The Birthstone for October: Opal

The opal is an October birthstone. The opal is a unique gemstone with a play of color and iridescence that flashes across its surface. It can be found in many different colors including white, black, blue and greenish blue as well as brownish red.
Opals are formed when water seeps into cracks in rocks over millions of years and fills them with silica gel (a type of mineral). Pressure causes the gel to crystallize into beautiful shapes called “opal gems” which are then cut into stones by skilled craftsmen who have learned how to work with this precious material since ancient times

Where Does the Opal Come From?

This is a type of quartz that gets its color from the impurities in the stone. The most common colors are white, black and grey but you can also find them in blue, green and orange.
The opal is found all over the world but most of them come from Australia and Ethiopia. It’s also mined in Brazil and Lightning Ridge in Australia. In America there is an area called “Opal Hill” which produces about 90% of all US opals!

What is the Meaning?

The opal is a symbol of hope and innocence. It’s also a stone that represents purity, balance and unique color patterns. The opal has the ability to adapt to any situation or environment it’s placed in – which makes it an excellent choice for those who are trying to maintain peace within their lives.
The Opal is associated with:

• Hope
• Innocence/purity (especially when paired with another birthstone)

What are the Healing Properties?

The opal is a stone of emotional and spiritual balance, bringing a sense of calmness to your life. It also helps you to overcome stress and depression, as well as soothing anxiety. The opal has healing properties for arthritis and joint pain, helping to ease inflammation in these areas.

What are the Different Types?

You may have heard of the different types of opals, but what are they?

• Round Cut: This is the most common type of opal and can be found in many different colors. It’s also known as a white opal because it has no color variation throughout its body.
• Oval Cut: This type of stone gets its name from its oval shape and is usually cut into a pendant or ring setting for maximum shine!
• Marquise Cut: This fancy cut resembles an arrowhead with pointed ends on each side of the stone’s face. It’s often used to accentuate other gemstones like diamonds or sapphires when set together in jewelry pieces like engagement rings or wedding bands!
• Pear Cut: A pear-shaped stone will have rounded edges at both ends while having flat sides along its length (think about how an actual pear looks). These kinds tend not to show off much color unless they’re set against another darker background–but don’t worry–they still look great on their own too!