Are black opals rare?

Black opals are exceptionally rare in that they are known to form in only one place: Australia. In fact, most of the opals found on the continent are from the town of Lightning Ridge. To put this into perspective, Vatican City has a population of 1,000 and Lightning Ridge has just over double that.
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Are black opals valuable?

By comparison, black opals are the most valuable form of opal – due to their dark body tone and the resulting vibrant play of colour. Top of the range gem quality black opal can fetch prices up to AUD $15,000 per carat. However, just because an opal is black doesn't make it valuable.
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Is black opal worth more than diamond?

Black Australian opals are worth up to $10,000 per carat, which is far more expensive than common diamond.
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What is the rarest color opal?

Additionally, black opals are considered to be the rarest (white opals are more common). An opal with a translucent to opaque white and other light color backgrounds (bodycolor) with play-of-color is called white opal. Fire opal is transparent to translucent with a bodycolor that is usually yellow, orange or red.
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Why is Black Opal so valuable?

Black opals are so expensive because they're so hard to find. The gems are formed when a solution of silicone dioxide and water evaporates from the cracks of sandstone and the darker the body tone, the more desirable a black opal.
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Why Black Opal Is So Expensive | So Expensive



How old are black opals?

Black opal began forming way back in the Cretaceous period, between 145 to 65 million years ago. Eons ago, the interior of the island of Australia was entirely awash in seawater. Slowly, the water receded and refilled over millions of years, creating sandy deposits entrenched in silica along the island's shoreline.
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How can you tell if a black opal is real?

Most genuine solid opals have an irregularity in this area – curved or bumpy due to their natural formation – whereas a man-made stone will be perfectly flat because the two sections are flattened so they can be glued together. Be especially wary if the opal is set in jewellery and you cannot see its back or side.
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What countries have Black Opal?

This area is famous for the rare and fabulous black opal, known to occur in only two places on Earth: Virgin Valley, Nevada and New South Wales, Australia.
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Do opals glow under a blacklight?

The most common minerals and rocks that glow under UV light are fluorite, calcite, aragonite, opal, apatite, chalcedony, corundum (ruby and sapphire), scheelite, selenite, smithsonite, sphalerite, sodalite.
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Which opal is most expensive?

Black opal is the most prized opal and may realise prices over AUD $15,000 a carat. Boulder opals also have a dark body tone. White opals have a light body tone and are generally the least valuable form of opal.
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What is the rarest gemstone?

Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.
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Are black opals only found in Australia?

Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world's precious opal and it is our official national gemstone.
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Which opal is best?

Black opals are the most prized. These gems have a black or dark blue background and show their play of color most vividly. Prices for fine to extra fine quality gems usually range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per carat.
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Why are Ethiopian opals so cheap?

It might seem a tad bit odd, but Ethiopian opals are cheap because they don't control the market. Sure, they are a bit rarer than Australian, but they have to compete with opal royalty. The only way Ethiopian opal sellers can turn a profit is if they offer their gems at a lower price point.
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Who can wear black opal?

Who should wear Opal? Opal is highly recommended to someone, who has Mahadasha or Antardasha of Venus (Shukra) in the horoscope. Indian astrology assigns Opal ratna for Tula (Libra) and Vrishabha (Taurus) rashi. Western astrology recommends opal birthstone for Libra sign.
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What do black opals look like?

Black opal is the most valuable type of opal and it is predominantly found in Lightning Ridge. It is called black opal due to the dark body tone of the gem. This dark body tone appears because the natural backing or tint of the stone is dark grey or black common potch (opal without colour).
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Can opal be Botryoidal?

Pink Opal forms botryoidal layers.
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What opals glow in the dark?

The Vibrant Glow of Electric Hyalite Opals. Opals are some of the most unique gems found on earth for their wide display of color. Fire opals are revered for their translucent coloring with flashes of red and yellow hues. Lightning ridge opals are a darker variety with splashes of red and green.
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What is the biggest black opal ever found?

The largest black opal weighs 11,340.95 carats (2,268.19 grams; 80 oz) and measures 2,450 x 1,460 x 527 mm (96.45 x 57.48 x 20.74 in). It is owned by Dallas, Judith, Shannon, Jeffery and Ken Westbrook (all Australia). The black opal was found in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia.
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Does opal fade in sunlight?

Myth: Strong light can cause an opal to dry out. Fact: Strong light will only make your opal shine brighter. However, be wary of very hot lights as extreme heat can cause opals to expand and crack. Myth: Rubbing oil or detergent on your opal will damage or discolour it.
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What are smoked opals?

Smoke is a suspension of very fine particles in air or gas. Fine smoke particles can enter the pore spaces of opal and change its body color. The smoke treatment can be done by wrapping the opal in paper and heating the paper to a temperature that produces smoldering.
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Are pink opals real?

Pink Opal is a natural, pink colored gem-variety of the Common Opal which is composed of Opal, Palygorskite and Chalcedony. This slightly translucent to opaque gemstone is valued for its unique pink hue, pleasing lustre and high durability rather than the play of color.
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Are Blue opals real?

Blue common opal is a highly regarded variety of common opal best known from sources in Peru, Oregon, and Indonesia. Owyhee blue opal mined in Oregon ranges in color from a light to a dark pastel blue. Blue opal beads from Peru sometimes contain tiny translucent zones with play-of-color.
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Are there fake opals?

Please note, triplets, doublets, or synthetic opals can be a great affordable substitute for natural opal. However, you should always be aware of what you are purchasing, to avoid being overcharged or misled.
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