Where do the best opals in the world come from?
Where do the best opals in the world come from?
More than 90% of the world’s precious opals come from Australia, and the rest can be found in other parts of the world such as Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Ethiopia and USA. Opals from Mexico (called “Mexican Opal”) has more water and is transparent or extremely translucent.
Why is most opal in as Australia?
Much of the world’s precious opal is mined in the harsh outback of Australia, where a unique combination of geological conditions permitted the formation of opal near the margins of an ancient inland sea. Australia is regarded as the world’s leading source of opal and of the world’s finest opal.
Which state produces the most opals?
Australian opal has been cited as accounting for 95–97% of the world’s supply of precious opal, with the state of South Australia accounting for 80% of the world’s supply.
Where is the largest opal mine?
Australia produces roughly 95% of the world’s precious opal, including black opal. This most valuable variety is found at Lightning Ridge, the largest producer of opal by value. However, the town of Coober Pedy is the largest producer by mass.
Which is better Ethiopian or Australian opals?
The most amazing difference between these two forms of Opal: Australian opal loves water and is impervious to most chemicals and the effects of soap/water exposure. Ethiopian opal, when exposed to water, will lose its color play in its entirety, and when it drys the color play returns!
What is the rarest opal color?
Additionally, black opals are considered to be the rarest (white opals are more common). An opal with a translucent to opaque white and other light color backgrounds (bodycolor) with play-of-color is called white opal. Fire opal is transparent to translucent with a bodycolor that is usually yellow, orange or red.
