Opals

Opals are mined in Queensland, Australia, primarily in the areas around the towns of Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, and Mintabie. These regions are known for producing high-quality opals with vibrant colors and unique patterns.

Opal mutation displays a variety of colors known as play-of-color, including white, gray, blue, green, orange, red, and purple. The specific colors and patterns within opal mutation can vary greatly, making each stone unique.

Opal is a gemstone because of its distinctive play-of-color, which is a unique iridescence that reflects a rainbow of colors. It is formed from silica-rich solutions that fill cavities in rock formations, resulting in its characteristic color display. Opal is valued for its beauty and rarity, making it a sought-after gemstone in jewelry.

Black opal can be very expensive, only low grade black opal is sold by kilo weight. This low grade is called potch and colour which means that maybe bit of colour might be in this rough black opal I have seen parcels sold for $200 per kilo but it has no colour. Good kilo bucket of rough black opal would cost around $5,000 .00 Black opal is rated by body tone N1 for deep black colour, and N4 for light black colour. So for $5000 per kilo, dont expect N1 body tone. Black opal is sold by carat, and rare patterns are worth $5,000 to $20,000 per carat; especially red fire harlequin pattern n1 body tone, and over brighness rating of 4.

To determine the estimated value of an opal necklace and earrings surrounded by small diamonds, you can take them to a trusted jeweler for appraisal. They will assess the quality and characteristics of the opals, diamonds, and settings to provide an estimated value based on current market trends. Make sure to get a written appraisal for insurance purposes.

Another name for opal is "fire opal."

Opal is a mineraloid composed of silica. It does not have a boiling point because it is a non-crystalline substance. Instead, opal can lose its water content when exposed to high temperatures, causing it to lose its play-of-color.

Opal mining is not a prominent activity in Texas. While there may be some small-scale mining operations, Texas is not known for its opal deposits compared to other states like Nevada or Idaho.

Both tourmaline and opal are gemstones prized for their unique and vibrant colors. They are also both formed from natural processes within the Earth's crust, with tourmaline being a crystalline boron silicate mineral and opal being a hydrated amorphous form of silica.

Yes, dish soaps or other harsh soaps can damage the surface of opal stones by removing their natural oils and causing them to lose their luster. It's best to clean opal stones with mild soap and water, or seek guidance from a professional jeweler for proper care.

If the basalt flow contains air bubbles and pockets and there is a spring that contains silica then the silica can deposit into the air bubbles (the air bubbles are known as Amygdaloidal basalt or vesicles) If the silica deposits slowly and the conditions are correct then precious opal can form. Two examples of this would be in California at the Nowak and the Barnett mines.

Australian opal is the finest opal known and is exported around the world. It's safe to say that even the smallest gem and jewelry store in the smallest towns of the developed world will carry some Australian opal.

A fire opal is composed of silicon dioxide with varying amounts of water and sometimes contains trace elements such as iron, copper, and manganese. Its vivid orange, red, and yellow colors are due to the presence of small gas bubbles and other impurities within the crystal structure.

Opal is often referred to as a mineraloid because it lacks a crystal structure, which is a defining characteristic of minerals. Instead, opal is made up of tiny silica spheres arranged in a more random, non-repeating pattern, giving it its unique play-of-color. This amorphous structure sets it apart from traditional minerals.

No, opal gemstones do not have a smell. They are composed of silica and water, and their scent is neutral.

It depends what its made from. Natural opals made from silica have a high melting point around ~1600 celsius. These are common structures in research as silica spheres are easy to make with the stober method and form opals using the colvin method. The other 2 common types of opals created synthetically are PMMA, polystyrene. Polystyrene melts areound 120 celsius, PMMA melts at 160 celsius.

Melting opal can cause the gemstone to lose its color iridescence due to the high temperatures involved. The internal structure of opal can also be altered, impacting its overall appearance and value. It is generally not recommended to heat or melt opal.

The density of opal birthstone varies depending on factors such as water content and composition, but it typically ranges between 1.98 to 2.20 grams per cubic centimeter.

Opal is a form of silica, amorphous and hydrated: SiO2.nH2O.

Fire opals are unique in the lush world of the opals. They were already admired as symbols of the most fervent love in ancient times, in India and in the ancient Persian kingdom, and among the peoples of Central America and the Amerindians.

Conchoidal fracture pattern, characterized by smooth, curved surfaces with sharp edges. This distinctive pattern is a result of the way these materials break along flat planes of weakness.

The opposite of opal does not have a universally recognized term. However, some may consider diamond, as they are both precious gemstones but with very different characteristics.

Opals do not naturally occur in a true purple color. However, there are opals that can exhibit purple flash or play-of-color when viewed from certain angles due to diffraction of light. These opals are usually referred to as having purple "flash" rather than being completely purple.

Opal is composed primarily of silica and water. It is a mineraloid, not a true mineral, because it lacks a crystalline structure.