Opal
Physical Information
Opal is a form of silica that contains water (usually 3–10%). Unlike most crystals it has no crystal structure – it is built from tiny silica spheres. In precious opal these spheres are stacked in a regular pattern, and when light passes through them it splits into flashes of rainbow colour, known as play-of-colour. Opals without this effect, such as pink or common opal, are called common opal and are loved for their soft, milky colours.
The most famous sources are Australia, Ethiopia, Mexico and Madagascar. Before the Australian fields were discovered, Europe's finest opal came from the historic mines of the Kingdom of Hungary (today in eastern Slovakia), and it was known around the world as “Hungarian opal”. Opal is fairly soft (5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale), so protect it from knocks, heat and sudden temperature changes.
Metaphysical Properties
Opal is known as a stone of inspiration and emotion. Its changing colours are believed to encourage creativity, spontaneity and self-expression, and to help bring hidden feelings to the surface so they can be understood and released. Artists, writers and dreamers have long treasured it.
Opal is associated with the heart and crown chakras and is the traditional birthstone of October. It is said to amplify the energy around it, so many people wear it together with calm, grounding stones.
