Channel: Nick Uhas

Category: Education

Description: Share This Video: youtu.be/vGYeZlGWhW0 Sibelle’s Site (Opals): sibelley.com/opals About two years ago I went up to Nevada to go opal mining at the Royal Peacock Opal mine. And I just LOVED IT!!! There’s something just so awesome and fun about mining specifically for opals. I think unlike mining for gold, diamonds, or any other precious stone or metal each opal is truly unique. And I think it’s that unknown that adds to the excitement every time you come upon something that shines in a bunch of different colors. I loved my experience so much I went back to the same area the following year, but this time I went to the BONANZA mine which is just a few miles from the first mine. And while I was there they told me that it was possible to actually buy into the mine and own a piece of the mine as a shareholder. This immediately went on my goal board. One year later I saved up my cash and bought one share to the Bonanza Opal mine. I think I’m both stoked that I set a goal and nailed it, but also because I have access to opal mining on a whole new level now. So over the 4th of July weekend, I went up to the Opal Mine. Now, one of the biggest problems with this type of opal is that it cracks and crazes so easily because it has such a high water content. For this reason, most of the opal is not considered gem quality, but rather specimen quality, meaning it looks awesome, but it’s hard to make into jewelry Last year we used an epoxy resin to seal up the outside of the Opal so that it wouldn’t craze and crack in an attempt to make it more usable for jewelry, but this year I want to try something else. There is a type of glass called borosilicate glass that is used in labware and other items where the glass meets an open flame ; ) This type of glass has very similar thermal expansion coefficients as opal, so we’re going to see if we can successfully put some of the opal I found at the mine into this materials to create a protective outer layer made of borosilicate glass. Follow Nick Uhas TikTok: tiktok.com/@nickuhas Instagram: instagram.com/nickuhas Twitter: twitter.com/nickuhas Facebook: facebook.com/heynickuhas #opal #opalmining #opals Production Team: Writer/Producer: Nick Uhas DP: Kaleb Seaton Editor: Jared Sarreal Best Girl: Opal Roo (the dog)