October Birthstone - Opal & Pink Tourmaline

October Birthstone Opal

Birthstone: Opal
Moh's hardness: 5 1/2- 6 1/2
Specific Gravity: 2.50
Color: All colors, partially play-of-color Chemical Composition: SiO2, nH2O, hydrous silcon dioxide

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The Opal treats the eye to an explosion of shimmering colors, not unlike those of a magnificent rainbow following a summer rain. The Opal derives its name from the Latin word "opalus," meaning precious jewel. Prized for its unique ability to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light, the Opal was called "Cupid Paederos" by the Romans, meaning a child beautiful as love. One Legendary explanation for this gemstone's origin is that it fell from heaven in a flash of fiery lightning.

Opal dates back to prehistoric times. It is a non-crystallized silica, which is a mineral found near the earth's surface in areas where ancient geothermal hot springs once existed. As the hot springs dried up, layers of the silica combined with water, were deposited into cracks and cavities of bedrock, forming Opal. This gemstone actually contains up to 30% water, so it must be protected from heat or harsh chemicals, both of which will cause drying and may lead to cracking or loss of iridescence. Opal must also be guarded from blows, since it is relatively soft and breaks easily.

A gift of Opal is symbolic of faithfulness and confidence. The powerful energy radiating from this fiery gemstone will surely illuminate any occasion.

October Alternate Birthstone: Pink Tourmaline

Birthstone: Pink Tourmaline
Moh's hardness: 7-71/2
Specific Gravity: 3.32
Color: Pink

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Pink Tourmaline has the seemingly magical property of pyroelectricity.
Scientifically speaking, this means that when heated, the gem takes on a static electric charge, making it capable of attracting lightweight objects. No wonder this gemstone was revered for it's mystical properties centuries ago. Considered the "stone of the muse," it is believed to stimulate the creative process of it's wearer.

Pink varieties of Tourmaline range in color from pastel pink to ruby red and are mined in Brazil, Afghanistan, Burma, and India. A gift of this stone is symbolic of hope.

Facts you should know about GOLD

Gold, recognizable by its yellowish cast, is one of the oldest metals used by humans. As far back as the Neolithic period, humans have collected gold from stream beds, and the actual mining of gold can be traced as far back as 3500 B.C., when early Egyptians (the Sumerian culture of Mesopotamia) used mined gold to craft elaborate jewelry, religious artifacts, and utensils such as goblets.

Golds aesthetic properties combined with its physical properties have long made it a valuable metal. Throughout history, gold has often been the cause of both conflict and adventure, the destruction of both the Aztec and Inca civilizations, for instance, and the early American gold rushes to Georgia, California, and Alaska.

About 65 percent of processed gold is used in the arts industry, mainly to make jewelry. Besides jewelry, gold is also used int the electrical, electronic, and ceramics industries. These industrial applications have grown in recent years and now occupy an estimated 25 percent of the gold market. The remaining percentage of mined gold is used to make a type of ruby colored glass called purple of Cassius, which is applied to office building windows to reduce the heat in the summer, and to mirrors used in space and in electroscopy so that they reflect the infrared spectrum.

Golds one drawback for use in industry is that it is a relatively soft metal. To combat this weakness, gold is usually alloyed with another member of the metal family such as silver, copper, platinum, or nickel. Gold alloys are measured by karats. A karat is a unit of equal to 1/24 part of pure gold in an alloy. Thus,24 karat (24k) gold is pure gold, while 18 karat (18K) is 18 parts pure gold to 6 parts other metal, 14 karat (14k)is 14 parts pure gold to 10 parts other metal, and 10 karat (10K) is 10 parts pure gold to 14 parts other metal. The less gold in jewelry the stronger the piece of jewelry is.