The Fire of Australia Opal
-
Australian opals
When you first hear the term "opal", you may think of a fire opal gemstone or mineral. However, Australian fire opals are more than just stones. They are also a very important part of Australian culture, from jewelry to artwork. They are incredibly beautiful and have a unique history.These Australian opals have a relatively average amount of opalescence, and their color tends to be a warm milky orange. They are found in Queensland, and Australia, and are popular in jewelry. They are generally polished and rarely faceted and have a Mohs hardness rating of 5.5 to 6.5. These gemstones are considered precious because they are said to encourage freedom and happiness.
Australian fire opals are also known as boulder opals. They grow on boulders of ironstone, typically in Queensland. The boulders can range in size from a pea to a family car. They are a rare type of opal, as they tend to cleave and split, giving two distinct opal faces.
Mexican opals
Mexican opals are known as "fire opals." They come from the Mexican state of Queretaro and are often found in polished rhyolite matrix. This makes them unique. They are also very rare and are only found in certain parts of the country.Mexican opals are highly prized because of their color and play of light. The opals form within the rhyolite host rock, which can be very difficult to remove. However, some cutters have successfully cut rhyolite cabs with windows that display the fire opals. Such cabs are referred to as cantera opals.
These gemstones originated in ancient volcanic areas of Mexico. They were formed when water was trapped in silica-rich lava. The high volcanic temperatures changed the silica-rich lava into a gem.
Brazilian opals
Certified Fire opals stones are transparent gemstones with a beautiful reddish-orange color. The opals are quite rare and expensive. They can be found in small deposits in Brazil, Guatemala, Canada, and Turkey. Brazilian fire opals have a low water content, making them relatively durable jewelry stones. However, they should be cleaned carefully, using a soft toothbrush.Although Mexico has traditionally dominated the Fire Opal market, new deposits have been found near Soledade, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This new deposit is known for its incredible diaphaneity and brilliance. The name 'Fire Opal' is derived from the Portuguese word 'golden'.
The most important deposits of Brazilian opals are found in the semi-arid region of Piaui State, in two main areas - Pedro Segundo and Buriti dos Montes. The area around Pedro Segundo was named after the famous Brazilian Emperor Don Pedro Segundo. The first opal gemstone was found there in the late 1930s. Today, there are significant deposits within the 200 square-kilometre area around the city of Pedro Segundo.
Ethiopian opals
Ethiopian fire opals are among the largest opals in the world. They are characterized by their incredible play of color, and chatoyancy (flame-like markings). They can also have striking bands of color, called zoning, indicating that the gemstone has been formed by layers. Several different opal varieties occur in this region, including the rare Ethiopian fire opal.The color of Ethiopian fire opals ranges from milky white to light amber. These opals can be treated to appear white or golden, depending on their base coloring. This gemstone is incredibly versatile and can be included in jewelry pieces in a variety of settings. Ethiopian fire opals are incredibly beautiful and make beautiful pendants, necklaces, and earrings.
Ethiopian fire opals are not as expensive as Australian fire opals, and they're a lot cheaper! The only downside to these certified gemstones is that it is rarer than Australian opal, which means that its prices are lower. However, this doesn't mean that Ethiopian opals don't exist in large quantities - there's a lot of them available.