Opal smykkesten

Opal smykkesten har en hårdhed på 5.5 – 6.5 på Mohs skala

Opal har månen og solens energier, det er en sten der giver glade drømme. Kan bruges til at åbne for det okulte. Giver forståelse for de højere magter. Det er dybest set en måne sten og har kvindelige energi. Bringer klarhed ved at forstærke og spejle følelser. Bringer følelser op til overfladen. Hjælper med at “løsne op” og blive mere spontan.

Opaler kan findes i hulrum i vulkanske sten, her blev de blev skabt for millioner år siden. Opaler findes i et utal af variationer, i alle regnbuens farver, de er alle unikke ikke to er ens. De kan f.eks. være helt klare og orange eller ugennemsigtige med et fascinerende mønster og farvespil. Karakteristisk for alle opaler er deres flotte farvespil, som skifter/forandres, når opalen vendes eller drejes i lyset.

Stjernetegn: krebs, vægt, Skorpion og Fisk

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Opal smykkesten Color

Opal can occur in many colors including white, colorless, pale yellow, pale red, gray, brown and black. Diffraction can cause flashes of any color of the rainbow which can be seen in opal’s color play. Yellow, blue and green are most common, whereas violet, red and orange are the rarest colors seen through play of color. Opalescence is usually milky blue in color, but it can occur in rarer colors. The saturation of body color, the play of color and the transparency determine an opal’s value.

Opal smykkesten Clarity and Luster

Opal smykkesten gemstones can occur transparent to opaque. Transparent to translucent materials are typically more valuable than opaque materials. Almost all opal will have some visible internal fractures or inclusions such as patches, potch (common opal) or matrix rock inclusions. Opal tends to exhibit a waxy to resinous luster which helps accentuate play of color and opalescence. Finer stones often have a vitreous luster.

Opal smykkesten Cut and Shape

Opals are usually cut into shapes which maximize and preserve the weight of the rough opal. They are often cut en cabochon and depending on the opal color bar, it may be cut with low or high domes in order to maximize play of color and adularescence. Opal can also be faceted, most often seen with ‘fire opal’. Opals can be found in many shapes, including traditional ovals, rounds and cushions, as well as fancy hearts, marquises and trillions. Opal is often carved into ornaments.

Opal smykkesten Treatment

Opal is typically untreated, but it may be impregnated with oil, wax, or plastic to enhance color and stability. It may also be layered for durability. ‘Smoking’ treatments are now more common than before. ‘Smoking’ of opal is done to darken body color which enhances play of color, most often seen with Ethiopian opal. There are forms of synthesized opal available. Technically they are ‘imitation opal’ as they often include substances like plastic, which are not found in natural opal.

Opal Facts, Information and Description

Most opal is 50-65 million years old, dating back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Opal formed as silica from decomposing rocks mixed with ground water which formed a silica gel that collected and hardened in underground cavities and fissures. Opal’s chemical formula is SiO2 .nH2O.

There are two distinct types of opal, common and precious. The way the silica particles form determines which type. In precious opal, silica particles are packed in regular rows and layers. Moving the stone causes light to diffract, or split, as it grazes the opal surface. This light diffusion shows iridescent flashes of green, blue, aqua and sometimes yellowish or red colors which are referred to as “fire”.

Color and Varieties:

Black Opal comes from the Lightning Ridge region of Northern New South Wales. It is the most rare and valuable opal. Fine quality black opals often cost more per carat than diamonds. The term black opal is misleading because the opal is not actually black, but instead has a very dark base. This dark base enhances the brilliant colors known as fire.

Boulder opal occurs in the boulder opal belt, an area between the New South Wales border and northwest Queensland. Boulder opal forms on a dark ironstone base (the host rock) and occurs as a thin uneven layer adhering to the ironstone. Because of the uneven layers, sometimes part of the ironstone is visible on the surface of the stone. Queensland Boulder Opal accounts for a small percent of the world market, and because of its brilliance and rarity can bring up to $1000 a carat.

Boulder opals are graded into specific groups (listed below) which have been defined by the Australian Gemological Association:

Light opal is the most common type of opal found and refers to both the crystal type opal (translucent) and the milky opal (opaque). It is the most common variety of opal and is generally less expensive than gem quality light opal. Brilliantly colored light opals may be quite expensive with a value exceeding some Black and Boulder Opals.

Brilliance or luster is one of the primary factors that determine an opal’s value. An opal with strong intensity and color play adds more value.

Folklore & Legend: 

Opal has soft relaxing energies. Legend says that it takes the tension out of communication and helps ideas flow freely. It softens the impact of stress from the outside world and can help one to release the trauma of old wounds. It facilitates facing the future with a tranquil healing nature.

This stone is reported to be good for quieting the mind and as an aid to sleep.

Opal takes its name from the Latin word Upala meaning precious stone. The Roman scholar Pliny described opal as having the fire of carbuncle (a deep red garnet) and the brilliance of amethyst with the green color of emerald. The Romans believed opal was the symbol of hope and purity. They called it cupid paederos (child as beautiful as love) and thought the wearer safe from disease.

The Arabs believed that opals fell from heaven in flashes of lightning. Ancient Greeks also believed the opal had the power of giving foresight and the light of prophecy to their owners. Cleopatra is said to have worn an opal to attract the attention of Mark Anthony.

Aborigines believe they have lived in Australia since the beginning of all creation. This culture has produced many myths and legends about opals over this span of time and the Aborigines believe the opal has a spiritual value. They believe the opal represents something an ancestor left behind as a sign of his or her presence. The Wangkumara people have a legend which tells how their people gained fire from opal stones, with the assistance of a Muda – a Creator who switches from human form to pelican. This story is preserved in a book of Aboriginal legends, titled ‘The Opal that Turned into Fire’, compiled by Janet Mathews and published by Magabala Books. This legend recounts how the Wangkumara people decided to send a pelican (Muda) to explore the Northern Territory, so he could return and tell them what was there. The pelican set off with all the fish and water he would need for the journey stored in the pouch beneath his beak. After flying a while the pelican felt ill and landed on top of a hill that the Wangkumara later named Bildimini. While resting the pelican observed the ground beneath him and was amazed by its magnificent array of colors.

Although he did not know it, what he saw was opal. The pelican was so curious he began to peck at the colored stones with his beak. Suddenly, a spark flew out and lit the dry grass nearby. The flames rose and spread slowly across the plains approaching a group of Wangkumara who were camping near Cooper’s Creek. The people were able to use the fire to cook their meat and fish for the first time, and were grateful for this new gift.

Another legend tells how an earlier Muda, also in pelican form, created Cooper’s Creek for the Wangkumara and filled it with fish. Wounded by a spear, this Muda died on the hill that would be called Bildimini. His blood and the water in his pouch flowed down the hillside, soaking into the earth and hardening into opal and gold.

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