Home · Crystals & Stones · Opal

Opal — meaning, properties & history

Opal

Hydrated silica that holds a spectrum inside a single stone.

Physical Characteristics

◈

Hardness Mohs 6

⌬

Composition SiO₂·nH₂O

❅

Mineral Family Mineraloid (Silica)

✦

Lustre Vitreous to resinous

Raw Opal Rs 1,050

October birthstone

Associations

☉

Planet ♀ Venus

♋

Zodiac ♋ Cancer, ♎ Libra, ♏ Scorpio, ♓ Pisces

△

Element Water

✺

Chakra Crown

◆

Birthstone October

FromRs 1,050

View Opal products →

Healing Properties

Emotional expression
Creativity
Inspiration
Amplifying emotion
Spontaneity
Love and passion

Colour

Milky white

Fire orange

Sea green

About Opal

Hydrated silica that holds a spectrum inside a single stone.

History

The name traces through the Latin 'opalus' to the Sanskrit 'upala', meaning precious stone. Pliny the Elder praised opal as combining the fire of ruby, the purple of amethyst and the green of emerald in one gem, and Roman lore tells of the senator Nonius, who chose exile over surrendering his prized opal to Mark Antony. The stone's undeserved reputation for bad luck is comparatively modern — it stems from Sir Walter Scott's 1829 novel 'Anne of Geierstein', not from any older tradition. Australia remains the principal source of fine opal today.

Care

☽Moonlight✦Reiki ☼Prolonged sun⚠Harsh chemicals