“Boulder Opal Varieties

Boulder Opals are basically Opals found in the Australian state of Queensland where precious Opal material is still connected to the rock in which it formed – most often ironstone and sometimes sandstone.

Within this Boulder Opal family are two quite well known varieties called Koroit Opals and Yowah Opals which are both named after the mining areas in which they are found. They both have distinctive patterns and colors that make them stand out from other Boulder Opals.

Yowah - Opals with a delightful chocolate coloring in the surrounding rock and swirls of color

Koroit - interesting and alluring swirls of brightly colored precious Opal on a deep brown background

Boulder Opal Wood Fossils - formed in the gaps and crevices of wood which has fossilized into rock over millions of years creating a very unique look

Gemstone Clarity

When discussing the clarity of gemstones we usually mean how well we can see through the body of the stone and if there are any flaws or blemishes inside – known as inclusions in the gems trade.

Gemstones can be transparent, meaning we can look through it and see things or read words clearly and easily. Or they can be translucent where light shines through but we cannot make out shapes or images very well. Finally, we have opaque where light cannot pass through even when holding the gemstone up to a flashlight or the sun.

Clarity can be graded therefore all the way from being flawlessly transparent to opaque with various grades along the way.

With Boulder Opals still being connected to the solid rock in which they formed they will, of course, be completely opaque – no light is getting through solid ironstone. The precious Opal material itself, however, can be microscopically transparent on the surface allowing us to see clearly through to the mesmerizing play-of-color.

Boulder Opals are never faceted but cut into cabochons. These cabochon cuts can be in interesting or odd shapes to capture the best colors and patterns in the rough rock. They can also be uneven or 'undulating' on the surface as the polisher reveals hidden splashes of color caught in nooks and crannies.

Spiritual Meaning of Boulder Opal

Opals in general have a long history of use in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome symbolizing love, hope, purity, prophecy, health and healing. The Greeks thought they were the solidified tears of Zeus, the Arabs said they were trapped lightning that fell from the skies and Babylonians claimed the Storm God was jealous of the Rainbow God and smashed the Rainbow and it fell to the ground as opals.

Boulder Opals are only truly found in Australia and there are many Aborigine legends associated with this magical gemstone. One tribe has it that Opals were created by the scales of the Rainbow Serpent which fell to the ground as he set about shaping the mountains, lakes and rivers of Earth. Another says fire was discovered when a pelican pecked at an Opal and yet another myth has the Rainbow Creator coming to Earth and Opals being forged where his foot touched the ground.

Boulder Opals have the spiritual capacities of precious Opal combined with the influence of the ironstone or sandstone to which it is still attached. This unique combination gives this gemstone influence in both earthly functions and as well as more metaphysical energies.

It will give you emotional balance and security while also helping you attain your dreams, desires and aspirations. You can chase your wildest ambitions knowing you will have grounded thoughts when having to make decisions or dealing with difficult situations.

The opal is a gemstone of passion, linked with desire, lust and seduction, freeing inhibitions and inspiring love. To that end it is a gemstone to help entice an ideal partner, improve your attraction and further a relationship.

Boulder Opals with fossilized wood have an extra dimension for dealing with personal growth, new challenges in life or work, expanding your personal or business horizons as well as your emotional and physical health.

Boulder Opal and the Chakras

There are seven Chakras or energy centers throughout the body, each influencing a particular physical, emotional or mental state and each has an associated color. This philosophy came from the Hindu religion in India and was developed over 3000 years ago.

Chakra meditation

The seven chakras are as follows, Crown linked with the color purple, Third Eye (indigo), Throat (blue), Heart (green), Solar Plexus (yellow), Sacral (orange) and Root (red).

These Chakras can get blocked leading to various emotional or physical problems and need to be unblocked or cleansed in one or more of several different ways. One way to help unblock a Chakra is through the use of gemstones and crystals and depending on which color is most dominant in your gemstone will determine which chakra it will have most influence on.

Opals come in every known color so traditionally can influence any of the Chakra points and obviously an Opal that is predominantly red could help the Root Chakra while a more blue gemstone may be more useful tackling a blocked Throat Chakra.

Boulder Opals come in all the different colors too but are also still attached to the dark brown ironstone or sandstone rock in which they formed. This plus the known energy frequency possessed by Boulder Opals have lead them to be most associated with the Crown and Root Chakras but the main color can still affect their influence.

Health Benefits of Boulder Opal

Opal has traditionally been associated with the health of the eyes, a soothing eye wash of opal elixir will do wonders for sore eyes. Opal can help regulate insulin within the body and detoxify and regenerate the liver. It helps with childbirth, PMS, menopause and stimulates the bladder, kidneys and lymph nodes.

It can ease muscle tension and aches in the lower back and abdomen. It is reported that it can boost memory and stimulate nerve endings which may help disorders such as Parkinson’s.

People suffering from anxiety, phobias or panic attacks should perhaps keep an opal gemstone about them and in the same calming way opals are a meditation stone, soothing and centering the mind before meditating.

Wearing a gemstone as an item of jewelry would be the easiest way of coming under its impact, close to any part of the body that is affected or near the Chakra point that could be most benefitted.”

Boulder Opal - Gemological Properties

Chemical Formula: SiO2_nH2O Hydrous silicon dioxide

Crystal Structure: Amorphous

Color: All colors - play of color

Hardness: 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale

Refractive Index: 1.37 to 1.52

Density: 1.98 to 2.50

Cleavage: None

Transparency: Opaque, translucent, transparent

Double Refraction or Birefringence: None

Luster: Waxy - resinous

Fluorescence: None