| Fire opal is an unusual variety of opal from Mexico. You will find two main types of fire opal. One is a translucent yellow, orange or red with no play of color. The other is brownish and has a play of color somewhat similar to the better known precious opal. Fire opals, like all opals, are delicate gemstones, sensitive to stress. Thus they are best suited for earrings, brooches, and pendants and need to be treated carefully. Opal is the birthstone for those born in October.
Fire Opal colors
Buying Fire Opal
Where is Fire Opal found?
Common Fire Opal Treatments
World-famous Fire Opal
Fire Opal gemology
Fire Opal legends & lore
Fire Opal colors
The colors range from yellow to orange to brown and red. The best stones usually show a vivid burnt red-orange combination. Buying Fire Opal
Play of color, body color and transparency are the criteria which determine the price of a fire opal.
Opals are delicate gemstones. Their most significant weakness has to do with their water content. If an opal is allowed to dry, it will crack and fade. If you live in a very dry climate, or keep them in a dehumidified room, some precautions are necessary. Keeping them in a tight plastic bag, with a damp piece of cotton or fabric will prevent dehydration. Because of their water content, opals are also sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.
Being somewhat soft, they scratch easily. Realize that a large component of ordinary dust is quartz at 7 on the (Mohs scale) of hardness. At 5.5 to 6 in hardness, simply wiping the dust off an opal will gradually reduce its polish. The solution is to clean your opals using a soft cloth.
Opals are best suited for earrings, brooches, and pendants.
Color
The rarest and thus the most highly esteemed, is the intense orange-red color of the fire opal from Mexico.
Lighting
Fire opal looks best viewed in daylight (just after sunrise and before sunset), which exposes its exceptional fire and color play most favorable.
Clarity
Unlike many opals, good-quality fire opal can be translucent to transparent. Lesser grades tend to take a cloudy appearance.
Cut
Fire opals are often facetted, but can also be seen en cabochon. The brown fire opals exhibiting a play or color are always cut as cabochons. Fire Opal location and deposits
The finest fire opals are found in Mexico. Other deposits are in Brazil, Guatemala, the United States and Australia. Common Fire Opal treatments
Fire opals is usually untreated. World-famous Fire Opal
Fame could be in reach if the growth of demand continues, since the known deposits may fall short in contributing the needed supplies. Fire Opal gemology
Species: Opal
Color: Yellow to orange, orange red
Chemical composition: SiO2 .nH2O hydrous silicon dioxide
Crystal system: Amorphous; kidney- or grape-shaped aggregates
Hardness: 5.5-6.5 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 1.98 - 2.50
Refractive index: 1.37 - 1.52
Birefringence: None
Optical character:
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: 700 - 640, 590 - 400
Fluorescence: greenish to brown The Fire Opal zodiac, myth & legend
The name opal comes from the Greek "Opallus" which means to see a change in color. Later, the Latin word "opalus" evolved, meaning precious stone.
For ages people have believed in the healing power of Opal. It is reported to be able to solve depressions and to help its wearer find the true and real love.
Opal is the birthstone for those who are born in October. |
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