[Jewelry making - Article 00607] - [Orchid] Brazilian Opal

[Rick Martin]

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To Steve Green:

    In case you hadn't heard, the mystery of Piaui Brazil's precious
    opal deposit is now solved.  Since Brazilian opal disappeared from
    the market back in the late '70s I've suspected it was being marketed
    as Australian opal, and it is. The current issue of "Rock & Gem" has
    an article that tells all. If I'd ever heard the name Dag Johnson
    mentioned in connection with the Brazilian mine I'd have known this
    for sure years ago. 

    As some may know, Johnson has been a prominent U.S.-based dealer in
    Australian opal for many years.  It's now revealed he bought the
    Piaui mine long ago but has been unable to work it on a large scale
    due to a variety of problems not least of which is the Brazilian
    government's regulations on foreign entrepreneurs.  Still, the mine
    has been producing opal mined in situ and from alluvial deposits
    these many years and apparently the majority has been recycled as
    Australian material. 

    A friend of mine, the late opal dealer Bill Maison, was one of two
    or three major sources of Brazilian opal in the 70s.  While he told a
    story of an Australian mining expert being brought in to develop the
    mine he never revealed his identity.  Maison said the dealer ran into
    problems with the Brazilian government and his local
    government-mandated "partners," and went back to Australia.  I have
    no way of knowing whether that miner and Johnson are the same person
    but it's clear Johnson has owned the mine for some time. 

    The R&G article was sponsored by Johnson and it announces that the
    mine will hopefully be back in major production soon, with the output
    (presumably) marketed as Brazilian opal. I'm delighted to hear it
    because the material I purchased from Maison is just about the best
    opal I've ever cut: top crystal, definitely harder and more stable
    than Australian, and simply beautiful. 

Rick Martin
MARTIN DESIGNS

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