Elemental Opals - Bario Neal

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Elemental Opals

Opals, though pale and mellow, show up with fiery sparkles of all the colors of the rainbow when shaped and exposed to light. Pulled from the earth, these ethereal moonlets dance with the sun's light like a tiny universe, a perfect mirror of the earth's magic. These flashes are caused by light interacting with the tiny balls of silica that make up opals structure. Formed when silica gel fills crevices in rocks, as the gel evaporates it leaves behind the silica which is what we know as Opal. Being formed in this way, opals can contain as much as 20% water! (Scorpios, the fiercest water sign in the zodiac, may also want to take note.) What does this mean in practical terms? When used in jewelry, be careful not to let the opal experience drastic changes in temperature or rough treatment, as they are very sensitive gemstones.

Opal_Morganite_Cluster_Stack_Bands_W-1Our Eaves Cluster Opal with Morganite Ring paired with our Burst Cluster Diamond Band.

Let's discuss where on earth these incredible gems are found and their impact. We source our Opals from Ethiopia's Shewa province. Ethiopia began producing Opals in the early 1990's. Since then, deposit discoveries continue to cement its reputation as an opal hotspot. First known specifically for producing characteristic reddish brown opals, white and black/blue opals similar to those found in Australia, have since been discovered, with notable deposits being found as recently as 2013.

A driving force in the development and promotion of ethical sourcing, our supplier's chain reaches many places in Africa, connecting us with mining collectives, women's organizations and minority-owned businesses directly supporting their activities. These include improving working conditions, making mines a safer place to work, and educating miners about the value of the minerals they extract.