, but it is supposed that
the ancicnts derived their supply from
Arabia and Syria, says II writer ir
the San Francisco Chronicle. The
famous Hungarian mines were not dis.
covered until late in the fifteenth cen,
tury, and were, of course, unknown te
the Romans. The principal mines
from whence opals are obtained TO-
day are situated in Hungary and Hon
''urls. The American opal lacks the
hardness Of the Hungarian gem, but
it is fully as brilliant and withstands
atmospheric inroads upon the colors
quite us we'll. The magnificent charac-
tcristic of the gem, which gives it value
and ~nown, is the brilliant combi.
nation Of cololed reflections which il
displays, and when the stone is held in
the sunlight, the Latin philosopher
was correct in stating that it was made
up of the glories OF the most precious
stones.
The gem is found not only in porce.
lain earth but also in assures and seams
OF old igncous rocks. Quartz, When
ilawcd in the interior, sometimes ex.
hibits II remarkable iridcsccncc, and re.
scmbles the opal especially when view.
cd ut IL distance. Such specimens arc
called iris. The elegant iris ornaments
worn by the Empress Josephine were
OF remarkable brilliancy and the won.
der and envy of the Imperial court
She also possessed the finest opul o
modern times, which was only displayed
when arrayed in all tho ;ndcur o
Imperial splcndor. 1t was indeed /;
fitting ornament for so beautiful wo
man. Its flashing rays OF light were SC
powerful and vivid as to give the ap
pcarancc of living flames of fire, and
from that it received its title "Lincen
dir dc Troic"-thc burning of Troy
The fate OF the gem is unknown, bu,
with the history of the fair owner tn,
most casual reader is familiar.
Empress Eugcnic had Il supcrstitious
dread. amounting to positive aversion,
!or the beautiful opal, and the stone
was u stranger at the brilliant court.
1t is possible that Eugcnic may have
been influenced in her hatred of the
gem from Joscphinc's fontlncss for the
same, and attributed to the mysterious
workings of the fiery mineral some sub.
tic, malign influence that conspircd to
bring about her downfall. But the
fact remains inscribed upon the pages
of history that, although the opal was
vigorously banished from Versailles
and tho Tuillcrics, Eugcnic fled from
Paris under cover Of darkness, cover.
ing with terror in the dusty dcpllts of {;
shabby vehicle, as the roar OF IL l.,gin.
populacc reached hcrcars.
The famous opal of history was that
which was worn ina ring by the Roman
Senator Nonius in the days of the
Triumvirate. Its size scarcely exceed.
ed that OF IL hazel nut, yet its beauty
and brilliancy rendered it IL marvel
among the dilettanti OF Rome, and il
Xhioay, Xf SSl"GGs Scaling 1T Hser mind tie sacrifice
of Clcopat'a's incompatible pearl, and
still enslavcd by tho Egyptian Queens
Irresistible charms, made overtuns
for the opal, intending to present ii to
the dusky beauty; but NoniHs refused
to part with his cherished gem. and
sought safety in flight. The extreme
beauty and charm may be estimated
whcn it is known that to IL Roman
punishment was worse than death.
History makes no further mention OF
this wonderful opal. 1t has disappear
cd from the worlds collection of gems,
and its glorics have probably yielded
TO the destructive effects of time.
The fire opal is found in its greatest
perfection in the porphyritic rocks al
Zimapan, Mexico. 1t is generally Of {:
hyacinth red color, and CLEANS forth
with flashes of brilliant curminc, with
StliO" SGli iI
Mexican production surpasscs all other
varieties in the intensity and gorgeous
ness of its hucs, but il will not bcal
exposure, and the sensitive surface
soon loses its flashing beauties. They
bring cxorbitant prices III Mexico
when sold to the unwary. who learn all
too soon, upon returning to tho haunts
OF civilization, that they had paid
nearly fifty per cent. too much for the
gems. The Spanish historians. in thcil
marvellous stories of the wonders seen
in Mexico at the time of the conquest,
describe the image OF the mystic idol
Quctzalcoatl (god of the ai), on the
great pyramid Of Choula, as wearing
Il inter waving with plumcs OF fire,
and which was supposed to have been
produced by masses of fire opal.
The co!ors displayed by the opal en-
brace all the tints in the solar spec
trim. The shades OF green, blue, ycl-
low and red arc vivid and clear The
purchase af opals in the rough, natural
state is hazardous ls Il speculation, for
frequently after having left the hand
of the lapidary the stone has become a
transparent, huclcss stone. The Cen.
trail American opal in numerous in.
stances has been known to fade and
gradually lose all briliancy.
The gmndcst specimen of the gem
ever discovered was uncarthcd in the
mines OF Hungary in 1910, and pnr'
chased by the Austrian government
Its weight was seventeen ounces, and
it was three and thrcc-quartcr inchc.
in length. 1t rests in the Imperial
cabinet ut Vienna, and is valued al
s3OO.00o. The opal is not sold b.
weight, but its value depends upon it.
size and the intensity OF its fire and
combination of coors. Anopal half az
inch in diameter may have Il value d
five dollars. and another, no larger,
but possessing brillinncy OF hues, may
sell readily for $50, 600 or more.
One of the prctticst combinations ii
the jewelers. art is the opal surrounded
With diamonds. The foolish prejudice
and dark supcrstitions are rapidly dy
ing out. and the value of the gem
which has reached lo~-watcr mark
during its Punishment, has increased
nearly thirty per cent. During III,
last two years the trade and demand il