A black opal, two inches and a-half long and two inches wide, was recently valued in England at about £IO,OOO. This is an amazing figure, for when the first black opals were discovered the dealers would not pay more than £2 an ounce for them. Australia, the most famous source of opals in the world, is the home of the black variety. The earliest specimens were discovered about 26 years ago, so that it is really the youngest •of the gems. According to some experts, the black is the most beautiful of the four varieties of opal that Australia produces. It has been predicted- that the black opal will ultimately become the costliest gem on earth. It derives its name from the fact that, if held so that the light will pass directly through it, it appears jet black.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 15
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139Untitled Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 15
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