Loose Rough Black Opals
In the world of gemstones, Black opals are one of the most magnificent and brilliant gemstones. Black opals have been the center of attention throughout history, good and bad.
Of all the opals, Black opals are the most expensive and prized, great play of red being the most valuable, and rightly so, as the dark color of the stone enhances opal's unique play of colors that are unmatched by any other gemstones. The most valued and sought after Black opal are those with the harlequin pattern and good play of red.
The spectacular play of colors from black opals comes from the inpurity of the gemstone. Magnesium oxides within the gem causes the stone to flash of red, blue, and green.
Because quality Black opals are usually only found in Southern Australia from Lightning Ridge, the world market supply of Black opals are extremely limited, with only a few found per year and becoming scarcer every year. Thus, quality precious Black opals are more valuable and expensive than diamonds, a single carat of high quality precious Black opal can go well above $8,000 USD.
With increasing prices and low quality supplies, many collectors and investors are turning their attentions to Koroit and Yowah nut boulders from Queensland, Australia.
In gem therapy, loose Black opals are also known to improve reproductive organs, spleen, pancreas, filters red corpuscles, aids white corpuscles, bone marrow, and depression, especially of sexual origin.
