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The famous Virgin Rainbow Black Opal is for sale here!
Opalized Fossil Exhibit at GIA Museum Extended
Due to the unprecedented popularity of the exhibit, "Opal and the Dinosaurs: Discover the Link," a display of Australian opalized fossils at the GIA Museum has been extended through mid-May 2003.
Created as part of Australia’s National Opal Collection, the exhibit was sent outside the country for the first time in 2002 to be shown at GIA’s world headquarters. Since then it has been observed by hundreds of the Institute’s visitors who wanted to see the unique historic connection between beautiful gem-quality opals and the dinosaurs that populated what is now the Australian Outback 110-million-years ago. One of the visitors, Jane Coursin, of La Jolla , Calif., said, “This exhibit is breathtaking – one of the most incredible, innovative, and appealing displays I’ve ever seen.”
According to Andrew and Damien Cody, co-curators of Australia’s National Opal Collection and owners of Cody Opal Pty Ltd of Melbourne, opals are magnificent and very rare, sometimes with their value being more expensive than diamonds. Among the numerous opalized fossils on display in the exhibit are a fin, femur, and rib from a pliosaur, a marine mammal that swam the inland seas that covered part of Australia from 8 to 10 million years ago. The opalized remains of other extinct plant and animal life, which existed in Australia more than 100 million years ago, are also on display. In addition, the exhibit features a nine-foot diorama of a prehistoric terrestrial scene, recreating the animal and plant life typical of that era.
“Thanks to the benevolence of the Cody’s, we have been able to continue this popular exhibit,” said Elise Misiorowski, GIA’s Museum director. “Indeed, it has proven to be one of the most fascinating and admired of all the exhibits we’ve had yet, and we’re absolutely thrilled that the public can continue to view this one-of-a-kind display for a few more months.”
The exhibit will be on display in the Institute’s Museum at its world headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif. through mid-May 2003. It is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Monday through Friday, except when the Institute is closed for holidays or special events.
Feb. 21, 2003
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Australian Fossilized Opals