Gemstone Opal

Gemstone Opal

Opal is regarded as parallel to Diamond, it is attractive and reflects color flashes when angle is changed. The flashes or rays related with price determination. According to demand the black opal is on priority and then white opal which have many shades like yellow and cream. The type fires opal, which is orange red in color is also exhibitor of color that is why it is called costly fire opal. Solid opal is expensive tan sliced opal, as compared to other gems the opal is soft gemstone. The process of crazing, which is internal cracks of gemstone occur when opal is extracted from damp places or when it is shaken during cutting process. According to Sanskrit language the word opal means valuable stone, the main producer of this gem stone is Australia and it fulfill whole demands of the world. The other countries also produces this valuable gemstone, but in very low quantity.

The word opal is derived from the upala which means precious stone, in ancient Roman civilization this gemstone was considered a sign of romance and hope. The opal gemstone is a blend of silica and water that is why this gem stone is soft than others and its shape can be change under pressure and heat. The water that is blended in this gemstone when releases it cause cracks in it. The opal has many shades and colors because of mixing of other materials just as the milky shade of this gemstone is due to the air bubbles within it. The mixture of iron oxides produces the red and yellow shade in this gemstone. The impurities of magnesium oxides produces black, blue and occasionally red opal, the colorless opal is very expensive. However, other varieties are also very attractive and valuable. Black opal was consider as a very lucky gemstone.

Opal Uses
Main use of opal is in jewelry manufacturing, it is used in ring and pendants. Rough form of opal is used in jewelry and different ornaments are designed by carved method, besides all these there are various characteristics of this valuable gemstones and it was believed that the holder of this gemstone is in good health or facing some serious problems if the gemstone changes its color. It is also believed that the wearer of this gemstone will be protected by fainting and infection, moreover any sort of opal reduces the labor pain. The opal also good for male sexual problems just as erection.

Opal Sources
Currently Australia is the main supplier of opal and it supplies 90% opal while the deposits are also located in other parts of the world in these countries Brazil, Ethiopia, Honduras, Hungry, Sudan and United States of America. The Australian opal is an outstanding in quality and expensive.

Opal properties
Opal is a mixture of silica and water where water share in this combination is from 3% to 10%. The chemical formula of opal is SiO2 · nH2O and it has many shades and colors just as colorless, blue red orange pink black green white and multicolored. The hardness of opal is from 5.5 to 6.5 Mohs. This gemstone belongs to mineral class opal.

Opal Varieties
Opal has many varieties while black and white is common. However, banded opal has many blended colors. Black opal has many other shades like dark blue and deep green. The cherry opal is very attractive and available in red and orange colors.

Opal as birth stone
Opal is the birthstone of October

General information about Gemstone Opal
Chemical Composition:   SiO2 · nH2O
Color:   Colorless, white, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green, gray, brown, and black.
Hardness on Mohs scale:   4 to 6.5
Mineral class:   Opal.
Transparency:   Transparent to opaque.
Zodiac:   Libras.