Meet the 'Virgin Rainbow' - World's most expensive opal that glows in the dark

[WillParkinson]

http://www.geologyin.com/2016/07/worlds-most-expensive-opal-literally.html#GoFmbjXePs6e9CGK.99

Meet the "Virgin Rainbow" – perhaps the finest and certainly the most expensive opal on record.

It literally glows in the dark. In fact, as it gets darker around the opal, the opal appears ever more vibrant.

The stone's vivid and sparkly nature is in stark contrast to Coober Pedy, Australia where it was discovered.

The area is a hot, more-or-less desolate and barren desert laid waste by millions of years of heat, heat and more heat. The mining community was built underground and looks more like Tatooine than Earth.

[Warpy]

1. A little loud for my taste

but it's an amazing stone full of incredibly vibrant colors.

I'm glad a museum stepped up and bought it and it will stay on display in Oz.

[greiner3]

6. Wonder why Trump didn't snatch that up

He's the epitome of crass

[Warpy]

7. I think Melania might have better taste, she's usually fairly understated in public

even with the makeup troweled on.

The museum probably grabbed it before he heard about it.

[ohheckyeah]

2. amazing

but ugly imo

[Bluenorthwest]

3. If you've seen 'Prisilla, Queen of the Desert' you've seen Coober Pedy.....

And it is a contrast to that stone, that's for damn sure.

[Lordquinton]

4. I'm sure pictures don't do it justice.

Looks amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

5. It's really interesting. Would be amazing to examine more closely. n/t