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The famous Virgin Rainbow Black Opal is for sale here!
Opalized Fossils from Dinosaur Age to be Featured at GIA Museum Exhibit, Lecture
The sciences of gemology and paleontology will meet in a fascinating new exhibit titled, “Opal and the Dinosaurs: Discover the Link,” that opens June 10 with a lecture in GIA’s Museum. The lecture will be delivered at 7 p.m. by Andrew and Damien Cody of the Cody Opal Company, which together with the Australian Museum is co-curator of Australia’s National Opal Collection.
The Codys will explain how the fossil remains of a twelve-foot prehistoric marine reptile, known as a pliosaur, became “Opalized.” A smaller version of this reptile, including parts of the actual Opalized pliosaur remains, will be exhibited. The Opalized remains of other extinct plant and animal life, which existed in Australia more than 100 million years ago, will also be on display. The exhibit will feature a nine-foot diorama of a prehistoric terrestrial scene, recreating the animal and plant life typical of that era.
Australia produces 95 percent of the world’s precious opal, which formed under unique conditions after the waters of the inland sea receded toward the end of the dinosaur era, about 65 million years ago. Over millions of years, silica gel hardened into microscopic spheres, forming opal. When these spheres are uniform and regularly arrayed, they diffract light into the brilliant rainbow colors of precious Australian opal. Examples of various types of opal gemstones and opal jewelry will be displayed within the exhibit.
GIA Museum Director Elise Misiorowski pointed out, “Opalized fossils are very rare, and this exhibit provides both an intriguing glimpse into the prehistoric era of the dinosaurs, and a clearer picture of how this fascinating gem material formed.” She also said this exhibit will mark the first time a part of Australia’s National Opal Collection is shown outside the country. The exhibit is scheduled to be open for six months, she added.
The lecture is sponsored by the Gem & Jewelry Society of San Diego and both the lecture and exhibit are open to the public. Admission is free for Gem & Jewelry Society members, with a $10.00 fee for non-members. It is free and open to the public, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except when the Institute is closed for holidays. Seating is limited, so please make reservations early by calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4170.
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Australian Fossilized Opals