Australian boulder opal ring AA 925 silver - Size 50

Opal is an absolutely 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 gemstones and boulder opals are among the best known of the opal family.
Originating from Australia, these boulder opals are distinguished from other opals because they are extracted while still bound to the rock in which they were formed. In fact, boulder translates to rock in English. Boulder opal is native to the Queensland region of Australia, mainly in the southwestern regions.
The sedimentary rocks of this region date back to the Cretaceous era (-140 million to -65 million years BC). Most opals come from very arid regions, where during heavy rainfall, tiny particles of silica were dissolved. As soon as the water evaporated, these pieces crystallized into small spheres in the parent rock.
Thus, opals were born. Preserved by the extremely iron-rich mother rock, the boulder opal sees its properties increased. 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 opal of the Australian opals. Boulder opal comes in second. However, it only accounts for 2% of Australia's opal production. But this figure is expected to increase rapidly, as many areas where boulder opal can be mined are still unexplored.
Boulder opal forms in cracks and crevices in the host rock. The host rock is composed of multitudes of spheres from which light emerges and creates 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 have 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 like trapped in iron ore containing opal veins. The cutting is done by keeping a piece of rock around the opals. Iron has a higher hardness than opal (6 on the Mohs scale) and the cutting is tricky.
Boulder opal has an incredible charm, as it offers the contrast of the stone on iron ore. This contrast between the dark background and the bright color increases the value of the opal. 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 gives off a soothing and harmonious energy. Its wearer faces life's events with calm and lucidity. He is filled with serenity and well-being. He is well anchored on earth and enjoys the present moment, without suffering his past or worrying about his future.
In addition, the iron composing the matrix has a role of energy amplifier which increases the virtues of the boulder opal. The boulder opal encourages creativity, imagination and artistic gifts. Wearing this stone makes you want to create. It releases the spontaneity in each of us.
This stone helps to overcome psychological blockages often linked to childhood traumas. Boulder opal helps to better identify them and fight against their consequences. Thus, the wearer can move forward and overcome life's obstacles. He frees himself from the chains of the past.
Boulder opal boosts self-esteem and restores self-confidence. It provides more assurance and more openness towards others. It encourages a good quality of listening 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 correctly conveys the message.