Opal ps. Ikaite
Unknown Owner
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Opal "pineapples" as they are called, are a historic oddity that only comes out, rarely, from the famous opal mines of the White Cliffs. They are dug in massive underground mining projects that span decades, and only a few intact opal pineapples are found in any one area...these are few and far between! They consist of opal that has replaced a mineral called ikaite, in highly unusual conditions in the earth (and there are books and articles on this, such as an excerpt in our own Pseudomorphs issue of the Mineralogical Record: Jan-Feb 2025). This piece is big on quality, geometry, balance, condition, and just has such an appealing shape to it; although it is admittedly weak on opalescent play of color despite being made of solid opal. This is typical of most of these specimens, that the opal coloration is hard to see in the natural piece, and so they are most often broken open and cut into pieces to get at colorful zones within. A fine, preserved specimen in such condition is rare. This was an old one, long in the collections of Australian collectors Warren Somerville and Rob Sielecki.
Product details
SpeciesOpal
SizeSmall Cabinet
Dimensions8.5 x 7.9 x 7.0 cm
Added on07/18/2025
LocalityAustralia, New South Wales
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 04/2026 | Unknown Owner | $12,500.00 |
| — | The Arkenstone | Not disclosed |
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Mineral guide
Learn about Opal
amorphous silica with water and a spectacular play-of-color; black, boulder, and fire opal varieties capture brightness, color, and collecting appeal.Regional guide
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