Opal stone

The name opal comes from the ancient Indian "upala" = gemstone, and already bore its name in ancient Greece. Opals are found all over the world, Boulder opal, honey opal and blue opal in Australia, fire opal in Mexico, precious opal in the USA, Brazil, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Slovakia and many more...

The categorisation of opals is intended to provide an overview of the endless variety of this mineral:

1. classification of opals according to colour play and transparency:

Crystal opal, precious opal, jelly, common opal, potch, opalite.

2. classification of opals according to body colour:

black opal, dark opal, light opal, fire opal.

3. classification of opals according to appearance:

Bilder opal, boulder opal, contra-luz opal, HArlekin opal, cat eye, leopard opal, matrix opal, rolling fish, yowah nut.

The colour of opals varies depending on the different opal. Precious opals are very often faked, for example by dyeing or impregnating.

Mineral class of the oxides

Mohs hardness: 5.5 - 6
Density: 1.98 - 2.50
Cleavage: none, fracture conchoidal, splintery, brittle
Stroke colour: white
Transparency: precious opal transparent to translucent, common opal translucent to opaque

Healing properties
Precious opal: zest for life, fantasy, creativity

Andean opal: calmness, thinking, talking, acting

Blue opal: communication, empathy

Chloropal/green opal: helps against mental exhaustion, fear and feelings of guilt

Honey opal/gold opal: self-confidence, helps against depression