Our next publication under the heading "Stone mascot of the Month" is about the rose opal.
The opal family is characterised by great variety of precious and semi-precious stones. Pink opal is the representative of the cluster with the most romantic shade. The gem is used mainly for creating jewellery.

The name "Opal" comes from the Sanskrit word upalah, which means "stone".
The Aztecs, Incas and Mayans considered these stones sacred. They believed that the gods look at the world of people through those stones, but an ordinary person, looking at an opal fragment, can see the deity. For this reason, native Americans inserted pink stones into the eye pits of golden statues of their gods.

Large deposits of pink opal are discovered rather rarely. Most often opals are found in the form of thin layers between other rocks. The mineral is mainly mined in the mountainous regions of Latin America – Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil. On other continents, deposits of pink rock are found in Australia and Ethiopia. Australia mines more than 95% of the world's opal production. However, 90% of this can be attributed to white crystalline stones.

Pink opal is a fraction of silica and has an amorphous structure. Externally, it is a round, oval or clump-shaped formation of soft pink colour. This type of stone can be precious or semi-precious. The classification depends on the presence or absence of opalescence – the play of light within rock. Opalescent stones have internal shimmering and internal luminescence effects. There are rocks with flecks of different colours. The cost of such specimens is much higher than that of non-precious opals. Stones without opalescence have a delicate pink colour. Pink opal is characterised by internal shimmering and luminescent effects.

The mineral is not a crystal – it is composed of quartz, silica and water. The impurities of a particular rock depend on the deposit. Manganese and iron give opal a pink colour. The presence of water in the composition makes the mineral brittle. If it loses liquid, it may crack and tarnish. Hardness of the mineral is 5.5-6.5 Mohs, density is 1.96-2.20 g/cm², refraction is 1.44-1.46. The stones are sensitive to shock, acids and pressure. They can be easily dissolved in alkalis.

For centuries, the stone has been attributed with magical and healing properties – it is believed that the gem possesses strong energy.
Due to its delicate colour, the mineral is considered to be a symbol of love and hope. It is believed that it enhances attractiveness, promotes happiness in personal life, and strengthens family relationships.
The stone can improve the mood of the owner, strengthen self-confidence, attract good luck and unlock creativity.

Traditional practitioners claim that opal helps to get rid of anxiety, irritability, depressive state, improve sleep, assists in overcoming loneliness and unrequited feelings. Lithotherapists claim that the stone helps normalise the gastrointestinal tract, protects against colds and viruses, and stimulates the heart. If a piece loses its lustre and becomes dull, it is considered a warning of possible illness. Opal is considered a talisman of a home keeper. Women can items made of the stone to protect their houses, preserve cosiness and family harmony. The stone gives women wisdom, calmness, charm and femininity.
Opal helps men to be more confident and responsible, to overcome slings and arrows of life. However, for men's jewellery, darker shades are most often used.
In esotery, the gem is used for rituals and creation of amulets. The amulet made of pink opal will suit those who want to solve problems in their personal life. Opal is considered a stone of "renewal" – mascots with pink opal change life for the better.
For those who want to find the meaning of life or who have lost faith in good things, opal gives harmony, tranquillity and confidence in the future. Pink opal amulets are believed to help resolve conflicts. If there are problems in relations with colleagues or superiors, you can place the amulet on the office desk.

The tradition of choosing a gem according to the zodiacal sign dates back to antiquity. In case of wrong choice, a person may be haunted by a feeling of discomfort and mental anxiety. Pink opal is suitable for people born under Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). It helps the representatives of those signs to weaken their inherent perfectionism and helps harmonise their emotional background, makes them purposeful and holistic, gives them poise and gets rid of excessive stubbornness. The gem is not recommended to be worn by Fire signs (Lions, Aries, Sagittarians). Fire element signs do not coincide with the soft energy of the mineral.

“The Lapidary Works of Art and Ivories” section of the museum collection features a variety of pink opal pieces, we offer you a detailed look at some of them:

Composition “Underwater scene”. Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio. The 20^th century
Japanese Plum Flowers (Ume). Manfred Wild, Emile Beker firm. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20^th century
Composition "The underwater world". Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio. South America. The 20^th century
Pink opal skull. Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio. South America. The 20^th century
Heron. Eberhard Bank. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20^th century
Parrot on freeform pink opal branch. Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio. South America. The 20^th century