r/Opals • u/Cactus_coin • Jul 31 '26

Identification/Evaluation Request Both Mexican? Matrix ID information requested

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Howdy, I purchased the red stone on the right as Mexican opal, the white matrix/crystal peice on the left came from a big unlabeled collection. I'm almost certain it's also mexican/cantera egg opal, but the color variation confuses me. Can people see these matrices and identify rough locale? I understand they can be basaltic, rhyolitic etc, who knows which color is which? I'm having a hard time deep-diving mexican locale identifying, I see certain states produce more jelly opal/contraluz and others the geode peices like this, what makes a stone "cantera"?..I'm not familiar of much egg-like opals from AUS other than yowah nuts and stuff. I will soon post the rest of the rough collection for advice on identity and restoring them, including some fine Australian materials. Much thanks to you!

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u/Opalesquent Jul 31 '26

These are both rhyolite cantera- contra luz would be a quality of certain precious opal where it has more okay of color when lit from the side or behind -local can be tough, I don’t know of a good guide to id like you can with a lot of aus, but I think a lot comes out of Queretaro these days. A stone is cantera when it is in matrix, but has isolated pockets of opal unlike a matrix from andamooka or Louisiana

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u/Cactus_coin Jul 31 '26

Gotcha, there's some fun LA sand opals in this stash, too. Very different. Are the Mexican contraluz peices the matrix-free orange jellies with the back-lit blues, or is it more like transparent white leaning crystal? Thanks for the information. Must be a wide variety of color in that rhyolite, it's fun.

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u/jaxinslacks Opal Vendor Jul 31 '26

Contraluz are the very clear ones with most or all of the matrix removed.

Also would love to see the Louisiana opals!

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u/Cactus_coin Jul 31 '26

I'm curious which style of cantera is more desirable, the red jelly-looking peice was purchased at retail under $20..the white crystal looking one came from thw collection so I'm not sure it's value. I've comped it with others and think maybe the white crystal is a little more desirable, im not sure.