Australia is home to 95 percent of the world's supply of the precious gemstone, opal. Opal is most commonly found as a seam or filled-in portion of a crack in sandstone, and is usually identified by its striking rainbow of colors.
Identification
Opals are generally characterized by a smooth, rounded finish. Rainbows of color can be found within the gem and minuscule irregular streaks, cracks and pores indicate the stone's natural formation. Opal is found primarily in the Australian Outback lodged in boulders and sandstone.
Significance
Opal is the official gemstone of Australia, according to OpalsInformation.com, and is the precious stone associated with an October birthday. Opal's name comes "from Greek Opthalmios, 'the eye stone' or 'eye lotion'; from Latin Opalus, Gk. Opallios 'to see a change', from Sanskrit Upala 'precious stone'," according to the Opals Information website.
Prevention/Solution
Opal can be manufactured easily from glass or plastic. However, to spot a man-made stone look for a gem that lacks irregularity in its patterns of color (looks too perfect), is free of any particles of the sand or stone in which it would be found, feels lightweight or waxy, or fails to fluoresce or phosphoresce under UV light.
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