Fire Opal: History, Types And Uses

Fire Opal: History, Types And Uses
Posted On : 29 Jul

There is nothing like an imaginary world that exists in this whole universe. Because whatever you imagine through your imagination is here on this earth. One such example of that is fire opal. Yes, you heard it right, this is an amazing stone that you won’t believe on seeing it for the first time. It has such a vibrant appearance, that it should not come as less than a surprise to you.

 

Fire Opal

 

Fire opal belongs to the opal family. When droplets of water with the richness of silica fall into the veins and cracks of the earth. Henceforth evaporation happens and the deposit is left behind. Then it takes 5-6 million years to form an opal deposit.

Because it looks like a burning stone or stone with fire it is named Fire Opal. And it comes in red, orange and yellow hues. It also has another name: Mexican opal in the gemological world. Opal categories in two forms, precious and common.

Fire opals belong to the precious category as they carry iridescence. Iridescence is a natural phenomenon in which the surface of an object gradually changes color depending on the angle we view it. Common opal does not have iridescence.

Fire opal gemstone is considered the zodiac birthstone for Libra.

fire opal

History Of Fire Opal

 

The Mayans and Aztecs first discovered the fire opal stone, and named it “the stone of the bird of paradise”. It was much earlier during the ancient civilizations. But it was the year 1835 when more deposits were discovered and mined. Till then it was a forgotten precious gem.

With the beginning of commercial mining, it has been produced ever since. It is the national stone of Mexico. So, Mexico’s national stone has spiritual meanings and spreads love, passion, and prosperity. You will not resist the feeling of passion while gazing at this red stone.

Aztecs also used this wonderful gemstone for various purposes. They used fire opal stone to enhance the power of religious rituals, creating mosaics, and adorning those with high status in Mexican fire opal jewelry.

In the 1500s, when Spanish conquistadors shifted back to Central America, they carried these fire opals back to Spain, to establish them in Europe. This gemstone’s cultural value started from the Bronze Age and continued through the eons of the Roman and Ancient empires of Greece and to the Middle Ages.

More recently, a couple in Brazil accidentally found a top-quality fire opal. They named it “Dourada Fire Opal” after the Portuguese meaning of “golden” which is Dourada.  Particularly Dourada fire opal gemstones have vibrant yellow and orange hues, massive sizes, and good clarity but lack play of color quality.

fire opal stone

Types Of Fire Opal

 

Fire opals majorly are of two types:

 

1. Precious Fire Opal

 

Precious fire opals also called noble fire opals display play-of-color quality. They are considered much better than the common fire opal stone because they have more qualities and variations. They are more valuable than the common fire opals.

 

2. Common Fire Opal

 

Common fire opals don’t show as many qualities as precious fire opals. They don’t have iridescence. The value of common opals is less than the precious fire opals. They can be found easily as compared to precious fire opals.

 

There some other types of fire opal also exist which include:

 

Cantera Opal: Mexican fire opal crystal in matrix with pink rhyolite, speckled and cut into egg-like shapes.

Matrix Fire Opal: These are the ones when fire opals disperse within their host rock.

Contra Luz Fire Opal: The name of this opal came from Spanish meaning against light. If lit from behind, this precious fire opal stone seems to float a play of color from inside.

 

Uses Of Fire Opal

 

Fire opals are getting used in various things because their beauty lends itself to many creative applications.

 

Jewelry Uses

 

The major use of fire opal is in the jewelry itself. Jewelry is in love with this stone and people are in love with the jewelry having this stone. You will see it in everything from cabochon necklaces to natural-looking rings. You can buy fire opal stone online today in the form of jewelry. 

buy fire opal stone online

 

Other Uses

 

Apart from jewelry, they are also used for meditation, natural chakra healing, and inspiring meanings. They have even been used in sculptures, meticulously crafted home décor, and figurines. Also, Fire opals have a connection with fire elements, so they are getting used to that too. For these purposes also you can buy fire opal stone online to gain the benefits. 

 

Conclusion

 

Fire opals are all about finding joy and optimism. They have a fascinating history from ancient times to the modern age. They can be available as precious fire opals and common fire opals. And they represent the zodiac sign for Libra. Fire opal has a similar density to Ethiopian opal.

Fire opals have been used in various forms of jewelry, artifacts, and home décor. They are said to have symbolic values for the positive changes in wearers' lives. If you desire to buy, you don't need to travel, you can buy fire opal stones online also. They are helpful for meditation, and to attract positive energies to your life.