The main varieties of common opal are agate opal and moss or dendritic opal. Just in case some of the terms are unfamiliar there s glossary of terms following the text. Common opal sometimes called potch is usually colorless or white but the presence of fine grained impurities may color it gray brown yellow or red. Black opal is characterized by its dark body tone or body color meaning that though there are many colors within an opal the main background color is deeply colored. Scientifically precious opal is known as sio2 nh2o.
Unlike any other gem opals can display all the colours of the rainbow in an iridescent moving pattern of red green blue yellow purple aqua pink and any other colour you can imagine. The fire opal is a transparent or translucent opal ranging in color from yellow to orange to bright red. Peruvian opal also called blue opal is a semi opaque to opaque blue green stone found in peru which is often cut to include the matrix in the more opaque stones. Precious opal will diffract light creating a spectrum of colors whereas potch has no diffraction and no opal color. However it can come in any color some of which are quite attractive.
However the bodycolor of opal can be any color. The most desired and beautiful form of opal is black opal which is opal with a dark blue dark green or black background with a strong play of color. Opal is also formed by diatoms. Black opals have a dark base and predominantly reflect blue green and gray tones. Opal color is formed in the internal structures of precious opal.
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Opal is made up of tightly packed minute silica spheres only 0 00001 inches wide. Fire opals contain sparks of intense fiery colors including red orange and yellow. White opals have a white milk toned base color while still emitting a gorgeous pastel spectrum of color. Potch accounts for 80 to 90 of all opal and has no commercial value. The play of color of precious opal displays spectral colors of red orange yellow green blue and violet.Common opal is usually opaque to translucent and brownish orange in color. These deep tones allow for the other colors in the opal to look much brighter than within a white opal counterpart. Blue opal also comes from oregon and idaho in the owyhee region as well as from nevada around the virgin valley. Some of the most beautiful common opals are red orange pink green or blue. Next in importance is white opal which is opal with a light colored body color white yellow cream etc with strong play of color.
Precious opal shows a play of spectral colors through the stone whereas common opal does not. Commonly having a bodycolor of white yellow gray black or brown. Ok this article on opal color is not an earth science geology or chemistry lesson but since many folks wonder what makes opals glow in a rainbow of colors here s a quick explanation that s hopefully not too technical. Precious opal shows a play of spectral colors through the stone whereas common opal does not. Common opal is usually opaque to translucent and brownish orange in color.
Ok this article on opal color is not an earth science geology or chemistry lesson but since many folks wonder what makes opals glow in a rainbow of colors here s a quick explanation that s hopefully not too technical. Opal is made up of tightly packed minute silica spheres only 0 00001 inches wide. However the bodycolor of opal can be any color. Unlike any other gem opals can display all the colours of the rainbow in an iridescent moving pattern of red green blue yellow purple aqua pink and any other colour you can imagine. The main varieties of common opal are agate opal and moss or dendritic opal.
