Opal is one of the most beautiful gemstones found in Brazil, however, this stone or gem is not so well known here.
A pity, after all, besides being valuable, Opal is beautiful and its brilliance really impresses. It can reflect all the colours of the spectrum and even shines brighter than diamonds.
The name “opal” comes from Sanskrit (upala) which, translated into Portuguese, means “precious stone”.
And speaking of preciousness, good quality Opals are so valued in the world that they can cost US$20,000 per carat.
But there are also opal jewellery of excellent quality with a more affordable price.
If you do not know Opal or know little about it, keep reading our article and check out precious information about this gem!
Video about the Opal Stone conquered the jewellery stores of the world
Pedra Opala conquistou as joalherias do mundo inteiro
See also Pedro II is a city full of history, precious stones and archaeological sites
What is Opal?
This gemstone is a hydrated amorphous silica and its percentage of water reaches 30%.
The colour of opal can be uniform and milky, but most of the time, several shades of gemstones can blend into a single Opal. This is because there is a diffraction of light inside the stone, which makes possible the incredible play of colours it produces.
Origin of Opal
According to Pliny, a Roman writer, Opal arose from the glory of several gems: “from the soft fire of the Ruby, from the rich purple of the Amethyst and from the sea green of the Emerald”.
Poetisations aside, Opal takes around 60 million years to form. Yet another reason why it is so precious!
The Opal in Brazil
The Brazilian Opal was discovered in Pedro II, a municipality in Piauí, in 1930, known as the Land of Opal.
With Portuguese colonisation, the region has several waterfalls and a rich handicraft in weaving.
It is there that the only national reserve of noble Opal is installed, which is the second largest in the world. In 1958, the stone began to be exported and became known and appreciated worldwide, especially the furta cor stones.
In addition, the city is a good example of trade relations. The stone market is structured around associations linked to mining and cutting, ensuring organised mining to preserve the region and fair working conditions.
Features of the stone
Opal is a stone that has an unmistakable shine and its most common colours are white and green. However, it can be found in many other shades, such as grey, orange, red, yellow, green, magenta, blue, pink, brown, olive and black.
