Pink Opal is a variety of common opal known for its stunning color that ranges from blush to coral. Pink Opal is a natural type of common opal that often contains Palygorskite & Chalcedony. Palygorskiteis a phyllosilicate that resembles opal, while Chalcedony is a microcrystalline quartz mineral.
Pink Opal ranges in hue from pastel pink to bubblegum pink, with other colors (white, black, peach, & sometimes yellow) frequently displayed in color zones or streaks. Some Pink Opals may even take on a lavender hue.
As a common Opal, Pink Opal is primarily composed of hydrated silica. Pink Opal forms when water evaporates from silica, leaving a gel behind that eventually solidifies into opal. Pink Opals get their color from small amounts of Quinones, organic compounds found in plants, that enter the stone during formation or from the presence of Manganese.
Egyptians called Pink Opal the Hope Stone, crowning the Pharaoh with it as a way to wish him luck & show faith in his efforts. Pink Opal played a part in ancient Roman politics as well. Romans believed the stone balanced or neutralized emotions, so political leaders used it to ensure romantic relationships wouldn’t get in the way of political proceedings. Cherokee tribes of North America honored Pink Opal as one of their seven sacred gemstones. Incan tribes in South America used Pink Opal to communicate with deities or spirits, particularly the Mother Goddess, Pachamama.
It was known as The Stone of Spiritual Awakening in Greek mythology for its purported connection to the divine. Opals formed from the joyful tears Zeus wept after defeating the Titans, & were seen as blessings dropped from heaven.
