This week I have chosen to write about the opal trade. One of the reasons I
chose is that they are undoubtedly beautiful and also they are fascinating.
It is true that diamonds are rare but it is also true that opals are rarer and
arguably more spectacular. The reason that opals are rarer is that they are
mostly found in Australia, though there are some in Honduras and Brazil.
For every 130 million carats of diamond there are only one million carats of
opal. And this is only opals in general, there are some types that are even
rarer. The black opal is over 5000 times as rare as diamonds. Because of
all this, opals are the world’s rarest gemstone. However they don't cost as
much, the way to tell an opals price is the amount of red in it. The more red,
the higher the price.
chose is that they are undoubtedly beautiful and also they are fascinating.
It is true that diamonds are rare but it is also true that opals are rarer and
arguably more spectacular. The reason that opals are rarer is that they are
mostly found in Australia, though there are some in Honduras and Brazil.
For every 130 million carats of diamond there are only one million carats of
opal. And this is only opals in general, there are some types that are even
rarer. The black opal is over 5000 times as rare as diamonds. Because of
all this, opals are the world’s rarest gemstone. However they don't cost as
much, the way to tell an opals price is the amount of red in it. The more red,
the higher the price.
 |
| This is an opal, probably an expensive on because of the red color in it |
There are many different types of opals. There are white opals, crystal opals,
black opals, and boulder opals. White opals are light and opaque. Crystal
opals are still light colored but are partially transparent. Black opals are the
most expensive and most sought after. They are darker and have more
color (usually). Finally, boulder opals are also dark, but they are also uneven
in shape, like a boulder. Also there are three different types of opals that people
sell: pure opal, double, and triple. Pure opals are just what the name suggests,
pure opal. Doubles are a dark rock backing with a thin layer of purest opal
glued on top. A triple is the same as a double but with quartz on the top to
magnify the colors.
black opals, and boulder opals. White opals are light and opaque. Crystal
opals are still light colored but are partially transparent. Black opals are the
most expensive and most sought after. They are darker and have more
color (usually). Finally, boulder opals are also dark, but they are also uneven
in shape, like a boulder. Also there are three different types of opals that people
sell: pure opal, double, and triple. Pure opals are just what the name suggests,
pure opal. Doubles are a dark rock backing with a thin layer of purest opal
glued on top. A triple is the same as a double but with quartz on the top to
magnify the colors.
 |
| These are the opal types, a fire opal is basically a red opal |
As I said before, most opals are found in Australia. In fact 95 percent of all opals are found here. The most opal rich places are Coober Pedy, Andamooka, White Cliffs and Lightning Ridge.
People here fight the weather to search for the gemstones. In these places it is regularly up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of all of this work the opal market is doing well. In between 2000 and 2005 the market was in between 100 and 200 million dollars a year. Many people want these beautiful rocks so it makes sense that the market is doing so well.
Also sorry the formatting is a bit odd, blogger was being weird
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