![]() ![]() In fact, there was even an “opal rush” in the 1900s. Historians understand that the high demand and cultural value of opal continued from the Bronze Age, through the eras of Ancient Greece and the Roman empire, and into the Middle Ages. In fact, the Ancient Romans called it “opalus” meaning “precious stone.” And it is presumed the Romans were the first to truly monetize opal types. But the marketing demand for opal has been captivating buyers and traders since the eras of the Roman Empire. Other major mining operations exist in Australia, Mexico, and the United States. Some regions of modern-day Ethiopia are reportedly the earliest mining locations for Fire Opal, and currently remain an abundant source. History and Culture of OpalĪs indicated by archeological discoveries, historians believe opals were first mined in East Africa, at or around the Bronze Age. Thus, fire opals do not classify as minerals, nor are they considered sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rocks. Opal itself lacks the structural organization necessary to form crystals. And fire opals are amorphous mineraloids that comprise hydrated silica (SiO 2 There are different types of fire opal that vary in play-of-color, background color, and origin. ![]() Chemical Composition: Hydrated Silica (SiO 2įire opal is any specimen of an opal gemstone that naturally displays a dominant red, orange, or yellow color.Specific Gravity: 2.15 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm 3).Luster: Subviteous Translucent/Transparent Opaque.Color: Variable with reddish-orange play as well as other spectrum colors.Although opal isn’t a proper mineral, professional geologists still perform physical-properties tests on the mineraloid in the same fashion as a mineral.
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