THE OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE - OPAL & TOURMALINE

Opals, and tourmalines are the two birthstones that are associated with the month of October. Both of these beautiful gems have unique characteristics that make them ideal birthstones for anyone born in October. Both stones have been revered throughout history for their beauty and symbolic meaning, and they continue to be popular choices for jewelry and gifts. In this blog post, we'll explore the history of these two stones, the different varieties of opal and tourmaline, and their meaning and symbolism. Let's get started!

INTRODUCTION OF OPAL & TOURMALINE

The October birthstone, opal, and tourmalineare said to bring luck and prosperity to its wearer. It is believed that these two natural gemstones can increase the natural charisma of a person.

Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica, containing between 3-10% water by weight. Tourmaline is a crystal boron silicate mineral that is found in many different colors. Both of these birthstones are believed to be associated with beauty and love. These two gems are often combined together to create beautiful pieces of jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more.

Opal and tourmaline offer a wonderful combination of color and symbolism that makes them ideal birthstones for those born in October. Not only are they beautiful stones to wear, but they also offer many healing properties that make them desirable to those who believe in the power of gemstones.

HISTORY BEHIND THESE TWO OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES

Opal is one of the oldest known gemstones and has a long and storied history. It was first discovered in East Africa more than 250 BC ago and has since been found in India, Egypt, and other parts of Africa. Throughout history, opal has been associated with many gods, including the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. Many believed that opal was the most powerful of all gemstones, offering protection from evil and bad luck.

In the 1500s tourmaline was first discovered in Brazil by a Spanish conquistador. He found green tourmaline that he mistook for green emeralds. In the 1800s, it was declared as green tourmaline by mineralogists.It was believed to have magical powers and was used by shamans and healers in ancient times to bring luck and health to its wearer. Tourmaline was believed to be a stone of creativity and was said to bring balance and inner peace.

In Indian culture, opal is seen as a symbol of faithfulness and devotion, while tourmaline is seen as a symbol of protection against negativity and bad luck. In Native American culture, opal is seen as a symbol of friendship and loyalty, while tourmaline is seen as a symbol of strength and resilience.

The symbolism of these two gemstones is still celebrated today, making them an excellent choice for anyone born in October looking for an extra bit of luck in their life.

TYPES OF OPALS

Opals are found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The type of opal a person chooses often depends on their desired use. Generally speaking, there are four main types of opals: black opals, white opals, crystal opals, and jelly opals.

1. BLACK OPALS - Black opals are typically the most sought-after and expensive type of opal. This is due to their unique coloring, which includes intense blues, greens, yellows, and reds. This type of opal usually originates from Australia.

2. WHITE OPALS - White opals are generally less expensive than black opals. This type of opal can range in color from light gray to nearly white, with faint flecks of color present.

3. CRYSTAL OPALS - Crystal opals are a transparent or semi-transparent form of opal that is often used to create jewelry pieces. This type of opal typically contains more color than other types of opals and can include intense reds, blues, greens, and oranges.

4. JELLY OPAL – Also known as “Ethiopian Opal”, these types of opals look like jelly in them. It is the same as crystal opal but different in color.

There are many other types of opal such as Fire Opal, Blue Opal, Dendrite Opal, Honey Opal, and Pink Opal.

TYPES OF TOURMALINES

Tourmalines come in a variety of colors and are divided into four broad categories:Elbaite, Schorl, Liddicoatite, and Dravite.

1. ELBAITE TOURMALINE - Elbaite tourmalines are also known as “Multi-color Tourmalines” come in a wide variety of colors, including blue, pink, yellow, green, red, and bi-colored. Many Elbaite tourmalines contain more than one color in the same stone.

2. SCHORL TOURMALINE - Schorl tourmalines also known as “Black Tourmalines” are most commonly found in a deep black color, but they can also be found in shades of brown, gray, and even green. They are usually found in sedimentary or igneous rocks, such as granite and gneiss.

3. LIDDICOATITE TOURMALINE - Liddicoatite tourmaline is an uncommon form of tourmaline that comes in brown, pink, red, blue, and green colors.

4. DRAVITE TOURMALINE - Dravite Tourmalines come in brown and green colors and are the endmember of sodium magnesium-rich tourmalines.

There are many more color varieties of tourmalines such as Rubellite Tourmalines (Red), Indicolite (Blue Tourmalines), Verdelite (Green Tourmalines), Pink Tourmalines (another type of Elbaite), and Watermelon Tourmalines.

HEALING PROPERTIES OF OPALS & TOURMALINES

Opal is known to bring balance, tranquility, and good luck. It is also said to increase creativity, stimulate the mind and soothe emotions. For those in the healing arts, it is used to enhance intuition and mental clarity. Opals are believed to give protection against negativity and help the wearer cope with stress.

Tourmalines are thought to be powerful stones that can help bring physical and emotional balance. They are believed to activate and open the crown chakra, allowing us to connect with our higher self. Tourmalines are also associated with health and bringing vitality and strength to the wearer.

Both opals and tourmalines are believed to enhance the healing power of other crystals, making them powerful tools for healing practitioners. They can be used as talismans and placed near a person during meditation or ritual to provide protection, promote peace and increase energy flow.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF OPALS & TOURMALINES

Opal is a semi-precious gemstone and has the unique characteristic of being able to display multiple different colors depending on the angle that it is viewed. It is known for its ability to sparkle and create a rainbow of colors. The opal consists of silicon dioxide and has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft compared to other gems.

Tourmalines are available in a variety of colors, ranging from yellow and green to red, blue, pink, and black. They range in hardness from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and can be found in a variety of sizes and shapes. Tourmalines also have unique physical characteristics like piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity due to their polar structure, which give the gemstone special properties such as the ability to produce electricity when pressure is applied or when heated.

Both opals and tourmalines have their own special physical properties that make them popular stones for jewelry.

At GemsBiz, you can find a wide selection of opal and tourmaline gemstones, beads, and cabochons in a variety of shapes and sizes. Whether you are looking for an elegant opal gem or a stunning tourmaline beads necklaces online, you can find it at GemsBiz.com. Shop now and make someone's October birthday extra special!