MEXICAN OPAL SAFARI

A slide presentation by Wolf Kuehn. Pictures cannot be retrieved without prior permission.
[ Access to the Opal Mine ] [ Workers in the Mine ] [ Selection of Mexican Opal ]
[ Beautiful Opal Specimen ] [ Unique Mexican Opals ] [ Scenery around Queretaro ]

15This is the entrance to the Iris mine. After many years of operation the mine was closed in 1984. It then reopened several times and closed again in 1992. The latest news is that a new owner will reopen the mine in 1996. It was the most productive mine in the Queretaro region.

14Several miners were still strolling around showing off their wares in typical glass vials. But most of the opal - as they said - was material for the "gringos": cheap fire opal.

32Numerous pieces of rough fire opal

11Selection of carved Mexican opal

09Carved fine Mexican opal

26Mexican opal in rhyolite

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