Boulder opal is a fascinating material for carvers and collectors. Most boulder opal comes from Queensland, Australia, according to geologists. It finds its way to American carvers by way of rock markets and itinerant “rock-hounds”.

Boulder opal is preserved as found because the veins of opal are either too thin to be worth the cutting effort or the separation requires too much effort to be economically justified, especially when found specimens like this can be used so beautifully as found.