Opal
Properties of opal
Opal is a member of the mineral family. Composed of hydrated silica with inclusions of various elements, its water content ranges from 3 to 20% depending on the variety and type of stone. Opal has a transparency that ranges from translucent to opaque. Its luster varies from vitreous to dull, including pearly, resinous, greasy, etc. Although it resists exposure to flame, opal still acquires a dull, crackling luster under the heat. Its hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.
There are two main varieties of opals. Noble opals are iridescent in nature, with a brilliance that borrows all the colors of the light spectrum. Highly prized by jewelers, they are the rarest and most expensive. The other variety of opal is more common. They come in unique colors and are available under various names such as fire opals (red to yellow), white milk opals, wood opals, hyalite (colorless or slightly tinged with blue or green), and frozen opal (gray-blue).
The most interesting opal deposits are found mainly in North America, Mexico, the United States and Canada, but also in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Brazil... Australia is currently the country that produces the most opals in the world.
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History of the Opal
The term opal is said to derive from the Sanskrit word upala, meaning "precious stone." This word is believed to have later given rise to the Greek word opallion and then the Latin word opalus. Following this etymology, some suggest that the first opals discovered by the Romans originated in India.
Opals have been used in the myths and legends of many civilizations and tribes. For the Greeks and Romans, it was a stone of purity that favored clairvoyance and prophecy. For the Aboriginal people of Australia, the opal was the result of a visit from the deity who created their ancestors on Earth. Having walked across the rainbow to reach the land where she stood, the stones began to shimmer with the colors of the light spectrum.
Until the end of the Renaissance in Europe, the opal was always considered a powerful good luck charm worn by kings and powerful people in the courts of the kingdoms of the old continent.
Benefits of opal
Each opal has its own virtues and characteristics that differentiate it according to its shape, color, composition, etc.... Therefore, we will try to cite the general characteristics and benefits common to all opals.
For the body, opal has calming and pain-relieving properties. It also has antiseptic properties that help heal infections. Its beneficial effects regulate the kidneys and bladder, as well as gastric and digestive disorders.
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On a psychic and spiritual level, opal is the quintessential stone of loving feelings. A symbol of tenderness and purity, it reinforces positive qualities and bestows joy, clear vision, and purified intuition, free from the negative disturbances of daily life. Some opals, such as black opal, act as stimulants against fatigue and apathy. Its spiritual action encourages transcendence of the ego and unlocks the mind from all restrictions and barriers, promoting spiritual elevation. A stone of courage and wisdom, it will be the perfect ally for facing life's challenges. Opal's preferred chakras are the crown chakra, the root chakra, the heart chakra, and the solar plexus chakra.
The most favorable astrological signs for opal vary depending on the stone's color. It's worth noting that light-colored stones are particularly favorable for the signs of Cancer, Aquarius, Gemini, Sagittarius, Pisces, and so on.
Purification is easily achieved by immersing the stone in distilled water. To gently charge it, simply expose it to moonlight. Exposure to sunlight is believed to give it strength and intensity.
