Opals

Sadly, Yes, Opal can be shattered. Opal is roughly the same hardness as common glass and can be shattered in the same manner as glass. Including heating then immersion into ice water, or hammer blows or dropping Opal onto a hard surface such as a sidewalk or driveway.

It depends.... when they have just been dug out of the round they are extremely rough and vary in shapes. Once they have been polished they are very smooth and usually a round shape.

Opal stones can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. The largest opal ever found was known as the Olympic Australis, which weighed around 17,000 carats (3.4 kg) and measured about 30 cm in length.

Opals are formed when silica (SiO2) spheres all of a similar size, are arranged into a cubic close packed structure. This structure has the ability to diffract certain wavelengths of light based on the spacing in between layers of silica and the size of the spheres that make up the FCC lattice too. This is the basis for photonic crystals that can be created synthetically today.

Opal is a precious gemstone that can display a unique play of colors due to its internal structure. It is composed of silica and water, and its colors can vary depending on the angles of observation. Opal is the birthstone for October and is often associated with luck, love, and creativity.

The array of colors seen in opals is caused by diffraction and interference of light within microscopic silica spheres in the gemstone. The size and arrangement of these spheres influence the specific colors visible, giving opals their characteristic play of color.

The tenacity of opal is relatively low compared to other gemstones. It is prone to scratching, chipping, and cracking due to its composition, which includes water. It should be handled with care to avoid damage.

Ther is no set answer to this question. Each opal is unique and has its own value. From colorless opal to the most prized fire opal it depends on the size and color. A good place to get the idea of the value of opal is to go to ebay and type in opals. You will see prices from a few dollars to over 50,000 dollars.

Australian opals are known for their vibrant play-of-color, while Ethiopian opals typically exhibit a more honey-like coloration with flashes of red, orange, and green. Ethiopian opals are also generally more translucent than Australian opals.

About 95% of the world's opal comes from Australia, particularly from the regions of New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. These areas are known for producing high-quality opals with vibrant colors and unique patterns.

No, it's a type of silica, and is classed as a mineraloid.

The volcano itself does not make the opal. The lava, be it Rhyolite or Basalt has air bubbles in it (called vesicles) these air pockets of many differing sizes are the future home of the opals.

After time wheh the lava cools any silica rich springs begin a slow deposition of silica which, if the conditions a correct, will form common and precious opal.

The volcano creates the matrix (or host rock) of the opal.

Opal is an amorphous mineral, which means it lacks a true crystal structure. It typically exhibits a smooth, glassy texture. Opal can also display a unique play-of-color caused by the diffraction of light, giving it a vibrant and iridescent appearance.

One of the persistent myths concerning opal is that they bring bad luck or even death.

This idiotic myth came into existence following the publication of Walter Scott's book: Anne of Geierstien in 1829. In Scott's novel the Baroness of Amheim wore an opal talisman with supernatural powers. When a drop of holy water falls on the talisman the opal turns into a colorless stone and the Baroness dies shortly after. Due to the popularity of Scott's novel, people came to associate opals with bad luck and death.

Fortunately most modern folks (but not all) discount this myth and have come to prize opal as the "queen of gemstones"

Sadly, occasionally, i will still hear someone state that opals are bad luck.

I heard it put very well once: "the only thing bad luck about opals is not owning any"

Opal is typically extracted from the earth through open-cut mining or underground mining methods. Miners use heavy machinery to remove overburden and dig into the opal-bearing layers, where they extract the opal-bearing rocks. These rocks are then processed to extract the opal gemstones.

Opals are typically found within 30 meters (about 100 feet) underground. They form in cavities and fissures in sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone and limonite. Due to their formation process, opals are usually found in shallow depths compared to other gemstones.

Opal is known for its play-of-color, which is a unique iridescence that displays a rainbow-like spectrum. This effect is caused by the diffraction of light as it passes through the tiny spheres or layers of silica within the stone. Opal's transparency can range from opaque to translucent, with the most prized opals being the ones that exhibit a high level of play-of-color against a transparent or translucent body.

Opal is neither a sedimentary, igneous, nor metamorphic rock. It is actually a mineraloid composed of hydrated silica that is formed from silica-rich solutions at low temperature, often found in sedimentary rocks like sandstone or volcanic areas.

Yes, opal is a relatively soft gemstone, which makes it prone to scratching and chipping if not handled carefully. Additionally, opals have a relatively high water content, which can lead to cracking or crazing if exposed to sudden changes in temperature. It is important to take proper care of opal jewelry to prevent damage.

Opal is a stone that is a clearish whitish background, with different colors scattered around on it. There are colors such as red, orange, blue, green, ect. These colors appear more than once on the stone.

No. As it is synthetic it is man-made. A mineral must be naturally occurring and have a crystalline structure (among other requirements). Synthetic opal does not meet these criteria.

Tourmaline opal belongs to the silicate class of minerals, specifically in the sub-group known as the cyclosilicates. It is characterized by its unique crystal structure and vibrant play-of-color caused by microscopic silica spheres within the stone.

It depends.... when they have just been dug out of the round they are extremely rough and vary in shapes. Once they have been polished they are very smooth and usually a round shape.

One could suggest that there is simply no substitute for the color play of a top quality opal, although synthetic opals can look nice, Albertan ammolite can be quite spectacular, and color-play feldspars like labradorite or sunstone can be quite stunning.