Types of Opal

Opal, derived from the Latin Opalus, means “the beauty of the gem.” Ancient Roman natural scientist Pliny once said: “On an opal stone, you can see the ruby flame, the amethyst-like stains, the emerald green sea, the colorful, seamless, beautiful.”

In Europe, Opal was known as a Roman Empire and was of great value. According to Pliny, the Nunnery of the Senate has a very beautiful opal. He is very fond of it. At that time, the ruler Anthony asked him to give it, otherwise, he would be exiled. As a result, Nominating chose to go to exile and refused to offer Opal to Anthony.

What prompted people to look for opal stones under such conditions? Why do many people think that opal stone is the most beautiful and attractive of all gems? The answer lies in the fact that its beauty is unique. A good opal stone produces a flame-like appearance. This appearance has only been found in very few substances, but it has not been found in other gemstones, and it has attracted people’s interest and intoxication in ancient times. This phenomenon of flame-like appearance caused by diffraction of light is called color change. This is the identification feature of opal stone and its main attraction as a gemstone. opal has become the most prized stone for fall in the United States.

Opal classification

1. Natural Opal

Natural opal is a whole natural gemstone that has been mined directly and has not been artificially treated. What we call the original opal is the natural opal that can be appreciated after being cut, polished and polished on the basis of natural opal. The original Opal is divided into the following categories:

2. Black Opal

In the shade of the dark body, the color is bright, we call it black opal. Black Opal is the most famous and expensive opal variety produced in Leiden Ninrich, New South Wales, Australia. Black opal does not mean that it is completely black, but its body color is darker than that of the opal with a lighter body tone.

3. White Opal

Some people call it “milk opal.” White Opal presents a light-colored embryonic hue, mainly produced in Coober Pedy, South Australia. White opal has a relatively large color tone and a relatively large yield. White opal can’t be as bright and contrasting as black opal. However, the high-quality white opal with very beautiful colors is also found.

4. Boulder Opal

Boulder Opal is made up of inseparable iron ore by a color that can be rendered in color, mainly in Queensland, Australia. This opal can only be cut together with iron ore. The thin color opal is wrapped on the surface of the iron ore. The color of the opal looks very beautiful due to the contrast of dark iron ore. Sparkling opals come in different shapes and sizes, small as peas, and large ones that can have a family car. Sometimes a whole piece of Boulder Opal has a natural split at the joint to divide it into two halves, and there are two opal surfaces that seem polished. The thin surface layer of the opal is often destroyed during the ore cutting process.

5. Crystal Opal

Crystal Opal can be any of the above, except that its embryoid tones are transparent or translucent. You can even see other items behind you through Crystal Opal. Crystal Opal can have dark and light colored body tones, so we call them “Crystal Black Opal” or “Crystal White Opal” depending on the shade of the body.

6. The Matrix Opal

Matrix Opal is a type of boulder opal where the opal appears to be inlayed within its host rock. Matrix boulder opal consists of opaline silica within the crevices and pores of ironstone from Queensland, so that the ironstone can be seen from the face.

How to find Opals