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 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 highly sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.

Being somewhat soft, they scratch easily. Realize that a large component of ordinary dust is quartz at 7 (Mohs scale) in 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 with its strong play of color.

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 its cousins, good-quality fire opal is clear and clean. Lesser grades tend to take a cloudy appearance.

Cut
Fire opals are usually facetted, but can also be seen en cabochon.

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
Opal is often impregnated with oil, wax, or plastic.

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.