The Amazing Australia Gem Opal

Australia gem opal is officially the national gemstone of Australia - since 28th July 1994 & dominated the world market by virtue of its sheer quality & look.

According to the oxford dictionary the work 'Opal' is late 16th century: from French opale or Latin opalus, probably based on Sanskrit upala 'precious stone' (having been first brought from India). It's interesting that Opal named 'precious stone' not Diamond, Ruby, Emerald or Sapphire :-)

Now Australia takes pride in being the proud supplier of more than 95% of the world's total supply of commercial grade Australia gem opal.

The Australia gem opal came into light around 1840 with the discovery of greenish common opal near Angaston of South Australia by the famous German geologist, Professor Johannes Menge.

Later in 1868, Australia gem was mined from the Listowel Downs Station to the south of Blackall in Western Queensland area & evaluation in England confirmed it to be of precious opal type.

The Australia gem opal stone are basically crystalline minerals with a deep stack of millions of spherical amorphous silica particles in a three dimensional grating pattern.

They are one of the most valued gemstones in our society & adored because of its unique natural ability to split the ordinary sunlight or white light into marvellous rainbow colors.

The Australian opal come in different varieties. The majority of the World's demand is for precious Australian black opal which only comes from Lightning.

It's appeal is due to its usual dark natural backing which helps to enhance the play of colour. It is simular to how some paintings are painted on a black canvas which in turn helps enhance the picture that is painted over it.

Boulder opals are another popular type of Opal which is mostly traced in the cracks & crevices of ironstone boulders. They come in many attractive varieties starting from crystal to black & are cut in thin layers so as to maintain their beauty.

Australian white opal is the most abundant and is found in Coober Pedy area.

The Australian opal will always be a prized possession whether used in varied jewellery designs or by itself as a loose stone of specimen.

Though Australian opals are well known for their timeless beauty, the other Opal varieties of starting to become more well known (crystal, matrix, boulder, pipe, Andamooka, Yowah & Lambina etc).

It is the birthstone of October & is widely used for its great metaphysical properties. Its main spiritual property is to help with creativity and it is easy to see why - it's defiantly not dull!

If you would like to discover Wonder Boulder Opal Jewellery Click here

why do you like this stone?

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