"Stones with a Soul"..... the indian's believe that handmade creations take on the soul of the maker. It is called "manitou"...
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OPAL STONES |OPAL ROCKS
History of Australian Opal.
From the Aboriginal Dream time to modern day.... opals play an important roll.
The Aborigines of Australia have a legend. They say The Creator came down to Earth on a rainbow to give a message of peace to all mankind. The place where The Creator's foot toughed the earth the stones became alive, they started to sparkle in all the colors of the rainbow. And that is how Opals were created.
From the Aboriginal Dream time to modern day.... opals play an important roll.
The Aborigines of Australia have a legend. They say The Creator came down to Earth on a rainbow to give a message of peace to all mankind. The place where The Creator's foot toughed the earth the stones became alive, they started to sparkle in all the colors of the rainbow. And that is how Opals were created.
Opal is one of the five precious gems of the world, the others being Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond and Ruby. Like DNA, opals are unique and no two are exactly the same. There are many types of opal and they are all precious gems. There is the very beautiful crystal opal, white opal, black opal, boulder opal, matrix opal, and yowah nut opal. Black opal tends to be the most rare although other factors such as brilliance, colour and pattern come into play. For example, a top quality, brilliant crystal opal will be of a greater higher quality than a black opal of lower brilliance and less colour.
Over 100 million years ago the middle of Australia was an inland sea thriving with marine life.
As the sea receded these sea creatures were left to die in the mud and sediment of the sea floor.
The marine life which took the longest to decay such as the cartilage or the calcified shell would leave a cavity in the sandstone or seabed.
This cavity was then filled with silica and formed the beautiful opalized belemnite pipes, seashells and prehistoric fossils that we marvel at today.
Over 100 million years ago the middle of Australia was an inland sea thriving with marine life.
As the sea receded these sea creatures were left to die in the mud and sediment of the sea floor.
The marine life which took the longest to decay such as the cartilage or the calcified shell would leave a cavity in the sandstone or seabed.
This cavity was then filled with silica and formed the beautiful opalized belemnite pipes, seashells and prehistoric fossils that we marvel at today.
DESCRIBING OPAL
Since opal was declared Australia's National Gemstone in 1993, the descriptive terminology has been clarified and standardised. There are two types of opal: Precious opal, which has a "play of colour"; and Common opal (sometimes called potch), which has none.
Since opal was declared Australia's National Gemstone in 1993, the descriptive terminology has been clarified and standardised. There are two types of opal: Precious opal, which has a "play of colour"; and Common opal (sometimes called potch), which has none.
PRECIOUS OPAL
There are three types of precious opal:
* Solid opal, which is opal throughout the stone.
* Boulder opal, which is inseparable from it's backing of host rock, or matrix.
* Matrix opal, which is opal distributed in small veins and pores throughout the matrix and polished in one piece with it.
There are three types of precious opal:
* Solid opal, which is opal throughout the stone.
* Boulder opal, which is inseparable from it's backing of host rock, or matrix.
* Matrix opal, which is opal distributed in small veins and pores throughout the matrix and polished in one piece with it.
Background colour
Precious opal is described by it's colour(body tone) and transparency.
*Light to white opal has a light coloured body tone.
* Dark to black opal has a dark to very dark (black) body tone.
* Crystal opal is semi-transparent or transparent.
Precious opal is described by it's colour(body tone) and transparency.
*Light to white opal has a light coloured body tone.
* Dark to black opal has a dark to very dark (black) body tone.
* Crystal opal is semi-transparent or transparent.
Composites,
inexpensive gemstones are made by cementing thin slices of precious opal to other material.
* doublets (two pieces): opal backed by another material.
* triplets (three pieces): a slice of opal, a backing and a transparent top layer.
inexpensive gemstones are made by cementing thin slices of precious opal to other material.
* doublets (two pieces): opal backed by another material.
* triplets (three pieces): a slice of opal, a backing and a transparent top layer.
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