Gem Stone Opal
where can I find out a process for stabilizing gem stones; opals?
I have heard of a way using silica solution, but I hanen'y found a source.
I am not too sure what you mean by "stabilizing" opals. There are numerous methods which have been used to introduce a play of colour in white opal including soaking in water, oil, glycerin (used to hide cracks but dries out looking even worse than before). Some opals are "blacked" by soaking in warm sugar solution for a week or so then kept in hot concentrated sulphuric acid. However I know of no method used to physically stabilize (make stronger) such as is used in some poor quality turquoise. The silica method you mention is, I think, the use if silica-based polymers (silane) to impregnate opals and improve their play of colour. You can read it up in the following articles :-
D.V.Manson, Plastic impregnated opals, Gems & Gemmology 16, 49 (1978)
D.V.Manson, Plastic impregnared opal and plastic opal, Gems & Gemmology, 16, 219 (1979)
I hope this helps.
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