OPAL GEMSTONE  CHEMICAL COMPOSITION:

OPAL IS A MINERALOID WITH THE CHEMICAL FORMULA SIO2.NH2O, WHICH MEANS IT'S MADE UP OF HYDRATED SILICA AND WATER. THE WATER CONTENT CAN RANGE FROM 3–21% BY WEIGHT, BUT IS USUALLY BETWEEN 6–10%. BECAUSE OF ITS AMORPHOUS PROPERTIES, OPAL IS CLASSIFIED AS A MINERALOID, UNLIKE CRYSTALLINE FORMS OF SILICA, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED MINERALS.

OPALS FORM WHEN HOT SILICA-RICH SOLUTIONS PERMEATE CRACKS AND VOIDS IN THE GROUND. THIS CAN HAPPEN DURING THE ACIDIC WEATHERING OF ROCKS OR WHEN WATER-RICH FLUIDS CONTAINING SILICA FILL CRACKS IN ROCKS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN AUSTRALIA, THE DESERTS OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA WERE ONCE AN INLAND SEA THAT DEPOSITED SILICA-LADEN SEDIMENT AROUND ITS SHORELINE. AFTER THE SEA RECEDED, WEATHERING RELEASED SILICA INTO A SOLUTION THAT FILLED CRACKS IN ROCKS, CLAY LAYERS, AND EVEN FOSSILS. SOME OF THIS SILICA BECAME OPAL.

OPAL GEMSTONE ASTROLOGICAL BENEFIT :

IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY, OPALS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANET VENUS (SHUKRA), WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH ROMANCE, PASSION, RELATIONSHIPS, AND WEALTH. ACCORDING TO SOME, WEARING OPAL JEWELRY CAN HAVE MANY ASTROLOGICAL BENEFITS, INCLUDING:

LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS

OPALS CAN HELP CREATE HARMONY AND LOVE IN RELATIONSHIPS, AND IMPROVE PERSONAL GROWTH AND EMOTIONAL GAIN.

FINANCIAL PROSPERITY

OPALS ARE THOUGHT TO ATTRACT FINANCIAL PROSPERITY AND ABUNDANCE, AND CAN HELP WITH FINANCIAL SUCCESS AND STABILITY.

HOLISTIC WELL-BEING

OPALS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. THEY ARE SAID TO PROMOTE RELAXATION, REDUCE RESTLESSNESS, AND INDUCE A SENSE OF INNER PEACE. THEY CAN ALSO HELP BALANCE EMOTIONS, REDUCE STRESS, AND PROMOTE A CALM STATE OF MIND.

CREATIVITY

OPALS CAN FOSTER VENUSIAN ENERGIES, WHICH CAN BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN THE ARTS. THEY CAN HELP STIMULATE ORIGINALITY AND DYNAMIC CREATIVITY, AND ENCOURAGE AN INTEREST IN THE ARTS.

MENTAL CLARITY

OPALS CAN HELP BRING CLARITY TO UNCLEAR SITUATIONS OR FEELINGS. THEY CAN ALSO ENHANCE CONFIDENCE, SELF-WORTH, AND SELF-ESTEEM, AND HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND YOUR FULL POTENTIAL.

PROTECTION

OPALS ARE SAID TO BE PROTECTIVE STONES THAT CAN SHIELD YOU FROM NEGATIVITY.

HEALING

OPALS ARE SAID TO HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES THAT CAN AID IN TREATING LIVER, RENAL, AND HORMONAL DISEASES. THEY CAN ALSO HELP WITH RECOVERY AFTER A TRAUMATIC HEARTBREAK.

SOME SAY THAT OPALS ARE PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE BORN UNDER THE SIGNS OF LIBRA, TAURUS, GEMINI, VIRGO, AND AQUARIUS.