Among the variety of wonders generated by nature, there is an amazing stone - black opal, rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and mysterious minerals on the planet. Thanks to its characteristic only for him, a mysterious overflow of colors, called "opalescence", this stone has attracted the eyes of artists, jewelers and followers of various kinds of occult teachings for centuries.
Description of black opal
Opal is nothing more than a natural mineral composed of silicon dioxide and water, the content of which averages 5-13%, but in some cases can reach 30%. Moreover, the higher its content, the more transparent the stone is. In the case of a complete lack of water, it becomes covered with cracks and may even crumble.
In addition to black opal, the photo of which is given in the article, in nature there are many of its varieties, painted in the most bizarre way. A special group is the so-called hyalites - transparent or milky-white opals. In addition, there are also darker varieties of stone. Hecan have all shades of blue, be rich green, brown, bright red or amber yellow. It is noted that in nature there are no two absolutely identical minerals of this type, since each of them has its own unique iridescent pattern. At the same time, black opal is the most expensive and sought after.
Natural features of the stone and its varieties
It is impossible to call opal a solid mineral, because at its core it does not have a crystalline structure. A stone is formed in the bowels of the earth from liquid silica, which has solidified, but retained a certain amount of water. Opal can also appear in cavities of petrified lava filled with siliceous helium after volcanic eruptions. It is curious that if you place this stone in water, it will gradually swell and change its color.
With a certain degree of conventionality, these minerals are divided into several types:
- black opal - a stone with a dark gray or completely black base;
- white - it is characterized by a milky white color, characterized by a large number of shades;
- fiery - representing the whole spectrum of red-brown tones;
- hydrofan - includes all varieties of green, while, if you lower it into water, it becomes transparent;
- harlequin is an absolutely transparent mineral.
In addition, according to their properties, these stones are divided into two groups - noble and ordinary opals.
Legends that survived the ages
It is not surprising that opals with such unique properties have attracted the eyes of people from time immemorial. It is known, for example, that the ancient Greeks associated their origin with the name of Zeus himself. According to legend, once this supreme celestial, having defeated the titans, burst into tears of joy, and the drops falling from his eyes to the ground immediately turned into multi-colored opals.
The appearance of this amazing mineral on earth was also reflected in the ancient Indian epic. It is said that the goddess of the rainbow once lived on the banks of the Ganges. She was beautiful and was once harassed by a we althy voluptuary (Wansteins were enough at all times). Fleeing from him, the goddess fell and, hitting the ground, crumbled into many fragments of amazing beauty, which were later called opals.
The Aborigines of Australia have put together a proper legend. According to them, the creator of the world once descended from heaven to convey to people the highest knowledge. Bypassing the earth, he left traces on it, which shimmered with all possible colors. Over time, they hardened and turned into opals of unprecedented beauty.
Curious historical facts
This stone was also credited with magical properties that were manifested in real events. It is known, for example, that the favorite black opal of the Roman emperor Caligula on the eve of his death unexpectedly cracked. Of course, this was regarded as a clear omen of death and fanned himdark glory.
A very funny case, also associated with this mineral, has been preserved in history. It is said that Emperor Constantine publicly declared that the magical properties of black opal allowed anyone who wears it to become invisible if desired. Thanks to such advertising, the stones were immediately bought up by thieves of all stripes, who hoped to go unpunished with their help. As a result, many of them paid the price for their gullibility. This stone did not bring happiness to Napoleon Bonaparte either. After he gave his wife Josephine his famous Fire of Troy opal, their marriage fell apart.
Magic stone mining
Opal is quite common in nature and can be found in all countries of the world. Mexico, the USA, Kazakhstan and Indonesia are especially rich in it. But the most valuable samples of noble black opal are mined almost exclusively in Australia. From there, 95% of this valuable mineral enters the world market. The largest number of its deposits, known since the end of the 19th century, is located in the southeastern part of the mainland. The stones mined there are the most highly valued in the world market.
The magical properties of the stone
From time immemorial, it was believed that all minerals are to some extent connected with the other world, which allows them to perform various magical actions with their help. This was especially true of black opal, the properties of which provided rich food for human imagination. It was believed, in particular, that he has an unusually strong energy and isthe best protection against black magic. In addition, the stone was credited with the ability to reveal in people the ability to occultism allegedly inherent in them. For this reason, black opal has always been a favorite stone of all sorcerers and witches, which often caused fear.
This stone spoiled its already very dubious reputation in the past centuries, as it was an integral part of many poisons in crushed form. In addition, it was believed that he had the ability to cause a feeling of hostility to the donor, bordering on hatred (recall the conflict between Napoleon and Josephine). For this reason, it is not recommended to choose opal (especially black) as a friendly and even more so romantic gift.
Attempts at the medical use of the mineral
Despite all the negatives listed above, opal was often endowed with healing properties, which was the reason for its use in medicine. Thus, it was considered an effective remedy for the treatment of diseases of the nervous system. It has been repeatedly tried to be used for insomnia, depression, as well as for various mental disorders.
At one time there was even an opinion that this mineral is able to increase a person's immunity to colds, and doctors who adhere to this point of view recommended that patients regularly drink water infused with it. There are also known attempts to use black opal to improve visual acuity. In particular, it was believed that prolonged staring at the stone helps to reduce eye pressure.
Bmodern lithotherapy - alternative medicine that practices treatment using minerals, it is used for diseases of the cardiovascular system. However, most experts question the medical properties of black opal stone.
Zodiac signs that this mineral suits
Because opal is believed to have a strong energy, it is recommended to wear it to those born under the sign of Scorpio. It is believed that in this way their inherent natural energy will be greatly enhanced by the stone. For the same reason, opal jewelry can have a beneficial effect on anyone whose astrological sign is Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius. As for people born under the sign of Capricorn, for them this stone can become a reliable protection against stress and anxiety.
It should also be noted that each stone can only be best combined with well-defined names. So, among women, opal will suit Albins and Marinas, and among men - Stefans and Vitalys.
Beware of fakes
Although not a gemstone, opal is also often the target of the most crude fakes. Therefore, when buying it, you should be careful not to be a victim of scammers. First of all, you need to keep in mind that natural stone cannot be cheap, and if the price of the proposed product is low, then this is probably its imitation. Further, examining the stone, you should pay attention to how the colors that make it up touch each other. If a clear border is visible between them, then this is probably a fake, since in natural stone the color transition is always smooth.
There is another way to detect deception, although it is not always applicable in its specificity. You need to touch the surface of the stone with your tongue. If a slight sticking is felt, then this is probably an artificial substitute, since natural opal does not create such an effect. This method is simple and effective, but the trouble is that it is not always convenient to lick the goods on display.
