Stone: Boulder Opal

Boulder Opal - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Australia

General Information: Boulder opal is one of the most valuable varieties of opal, second only to Australia's black opal. Fine specimens of boulder opal can exhibit all of the spectral colors through their distinct play of color. Boulder opal was first discovered in Quilpe, Western Australia, around the year 1870. Almost all boulder opal available today is from Western Queensland's opal-rich fields, confined to an area of about 200 to 300 square kilometers.

Physical Properties: Boulder opal is found embedded in large boulders of ironstone, which is how it earned its name. Occurring as pebble rock, precious opal develops within thin veins, fissures and hollows. As opal miners attempt to remove the embedded opal from the ironstone, some of the host matrix is preserved during the process. For this reason, boulder opal is sometimes referred to as 'opal in matrix'. 

Metaphysical properties: Boulder opal is thought to help alleviate depression and help find true love. Since boulder opal can display a wide array of colors, it possesses a range of healing abilities. Boulder opal is October's official birthstone. Boulder opal is also the zodiac stone for Cancer, Libra, Pisces and Scorpio, and it is the astrological gemstone for the sign of Virgo. Boulder opal is assigned to the element of fire, although it can enhance all of the elements. Boulder opal channels a projective energy that can benefit all chakras.

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Stone: Amethyst

Amethyst - Image by Sonatona

Country of Origin: Mainly found in Brazil. Other amethyst origins include Canada, India, Madagascar, Russia, and USA

General Information: Amethyst is one of the most precious and valuable stones belonging to the quartz group of minerals, with exception to rare blue-green gem silica. It is recognized as the official birthstone for the month of February.

Physical Properties: Amethyst belongs to the macrocrystalline branch of quartz and owes its violet/purple color to iron and aluminum impurities. Without such coloring agents, amethyst would simply be transparent, ordinary colorless quartz.

Metaphysical properties: Amethyst is the birthstone for those who are born in February or for the zodiacal sign of Pisces. Amethyst has healing powers to help with physical ailments, emotional issues, and in Energy Healing and Chakra balancing. Amethyst crystal therapies are primarily associated with physical ailments of the nervous system, the curing of nightmares and insomnia, and balancing the crown chakra.

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