Australian boulder opal A (rolled stone)

Dimensions:
About 15-25mm

Weight:
Between 5 and 10g

Origin:
Australia

Grade:
A = good

Australian boulder opal tumbled stone from 7 to 15g.
Sold individually.
Shapes and colors vary from one stone to another.

Opal is a truly unique stone. No crystal structure in nature resembles that of opal: millions of tiny spheres gathered in an amorphous mass (without crystallized form).
Carved opals discovered in a cave in Kenya and mined in Ethiopia have been dated to 4,000 BC. Opals are truly precious gemstones, and boulder opals are among the best-known members of the opal family.

Native to Australia, these boulder opals are distinguished from other opals by their being mined while still bound to the rock in which they formed. Boulder, in fact, translates to "rock" in English. Boulder opals are native to the Queensland region of Australia, primarily in the southwest.

The sedimentary rocks of this region date back to the Cretaceous period (140 million to 65 million years BC). Most opals come from very arid regions, where during heavy rainfall, tiny silica particles were dissolved. As the water evaporated, these pieces crystallized into small spheres in the parent rock.

Thus, opals were born. Preserved by the extremely iron-rich parent rock, boulder opal's properties are enhanced. Indeed, iron is an energy amplifier and also a conductor of electrical energy.

In 1869, the first specimens of boulder opals were discovered. Two years later, the first mine was opened. These incredible opals caused a sensation at the London Gem Exhibition in 1893.

In Australia, black opal remains the most traded Australian opal. Boulder opal comes in second. However, it only accounts for 2% of opal production in Australia. But this figure is expected to increase rapidly, as many areas where boulder opal can be mined remain unexplored.

Boulder opal forms in cracks and crevices in the host rock. This rock is composed of multitudes of spheres from which light emerges, creating incredible colors.

The largest spheres are red and the smallest are blue. Red spheres are rarer. Thus, red or orange boulder opals will be more expensive than the lower ones in blue and green. In reality, there is no typical color of a boulder opal. A boulder opal can present all the colors of the rainbow with a phenomenon of iridescence (property of certain surfaces to change color depending on the angle of view or illumination). Therefore, boulder opals, when moved, have various colors that can flash before the eyes.

Boulder opal is trapped in iron ore containing opal veins. It is cut by keeping a piece of rock around the opals. Iron has a higher hardness than opal (6 on the Mohs scale), making it difficult to cut.
Boulder opal has incredible charm, as it offers the contrast of the stone against iron ore. This contrast between the dark background and the bright color increases the opal's value. Boulder opal is one of the most valuable stones in the opal family.

The main deposits are located in Australia, Canada and Brazil.

In lithotherapy, boulder opal exudes a calming and harmonious energy. Its wearer faces life's events with calm and lucidity. They are filled with serenity and well-being. They are firmly grounded and enjoy the present moment, without being burdened by their past or worrying about their future.
Furthermore, the iron in the matrix acts as an energy amplifier, enhancing the virtues of boulder opal. Boulder opal encourages creativity, imagination, and artistic talents. Wearing this stone inspires creativity. It unleashes the spontaneity within each of us.

This stone helps overcome psychological blocks often linked to childhood trauma. Boulder opal helps to better identify these and combat their consequences. Thus, the wearer can move forward and overcome life's obstacles. It frees itself from the shackles of the past.
Boulder opal boosts self-esteem and restores self-confidence. It provides greater self-confidence and openness toward others. It encourages excellent listening skills and understanding of one's interlocutor. It allows people to overcome their shyness.
This stone is a stone of communication and exchange. It breaks down barriers and frees speech. The speech is clear, well-constructed, and conveys the message correctly.