Mexican Cantera Opal Cabochon - Jalisco, Mexico charging plate earning its nickname "Grateful Dead"

earning its nickname "Grateful Dead" calcite

swirling bands characteristic of this rare microcrystalline quartz variety

creating a multi-layered appearance that captures and redirects light with remarkable intensity

Some damage noted on the crystal

Approximate Size: 1in x 1in x 0

Mexican Cantera Opal Cabochon - Jalisco, Mexico charging plate earning its nickname "Grateful Dead"Ive always been fascinated by how certain minerals look when they are left partially embedded in their host rock, and this Mexican Cantera Opal Cabochon is a perfect example of that natural contrast. In Spanish, "Cantera" translates to quarry or stone, which refers to the pinkish tan rhyolite matrix that surrounds the precious opal. Instead of being cut out as a traditional gemstone, these specimens are shaped and polished so that the opal sits like a