Tanzanite — the single-source wonder
Alexandrite — the color-shifting chameleon
Painite — once the world's rarest mineral
Larimar — the volcanic sea stone
Black Opal — the dark rainbow
007skaty Opalized Dinosaur Fossils
Ancient bones turned into gems! (Oh yeah!) Shifting rainbow light on them! (So bright!)
007skaty A simple $30 sale of stones from the first 1902 commercial shafts triggered a rush that changed the remote Australian outback forever.
007skaty An orderly internal grid of hydrated silicon dioxide acts as a natural prism.
007skaty Match light patterns to the shadow gem to discover how rare crystals refract light.
State gemstone: Black opal was officially designated as the state gemstone of New South Wales, Australia, in 2008.
A rare variety of precious opal with a dark body tone that showcases a vibrant play of color. In November 1903, prospector Charles Nettleton sold the first commercial parcel of these gems mined in Australia.
In which Australian state is the famous opal-mining town of Lightning Ridge located?
007skaty The black opal earns its title as king of opals because rare red fire flashes drive prices over $11,000 per carat.
Who was the boundary rider credited with digging the first commercial black opal shafts at Lightning Ridge in 1902?
What is the scientific term for the rainbow-like flashes of light displayed by precious opals?
What microscopic structure inside precious opal is responsible for bending light to create its rainbow colors?
What is the name of the dark, common opal backing that enhances a black opal's colors?
What unique fossils found at Lightning Ridge have been completely replaced by color-flashing precious opal?
What geological feature existed millions of years ago where Lightning Ridge is now located?
Which color flash is considered the rarest and most valuable in a black opal's play-of-color?