Boulder Opal Cabochon

Boulder Opal is a type of opal that is still connected to its host rock, which is usually an iron stone or fossilized sandstone. During Boulder Opal formation, silica-rich water seeps into cracks & forms opal, when the silica spheres align perfectly you get precious opal or opal with play-of-color. The size of the silica determines the flashes of color that you see. The smaller spheres will give you blue and then you go all the way up the rainbow to the largest sphere, red. Opal actually breaks light instead of reflecting it like most other gemstones. Light entering in the gem wraps around the silica sphere and causes the light to break into spectral colors.

It is impossible to remove this opal from its host rock without damaging the opal & typically the seams of opal are so thin it would not be worth the effort.

Boulder Opal is only found in one part of the world - Queensland, Australia. It was first discovered in Australia at Quilpie, Western Queensland around 1870.

Opal is derived from the Greek word opallios, which means seeing a change of color. That Greek word modifies the ancient Indian Sanskrit upala, meaning precious stone.

In addition to the generic properties of Opal, Boulder Opal is said to aid inner beauty & faithfulness.  It may help recall past lives, enhance mental clarity, emotional security, physical well-being, & spiritual progression.

These unique gemstones symbolize serenity, specifically of the soul. Their bending colors reflect the chaotic and mixed emotions humans manifest.