Beauty of opals

The name of this stone comes from the Latin upalus, which, in turn, is derived from the Sanskrit word upala – “precious stone”. This indicates that opal first came to Europe from India. In ancient Rome the word pronounced opalus, which means a stone consisting of parts, most accurately guessing the nature of opal. Opals are really very beautiful gemstones. Pliny described them as frozen drops of rain.
Opal is an amorphous variety of quartz, formed by homogeneous microscopic silica grains, which can be seen only with the help of an electron microscope. The final color of the stone is determined by the distribution of these grains and the amount of water between them (the content of the water varies from 3 to 21%). You know, opal is able to absorb the liquid of any consistency and color, so its tone varies depending on the color of the liquid. The main opal deposits are in Australia and in Mexico. Beautiful samples of milk opal are found in China.

Since ancient times there was a dual relation to opal. For some people it is a symbol of power and luck, while for others it is a bad stone. The ancient Greeks believed that opal had prophetic powers. For the Romans it was a symbol of hope. The Arabs claimed that the opals were pieces of lightning that fell to the ground. In the Roman era, these gemstones were mined in the territory of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, but today these deposits are completely depleted.

Milky-white opal gives the person peace and harmony. It is very good for meditation, helps to identify your strengths and weaknesses and to realize the deep needs. In modern lithotherapy, it is believed that opal has a beneficial effect on those who seek to gain emotional balance, overcome confusion, find meaning in life. Since ancient times, opal had been used to treat diseases of the stomach, kidneys and inflammatory processes. It is assumed that this mineral treats nervous diseases, relieves insomnia and nightmares. Also opal cleanses the blood, removes toxins from the body, stimulates blood-forming function, improves blood circulation, and is used to prevent heart disease.

Wood opal is the result of fossilization of a tree that turns into opal in the process of gradual substitution of the raw material (wood fibers) with silicon. As a result, the stone retains the structure of the tree, its veins and even the rings of growth. The main supplier of wood opal is Australia, followed by the United States. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that opal, wrapped in a laurel leaf, made its owner invisible. The Romans believed that this stone was useful for artists, developed intuition and directed creativity.

Blue opal helps to achieve harmony between the two hemispheres of the brain, it serves as a kind of bridge between the abstract and concrete mind, revealing the ability to cognize the world and expand mental horizons. In addition, it is considered a stone of communication, fidelity and hope. The gemstone brings good luck, success in business and victory in love. Lithotherapy suggests that this mineral treats nervous diseases, relieves insomnia, removes the effects of stressful situations. Also blue opal is used to protect against infectious diseases and to prevent colds.
In addition, that opals are found on all continents of our planet, in 2008 scientists found them on Mars.
By the way, this gemstone is the official symbol of South Australia and the local women’s basketball team The Opals.