mexican fire opal, rough
fire opal & peridot ear drops in 18K
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| composition | hydrous silica |
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| name source | from its range of fiery colors and its origin in volcanic rock |
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| other accepted names | cherry opal, Mexican fire opal, precious fire opal, girasol |
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| historical aliases | quetza-litzle-pyolliti (Aztec) |
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| folkloric aliases | "stone of discovers and conquerors" |
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| color | hot yellows, oranges, and reds |
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| significant sources | states of Queretaro and Jalisco, Mexico |
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| MOH scale | 5.5 to 6.5 |
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| care and treatment | As its origin (hydrous silica) suggests, fire opal, like all opal, has a high water content. As a result, it should be protected from heat and prolonged exposure to strong light, which could dry it out. |
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