| How can you tell one opal from another? What is | | | | Lightning Ridge in New South Wales in Australia |
| the difference between various opals? And why is | | | | and considered very rare and are the most |
| it important to do so? | | | | expensive of all opals |
| Opals are unique in that they are no gems or like | | | | White Opals, by contrast are almost cream and |
| diamonds or rubies, They are made of an entirely | | | | sometimes called a Milky Opal Being white they do |
| different material and like many other precious | | | | not show the internal color so well as the black |
| stones, have their differences and these can | | | | and are generally purchased as white opals only. In |
| equate to thousands of dollars so it is wise to | | | | an excellent quality stone however there can still |
| have some understanding of opals and the | | | | be seen some color flashing. These can be |
| differences between them. | | | | purchased relatively cheaply although a really good |
| Some of the more common opals available are: | | | | quality one can set you back a few hundred or |
| Black Opal | | | | thousand dollars. |
| White Opal | | | | Boulder Opals are different again. These have a |
| Boulder Opal | | | | solid layer of brown ironstone on the back of the |
| Crystal Opal | | | | stone. They originate from large ironstone |
| Fire Opal | | | | bounders, hence the name, underground. |
| Matrix Opal | | | | A Crystal opal can be the same as above but has |
| The Black Opal has a dark body tone which | | | | a transparent or semi-transparent body tone |
| causes a brightness of color unmatched by the | | | | which means you can see through the stone. |
| other opal types. Black Opals are only mined at | | | | |