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The Rare Qualities of the Opal Stone
The Stone is Special; this is why.
The Opal Stone
Opal is a soft stone. Delicately sensitive to the sun because of its unique composition. Amorphous species. Recent work discovers opal is composed of an aggregate of tiny spherical particles, a solidified gel; often forms concretions; botryoidal; reniform; stalactitic. Coming in several colours, the Opal is often pieced with striking fire-like colours; the opal stone stands alone compared to other gems. Opals also retain a significant value. The geology of the opal stone is fascinating. Not only is it the stone of October; its rarity colour combinations make these stones range in price.
The Geology of Opals
Opals are found all over the world. Opal is located in eastern Australia, especially in Queensland and New South Wales. The mineral opal is mainly made of a scarce mineral, known as rutile, a form of titanium dioxide. The most irregular forms are the olivine (mercury, rhodium) and andalusite (iron), with the olivine opal being the most expensive at US$9000 per gram. Today the stone is a symbol of Australia. Most opal mines in Australia are open cast, using mules, crows and rabbits. This prevents scavenging from wild animals, and thus, the stone’s colour and value are preserved. In the past, before…
