Precious opals from Slovakia

One of the most beautiful and rare gems in the world - this is the precious opal from Dubník.

The location of Dubník (Slanské vrchy) belongs to the classic world deposits of precious opal. It is the oldest and most important deposit of precious opal in Europe. In addition to rare precious opals, milky opals and hydrophanes (opals that lose their opalization after some time in the air) can still be found on the site. It is currently possible to find antimonite in Dubník (antimonites embedded in opal matrix are also exceptional), and various types of sulfates – halotrichtite, pickeringite (including Co-pickeringite – kašparite), alunogen... Underground tours are currently open to the public. You can even choose a special tour, during which you can find the minerals themselves and take them away. (#Slovakia #minerals #collecting)

“It is assumed that the European opal jewelry from the 19th century has opals from Dubník due to the mining in these places at that time. Maria Theresa, Napoleon Bonaparte, King Louis XVIII, Queen Sissi, Queen Victoria, French Empress Eugenie and others were most likely wearing them in a special occasion.”

For us, this location is definitely worth a visit! This is an extraordinary place, with an even more extraordinary mineral.