boulder opal
boulder opal, iolite & apatite necklace in 18K
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| composition | hydrated silica gel |
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| name source | from the boulder matrix mixed with the opal |
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| other accepted names | matrix opal, Queensland opal |
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| historical aliases | "earth-bound rainbow," "river of illusion," "gem of the Never Never," "A Gem of Water, Born in the Desert" (ICGA) |
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| color | every color of the rainbow |
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| color source | from the way its tiny silica spheres diffract light -- the larger the spheres, the greater the range of colors |
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| significant sources | Queensland, Australia |
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| MOH scale | 6 |
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| care and treatment | With a hardness about equal to glass, boulder opal is not nearly as fragile as solid opal, but it should still be treated with great care. Store opal items where they will not be subject to banging or scratching by harder materials or sharp edges. Avoid heat, chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners and detergents as well as extreme heat and cold. |
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