Opal

Encourages originality – bring out loyalty – emphasizes love

Australia produces over 90 per cent of world’s precious opals. Opals are mysterious, very precious gemstones that have an enormous sparkle in them, featuring many different colors. Opals are formed by earth during an extraordinary episode of acidic weathering, during the drying out of the central Australian landscape.

Between 100 million and 97 million years ago, a vast sea that covered 60 per cent of Australia began retreating. This drying out of Australia’s center increased the acidity level at shallow depth, releasing silica through the weathering of sandtone. Further weathering then lowered the acidity to a level at which precious opal can form in the silica-rich gel.

The only other place in which such levels of acidic weathering of this scale have ever taken place is on the surface of Mars.

Opal is formed from a solution of silicon dioxide and water. As water runs down through the earth, it picks up the silica from standstone, and carries this silica-rich solution intro cracks and voids, casues b natural faults or decomposing fossils. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind a siica deposit, which in time creates opal.

The name ‘Opal’ is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit ‘upala’, meaning ‘precious stone’, and late the Greek derivative ‘Opallios’, meaning ‘to see a change in color’. The opalescense appears as a vivid color play, which often has a blue or orange overall tone.

Opal is referred to as a stone strongly associated with the emotions. There the emphasis is on love, passion and spontaneity. Opal is said to help in visualization, imagination, healing and dreams. Wearing an opal is said to bring out loyalty and faithfulness. The precious stone will inspire originality and boost creativity.

The meaning of opal in aspect to healing properties, lies in that it can help in the treatment of various infections and fevers. The stone can also purify your blood and kidneys. It has the ability to regulate the insulin levels in your body and detoxifying the liver. Opal can also help in childbirth and ease the symptoms of PMS.

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