Buying Indonesian Opalized Wood Petrified Rainbow Flash Fire Black Raw Natural Mounted Mineral Specimen Rocks and Minerals Indonesia Spooky

*This is a small to medium sized mounted mineral specimen—please read dimensions and examine scale photos carefully! Different mounting options are available on request.
*Treatments such as stabilization are common in Indonesian opal wood; although they are not seen on every specimen, it's assumed that this piece is treated for durability. Please read the treatments note below!

This specimen is a fabulous and unusual natural Indonesian opalized wood branch! Pictures don't do it justice...the base color of the branch is jet black. This freeform and organically shaped preserved petrified wood branch is partially covered in bright pops of opalescence--bright rainbow flashes of blue, green, orange, and gold shines across its dark surface. It is a unique slim shape with organic appeal, and the natural aspects of it remain unpolished. To me, it looks like a little haunted tree! (*It has been mounted in a removable form on black acrylic with white putty, but contact me if you would like to discuss different colored mounting options.*) This is a small sized display specimen, with major shelf appeal. It would make a wonderful addition to elevate your healing or specimen collection, and rarely will you see similar specimens to these opalized wood branches anywhere.

Locality: Banten, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Dimensions: 2.00” x 0.50” x 0.50” (trunk)-1.00” (at branches)
Weight: contact me

Indonesian opals are new on the market, and have an appeal all their own! Opals were discovered in Banten in 1995, and there have been mostly very small mining operations since. Opalized Wood material from Indonesia falls into two basic categories:
(1) Opalized petrified wood branches. These pieces may have a black (or very dark grey or brown) background, and display a rainbow of flashing patterns across the surface. Though they can look dull in dim light, the opalescence shines in bright sunlight or bright display light.
(2) The rare solid opal freeform specimens with trapped root material. These opals vary greatly in color and levels of opalescence, and may be strongly hydrophane or contra luz. In comparison to other opals, the opals from this area most closely resemble Virgin Valley opals from buying Nevada. Please see below for treatments and durability notes!

Durability: Indonesian opals are frequently treated and/or sealed to improve the finished product. Treatments include “smoking” and natural heat treatment, which are used to darken the background of the dark opalized wood (also used in Ethiopian opals). Resin is used often to stabilize and seal opals, and give them protection and a light surface shine (if not a full polish). The polish and shaped finish on these opals tends to remain incomplete and may display pitting or roughness, as a result of the resources of the area. (All opals are prone to dryness and cracking, known as crazing, so care must be taken in wearing and setting. *Avoid rapid temperature changes, and the effect of attempting to recut or repolish is unknown to me as of now.* Opal specimens are raw and unsealed--they may exhibit raw textures and crazing.) Larger branching structures can be discovered in pieces within the mines, and like other specimens, may be reassembled into their original structure to honor the original growth.

Healing: Opal is believed to strongly enhance psychic abilities, helping us perceive all sides of a situation. It is believed to enhance self-expression, transmute negative into positive energy, and carry the energy of joy into the wearer's life! Petrified wood is associated with inner work, big-picture thinking, and slow and steady personal growth.

*Though many gems and minerals have historical and cultural associations with healing properties, these items are sold for display, study, and collector interest only.

Check out more crystals and specimens in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhenomenalGems?ref=si_shop