Mexican Cantera Opal Cabochon - Jalisco, Mexico Matrix Volcano Agate Skull: Hand-Carved &

Volcano Agate Skull: Hand-Carved & UV Reactive

As a semi-translucent variety of chalcedony quartz

This beautiful Calcite with Quartz specimen from Fujian

while another features tightly compressed

Mexican Cantera Opal Cabochon - Jalisco, Mexico Matrix Volcano Agate Skull: Hand-Carved &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