Now, you’re probably already aware that the opal is the traditional birthstone for October (and I’ll bet you think you’re pretty darn clever) but did you know that it is also the official gemstone of South Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia? Huh? I mean, it makes sense, considering Australia produces about 97% of the world’s opal and is the home of the Olympic Australis Opal – the largest and most valuable uncut gem opal ever to be found. It’s even the name of their national women’s basketball team. 

            Now white opal is actually pretty common and can be found all over the world, but the gem ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, shore, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black (reds against black are the most rare).

            What it comes down to, see, is that opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock (hence its seeming abundance). And while most precious opals are wood replacements, opal can also form and replace fossils which, of course, are quite popular with collectors.

            So now that you have a little background knowledge on these beautiful geological occurrences, take a look around. And when you’re friends are admiring your new birthstone necklace, you can nonchalantly say, “Well it’s not the Olympic Australis, but it works for me.”