All About Opal Stone

Opal is an incredibly beautiful natural gem, which has long been considered a stone of royal dynasties and rich. For many peoples, this stone is a proof of the divine power on Earth, for others it is a dangerous magical attribute that can harm any uninitiated. In this article, you will get acquainted with the features of opal, its varieties, the main deposits, as well as the rules for caring for this amazing mineral.

Speaking from a scientific point of view, this stone is a mineral from the silica family. If we consider the chemical composition of the stone, then this is ordinary silicon oxide of a globular structure. In narrow circles, opal is called amorphous quartz because of its unusual physical data.

In addition to the elements of the basic formula, the composition of opal can include aluminum, as well as iron, magnesium and calcium oxides. It is their content in the opal that affects its color, the quality of overflows and opalescence (an optical phenomenon in which specific overflows and faces are formed inside the mineral with changes in the angle of illumination).

External physical characteristics of opal.

• Color. At the moment, more than 30 shades are known that are found in both precious and semiprecious varieties of this stone. Among the most common - colorless, white, straw, brown, red, green and light green, chestnut, black, azure. It is worth noting that rare and expensive opals are dominated by a particular color.
• Transparency. There are transparent, translucent and opaque opals (dark shades, for example).Translucent and transparent minerals are usually much more valuable - they create unique color patches that make it easier to determine authenticity.
• Shine. For opal, depending on the type, color and additional elements in its composition, three types of gloss are characteristic: glass, waxy, dull (faint or cloudy shine).
• Density. At opals, it, regardless of the variety, always remains approximately the same: from 1.8 to 2.4 g per cubic centimeter.
• Hardness. Experienced jewelers rate the hardness of natural stones at 5-6.5 points on the Mohs scale.
• Strength. Despite the integral structure, even with slight pressure, the stones are extremely unstable and fragile.
• Kink. Crustacean type.

Absorption and loss of water is a normal condition for opal. If the stone is without water for a long time, cracks and chips begin to appear inside it. If the stone is subjected to strong thermal effects, then upon reaching the mark of 100 degrees, this rare mineral turns into a regular chalcedony.

It is generally believed that this stone got its name from the Sanskrit (ancient Indian) word “fell”, as well as from the Latin “opal”.

Opal has a sedimentary hypergenic origin, it can be found both in the form of separate plates in the rocks of diatomite, tripoli and flask, as well as in the form of specific veins in these rocks. In the natural environment, opals are presented in the form of sap nodules or nodules that cover other minerals. Often it is thanks to opals that fossils of plant and animal origin are formed.

The formation of these minerals is as follows - in some arid region, solid rain passes, after which moisture gets into the earth rocks and fills the soil cracks. Over time, moisture evaporates and layers, forming ordinary silica.

In addition to the natural explanation of the origin of this stone, there are dozens of myths and legends in the world associated with its appearance on Earth.

• Australian Natives believed that the Creator had come to Earth many years ago to explain to people the meaning of rainbow, sky and clouds. When he, in his divine form, stepped to Earth, the pebbles and stones under his feet became shiny and multi-colored.
• According to Japanese legends, it is believed that at the time of creation of all things, the Creator blessed the Earth and laid a piece of the Sun in rocks, so that the soil always remains warm and rich. From this particle, modern opals formed.
• The ancient Greeks believed that opals are the tears of Zeus himself, which he dropped after defeating the Titans. Only touching the ground, his tears petrified and scattered all over the globe.
• Indian legends tell of the great and beautiful rainbow goddess. Her beauty and divine light drove crazy all the men who very soon decided to encroach on her innocence by brute force. Once trapped, the goddess threw herself from a cliff and scattered all over the world with thousands of sunny and rainbow gems.
• Scandinavian myths tell of a blacksmith who created opals from the eyes of a small child to capture their natural beauty and charm forever. Since then, the Scandinavians believe that if you peer deep into the depths of blue and blue stones, you can probably see the baby’s face there.

In addition to legends about the mystical origin of the stone, a large number of other beliefs are associated with it. For example, in the Middle Ages, thieves loved to wear opals - they believed that the stone was able to make them invisible in moments of danger, and its lulling depth acts on victims like real hypnosis.

In one of the novels of the world famous Walter Scott, opal is described as an extremely dangerous and diabolical stone., which fades from holy water and is used by sorcerers and witches for malicious conspiracies and curses. Since the novel received widespread public recognition, many refused to wear this mineral.This continued until the XIX century - it was then that Queen Victoria began to actively use opals in the creation of jewelry and jewelry, and also often gave jewelry with this stone to her friends and members of the royal family.

For the formation of natural beautiful opal, certain conditions are necessary: ​​special pressure, temperature, humidity level, the presence of other factors. In addition, the formation of some rocks of this stone takes not even tens, but hundreds of thousands of years, which makes them even more rare and attractive.

It is noteworthy that most of the stones that you can find in jewelry shops are mined in the Australian territory. There opals were discovered back in the 19th century, and quite by accident. A local hunter monitored the movement and parking of the kangaroo and found one unusual iridescent stone on one of the parking lots.

Almost immediately, this previously ordinary area with sparse vegetation and an arid climate became the site of excavation and research. Under the soil, whole tons of this mineral were discovered, which filled the cracks in the rocks, sandstone and basalt.

In addition to Australia, opal deposits have been discovered in Mexico and Brazil. - it is from there that minerals of honey, red and red shades are often brought. A small fraction of the transparent stones were once mined in Sudan; in Ethiopia, minerals of deep brown, dark and brown shades were discovered.

The oldest known deposit of opals is considered to be the Cervente region in the Czech Republic. This territory for some time belonged to Hungary, and therefore the opals mined in this area are usually called Hungarian. There is an assumption that the very first opals, which were discovered even in the ceremonial decorations of the ancient Roman rulers, were mined in this area.

Opal is known all over the world not only as an exotic and expensive jewelry, but also as a mineral with amazing healing and magical properties.

Opal has long been considered a stone with incredible energy, which is able to push weak-willed and insecure people to commit terrible or forbidden acts. This stone is considered to be uniquely useful precisely in the hands of talented and gifted people - only then it reveals all its magical potential and is able to help a person reach incredible creative heights.

Many people know opal under a different name - "a stone of deceptive hopes." This means that he is able to endow his owner with incredible ambitions, ideas and desires. However, if the owner experiences difficulties on his creative path or delays in fulfilling his plans, the opal gives rise to doubt and self-doubt in him. Only the strong people with a stable character can cope with the powerful energy of this stone.

Despite its ambiguous nature and abilities, this mineral is an exceptionally friendly stone that you just need to be able to handle. For people with clear goals in life and attitudes, he will become a real bodyguard. He will help to track the hostile plans of enemies, rivals and traitors, thereby giving his master a prophetic gift.

Many esotericists believe that the true magical power of a stone is revealed only in good hands, whose actions are directed precisely into a constructive channel. In evil, arrogant or unclean hands, the energy field of the stone is transformed, and he himself becomes the initiator of quarrels, disputes and confrontations.

Now it is worth describing the general magical properties of opal, which all astrologers and esotericists ascribe to it.

• Directs thoughts in a creative direction, helps to focus on a specific goal or idea.
• In good hands, he is able to drive away negative emotions, eliminates the fear of error or fear of doing something.
• Helps in building relationships between colleagues, relatives and partners.
• The strong magical aura of opal makes it an ideal charm against dark forces and magic from other people.
• It motivates to complete the work begun, even if significant efforts are required.
• Gives the carrier a prophetic gift. In other words, it gives sharp analytical thinking, which helps to calculate the outcome of all actions several steps ahead.
• It is the fastening stone of the family hearth, able to stop quarrels at the very beginning.
• For creative people, opal is simply an indispensable assistant as an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
• In an extraordinary and emergency situation, opal will help not to lose vigilance and focus on the highest priority goal, thereby helping to emerge victorious even from the most difficult situations.
• Opal can also help in the love field, it is simply an indispensable stone for those who are in a long search for a partner. In addition, he is able to return a person and establish an atmosphere in a relationship with a passion.

Now it is worth considering the magical abilities of the stone, depending on its color.

• Opal black or dark. It is considered a stone of passion - it is at the same time capable of sharpening mental abilities, but it can also lead to the fulfillment of secret sexual desires (which ultimately can lead to treason).

• Opals are white or transparent. A stone of calm and peaceful people who know what they need for life. Usually it is bought for respectable women and men who have already achieved everything in life. Such an opal gives its owner calmness, patience and compassion. Great for doctors, educators, and supervisors.

• Stones are blue, azure or cobalt. It is believed that these stones are real magnets for good luck and luck. It is the owners of blue opals who often become winners in lotteries or random contests. In addition, the azure mineral helps to achieve this goal, focusing the owner's attention on the priorities.

• Minerals opal fiery, red and red flowers. Such opals are true motivators for the performance of courageous, decisive and courageous acts for men. This mineral gives women sensuality, purity and wisdom. For partners in marriage, such a stone is simply irreplaceable. It is believed that it is opals of fiery shades that are most often used for esoteric rituals (removal of spoilage, the direction of cash flows, the removal of birth curses).

Regardless of what goals you want to achieve using opal, its magical properties cannot be underestimated. Some mediums do not recommend wearing it constantly - your own aura should take a break from its energy. It is also not recommended to wear opal with stones as powerful as obsidian, pearls and topaz. Only in the hands of a self-confident person, these stones will not contrast with each other and will be most useful.

In addition to its extraordinary abilities, the mineral has a number of properties that are actively used in such an area of ​​alternative medicine as lithotherapy.

Specialists in this field claim that this mineral has the following healing properties:

• tidies up the nervous system, raises the stress threshold;
• tones and balances, gives the owner a good mood;
• improves the functioning of the muscular system, helps eliminate cramps;
• normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system, restores the heart rate;
• able to eliminate redness of the eyes, can generally improve vision;
• tones the work of the digestive tract, is able to favorably affect the work of the liver and kidneys;
• cleanses the body of useless and harmful elements;
• prevents the occurrence of depressive disorders;
• increases the level of potency;
• helps to fall asleep faster, makes dreams pleasant and calm.

Today in the world there are more than 30 varieties of opal. They were selected based on the characteristics of color, strength, hardness, gloss, transparency, weight, size and density.

The first classification of these minerals divides them into semiprecious and precious minerals.

• Precious or noble opals are a priori very beautiful stones with transparency and clearly marked opalescence, which is expressed through the numerous smooth color highlights inside the stone. This breed of stones is extremely rare, very expensive and is used exclusively for the manufacture of jewelry and jewelry.
• Semi-precious, or ordinary opals have a partially transparent structure, rarely have brightly highlighted rainbow tints, and have a cloudy, incomplete color. They are much cheaper and are found literally in every jewelry store at the heart of inexpensive accessories.

• Black. They are the most expensive among all breeds. There are dark purple, saturated black or purple. The stones in their structure are poorly transparent, but have a pronounced orange or fire opalescence.

• Fiery or red. These minerals are presented in the form of transparent or translucent stones of saturated red or peach colors. Some breeds of such stones have a pronounced reddish opalescence (for example, mined in Mexico).

• Harlequins. The mineral received such a name thanks to the characters of Italian comedies, whose attire consisted of numerous multi-colored pieces of fabric. These stones are distinguished by an amazing colorful pattern in the form of numerous spots or shapeless figures of red, blue, yellow, green and purple colors. If you put such a stone in your palm and bring it to the sun, a real rainbow will sparkle on your hands.

• Royal opal. It is an extremely rare variety of opals, which is used only for the production of royal ornaments. It has a unique rich lapis lazuli color, as well as a translucent structure.

• Jirazole or heavenly, blue opal. Incredibly beautiful, almost colorless opals of a transparent type with unique blue opalescence. It is in these minerals that the so-called “algae” from other breeds are often found. Jirazole deposits were discovered in Mexico, the USA, Czech Republic, Russia and Australia.

• Lechos. Incredibly beautiful minerals with bright emerald and marine pigmentation. It is also considered one of the most expensive varieties.

• "Cat's Eye." Presented in the form of minerals of yellow, honey and wheat tones, they have poor transparency. Often in the center of such a processed mineral is a characteristic strip that has some similarities with cat's eyes. It is considered the same expensive and rare variety of opals as dark type stones.

• Royal. A rare variety of mineral with extremely bright contrasting shades throughout the texture of the stone.

• Ethiopian. A precious variety of opals, which is distinguished by its exceptional ultramarine translucent color with multi-colored opalescence. As the name implies, she got it from her field.The texture of Ethiopian opal is similar to the texture of jirazole, but the latter has a more pronounced opalescence.

• Pink or Andean opal. It is mined in significant quantities in South America, where it is considered a mystical and sorcerer's stone. It differs from other representatives of its breed in a delicate peach or pink hue. The texture is very similar to rose quartz, but with a more opaque texture.

In addition to precious opals, there are also semiprecious ones. These include the following.

• Hyalite. Almost colorless opal with a cloudy white color and a complete lack of opalescence. Almost 30% consists of water.

• Chrysopaly. A common type of semiprecious opal, which can often be found in inexpensive jewelry. The texture is opaque, the color is solid - usually pale green or dark green.

• Moss Opal. A well-known variety of semiprecious opals with a black and white color and a translucent texture. It differs from other varieties in a specific dark pattern on a white background, which as if depicts dense grassy thickets or cracks.

• Hydrofan. A kind of opal that acquires a surprisingly bright opalescence and transparency when it enters clean water. Hydrofan is believed to be the final stage in the development of any precious opal.

• Peruvian. A variety of opals of pale blue or sky color, which are still actively mined in Peru.

The exceptional physical properties of opal made it practically unsuitable for widespread use in large industries. It does not have high strength, is not able to withstand high temperatures and pressures.

However, opal was able to confidently gain a foothold in the jewelry field. Today, individual jewelry made from beautiful natural opal can cost up to several tens of thousands of dollars. At one time, this stone was valued no cheaper than emeralds, diamonds and pearls.

Women prefer to buy brooches, hairpins, bracelets, rings, tiaras and pendants with inlaid opal stones. Men prefer rings, pens, cufflinks and buttons with this mineral.

There is a false opinion that opals are suitable only for people with some strictly defined mentality or character. This is fundamentally wrong - opals have such a strong and multifaceted energy that they can serve faithfully to any owner.

It’s worth mentioning right away that the difference in the perception of some stones directly depends on their color. The rarest and most expensive representatives of opals are black; they are truly suitable only for Cancers, Scorpions and Aquarius.

• Fire zodiac signs. For Sagittarius, Aries and Lviv, opals of white, colorful and light blue shades are best suited. They will help to hide both internal and external weaknesses, suppress negative emotions, and can also develop qualities such as determination, perseverance and determination in a strong person. Aries are best suited for white or colorful stones - opals of deep, saturated and dark colors are not suitable for this zodiac sign. For Sagittarius, on the contrary, opals of azure, cobalt and blue shades are suitable - they will endow their owners with analytical abilities and inspire new ideas.
• Aerial zodiac signs. Gemini, Aquarius and Libra can be coordinated with both fire and white opals.Light stones will fill these signs with calm, confidence and peace, and fire stones, on the contrary, will add playful, risky and mischievous notes to the temperament of these signs. Deep blue opals are great for Aquarius, and Gemini often prefer variegated multifaceted colors that reflect their changing and unstable nature.
• Water signs of the zodiac. Pisces and Scorpios need a constant source of strength and inspiration, as well as energy to do their daily activities. Opals of red, red and blue color give them such energy. In addition, such stones will endow Pisces with even sharper intuition, and Scorpios will be helped to concentrate all their forces on a specific priority goal. Crayfish can wear opals and white, and red, and dark. This stone will help to establish this financial sign of the zodiac, calm internal anxiety, and help establish relationships with the opposite sex.
• Earth zodiac signs. For measured Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, opal can only be useful as a talisman or a kind of barrier from external stimuli. This stone softens the natural durability and decisiveness of these signs, makes them kinder, more compliant, and reduces innate cynicism. Prone to planning and constant monitoring, earth signs will find real support in the face of opal, which will relieve them of their worries and fears that something might go wrong.

It should be understood that a stone with such a strong energy can not always behave obediently. There are frequent cases when opals literally eluded the owners (decorations with opals were unfastened, dropped out of their pockets or simply fell from shelves in the house). This happens when a stone feels a lack of attention and self-respect. It is in this case that they will not bring the owners any benefit or harm. To change the situation for the better, mystics advise to regularly talk with the stone, carry it with you and clean it weekly.

Solar overflows and glare of opals have been known around the world for a very long time. Precious opals began to be widely faked back at the beginning of our era. Initially, imitations of these minerals were made of glass, which was first heated, and then sharply placed in cold water. As a result of this procedure, glass crafts got cracks, became cloudy and darkened. A famous connoisseur of opals of that time is Pliny, who advised checking the opal for authenticity in the sun. Based on his beliefs, minerals of natural origin will certainly cast glare.

Today, using this method, it is not possible to determine the authenticity of an opal. Thanks to modern technology, the craftsmen learned to create beautiful imitations using doublets and triplets (original films that are glued to the future material of the stone). The basis for such stones was quartz, glass and plastic.

There are known cases of resin staining of semiprecious opals to achieve unusual and bright colors. Today, products of this type have acquired a new name - imitation of a mineral. According to the law, such activity cannot be prohibited in any way if the seller indicates in the product description that it is an imitation, and not the original.

The easiest way to find out the authenticity of a mineral is by asking the seller himself. An experienced trader will not risk a career and a place in the market to lie to you about the authenticity of the mineral. Do not think that the more expensive the stone, the greater the likelihood that it is natural. There are cases when opal fakes were much more expensive than the originals only because of their supposedly "exceptional color", which will peel off at the very first fall.

It will be difficult for an inexperienced buyer to understand whether the fake is in front of him or the original. Next, you can familiarize yourself with the inspection rules that will help you choose not only a beautiful, but also an authentic mineral.

• Weight.Glass, plastic and wood are usually much lighter than real opal.
• Opalescence. The so-called optical effect characteristic of all gemstones. Overflows at this stone are multi-colored, extremely smooth and soft. Most glass imitations have one single color in overflows, and the transitions inside the stone themselves are unnaturally sharp.
• To determine the authenticity of a transparent opal, simply place it in direct sunlight. If the stone is real, a whole rainbow of different shades will play in your hands. If artificial - you will notice only a few fuzzy shades.
• If the stone is a glass imitation, then when examining the mineral under a magnifying glass you will clearly notice small balloons or bubbles.
• Another way to define an imitation of opal is to simply lean your purchase against your tongue. It is believed that any fake (especially glass) will definitely stick to it.
• Natural opal, placed in painted, dirty or muddy water, will surely change its color. If the stone is not real, it will remain the same color as when purchased.
• The internal patterns and overflows of natural opals are always original. They never repeat.
• Sound. Any solid mineral makes characteristic metallic sounds when it collides with solid objects. So you can identify a plastic or wooden fake.

Sometimes imitations of opals can be really more beautiful, cheaper and stronger than natural stones. However, it should be understood that the fake will not have any magical and healing properties. Imitations of opals are a wonderful material for creating inexpensive jewelry and interior items.

Unlike many semiprecious and precious minerals, opal needs special conditions of detention. In inappropriate conditions, these stones can crack, cloud and crumble.

It is worth considering the rules for storing this mineral at home.

• Permanent moisture. In order to preserve unique solar overflows and color patterns inside the opal, you need to always carry it on your hands (to absorb moisture from the skin), and also store it in a cool room with a high level of humidity. In the absence of moisture in the opals, cracks begin to form, the stones themselves lose their luster and become cloudy. If you cannot provide the stone with a constant flow of moisture, you can store it inside a damp cloth or rag, or just rinse it with water sometimes.
• No alkalis. If you started a home cleaning or just a preventative maintenance session for the interior, immediately remove the opal jewelry from yourself. This stone does not tolerate the influence of any detergents and preparations.
• Temperature and direct sunlight. At room temperature, this stone feels best. You should not take it with you to the beach, sauna or hot bath - it is very likely that it will simply crack or completely lose its color.
• Cosmetics. Try not to apply cosmetics to the stone - varnishes, paints, conditioners, shampoos, foundation creams will ruin it.
• Be careful. Despite their external strength, opals are extremely unstable before collapse and strong pressure. Just be careful with opal jewelry and avoid dropping them.
• Cleaning. Do not use even the most gentle means in caring for opal. If the stone is cloudy and dirty, just rinse it under running water and wipe it with a silk cloth. Jewelry should be cleaned separately from cleaning the opal itself. Refuse steam or ultrasonic cleaning, they will only harm the integrity of the mineral.
• Recovery. For opals, which are often used as jewelry, the appearance of cracks and scratches is characteristic. To get rid of them, it is worth taking the mineral for restoration to a jeweler or polisher.

All about opal stone, see the video below.