Opal is mineraloid gel, usually containing 5 - 10 percent water. It is therefore non-crystalline, unlike most other gemstones, and may eventually dry out and crack. There are two varieties: precious opal, which shows flashes of colour (iridescence), depending on the angle of viewing; and common or "potch" opal, which is often opaque and displays no iridescence.

The iridescence of precious opal is caused by the way the structure, a regular arrangement of tiny silica spheres, diffracts light - the larger the spheres, the greater the range of colours. Opals are found in almost all colors. Opals having play of color are mostly sought by gem industry.

Opal fills cavities in sedimentary rocks, or veins in igneous rocks. It forms stalagmites or stalactites, and replaces organic material in fossil wood, shell, and bone. Australia has been the main producer of opals since the 19th century. Other localities include Czechoslovakia, United States, Brazil, Mexico, and Southern Africa.

Opals have been imitated by Slocum stone, a tough, man-made glass, and in 1973 Gilson made an imitation opal in the laboratory.

Chemical Composition: 

SiO₂.nH₂O + Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na in traces. Some contain small amounts of radioactive elements. Water percentage is variable.

Classification / Type: 

Types of Natural Opal

1. Natural Opal type 1: Opal presented in one piece in its natural state (apart from cutting or polishing) and is of substantially homogenous chemical composition.
2. Natural Opal type 2: Opal presented in one piece where the opal is naturally attached too the host rock in which it was formed and the host rock is of a different chemical composition. E.g.: Boulder Opal.
3. Natural Opal type 3: Opal presented in one piece where the opal is intimately diffused as infillings of pores or holes between grains of the host rock in which it was formed. E.g.: Matrix Opal.

Colors / Varieties: 

The variety of natural opal is determined by body color and transparency.

• White Opal with play of color
• White (Potch) Opal without play of color
• Black Opal with play of color
• Boulder Opal
• Matrix Opal
• Hydrophane Opal - play of color seen in water
• Fire (Orange) Opal with or without play of color
• Opal Cat's Eye

Crystal System / Forms: 

Amorphous. Aggregates, concretions, botryoidal.

Hardness: 

5.5 - 6.5

Specific Gravity: 

1.98 - 2.20

Cleavage / Fracture: 

None / Uneven.

Optic Character: 

Isotropic (S.R.), A.D.R. (S.R.), A.G.G.

Lustre: 

Vitreous.

Refractive Index / Birefringence: 

1.44 - 1.47; Hydrated Opals: can go upto 1.40 / Nil.

Pleochroism: 

None.

Dispersion: 

None.

Magnification: 

Crystalline inclusions (needles of hornblende, quartz and goethite), flow structures, cloud like inclusions, dendritic inclusions (cristobalite).

U.V. Fluorescence: 

In some strong white under shortwave and longwave. Persistent green phosphorescence.

Spectrum: 

Not characteristic.

Cause of Phenomenon: 

• The play of color is caused by the diffraction of light from the spheres of silica gel in the opal structure. Specific colors are seen depending on the size of the silica gel and their arrangement in the structure.
• Opalescence or the milky effects in white opals are due to scattering of white light by particles within the stone.
• Opal cat's eye is caused by the presence of parallel fibers of chiastolite (these fibers tend to give a D.R. reaction under the polariscope and an incorrect effect of D.R. for the stone).

Treatment (Enhancement): 

• Colorless impregnation with oil plastic, polymers prevents crack formation and improves play of color.
• Colored impregnation (dyeing) to darker shades to improve the play of color effect.
• Smoke impregnation darkens the body color and in some case may be a surface treatment only. It can be identified by the black cloud like patches, loses its play of color in water which returns as the stone dries and may have lower S.G.'s.
• Sugar treatment darkens the body color and can be identified by the black spotted pattern like pepper.

Specific Tests: 

• The body tone refers to the relative darkness or lightness of the opal, while ignoring its play of color. Opal with a distinctly colored body e.g. dark yellow, dark blue etc. should be classified as black, dark or light opals while referring to body tone.
• Opal contains water and any sudden changes in temperature may cause it to crack or fracture.

Synthesis: 

Synthesized by the gel growth process. Identified by mosaic pattern within which a lizard skin / chicken wire pattern is seen, columnar structure seen from the girdle and zoning.

Simulants (with separation tests): 

• Gilson created opal or Synthetic Opal (structure, inclusions).
• Slocum glass (stable color flashes, S.G., inclusions)
• Opalite is a plastic imitation with play of color (R.I., S.G., inclusions)
• Composite (doublet and triplet)
• Chalcedony (R.I., S.G.)

Geological Occurrence: 

Sedimentary rocks and low temperature solutions bearing silica percolate through rocks.

Sources: 

Australia, Mexico, China, Brazil, U.S.A. (California), Indonesia.

Cuts & Uses: 

Facetted cuts, cabochons, beads, etc.