Australia's National Gemstone - The Opal Quiz

Answer: Coober Pedy, Australia

The opal is the national gemstone of Australia. Although many sources differ slightly, it is generally concurred that Coober Pedy supplies 70% of the world's natural production. As a nation, Australia produces 95%. There are other deposits worldwide but they are miniscule in comparison.

Answer: True

Like a fingerprint, every opal is different from another. When buying opals on a personal basis it will jump out at you and say 'buy me' irrespective of its value.

Answer: A synthetic opal

Synthetic opals are difficult to identify. Unlike a stone, doublet or triplet they will have a snakeskin type appearance and only a gemologist is likely to be able to tell the difference. It is the equivalent of a cubic zirconia to a diamond. As for Ernie Gilson, or the town, they are merely a figment of my imagination.

Answer: solid stone

As doublets and triplets are layered with a backing, slice of opal and overlay, a solid stone is the only acceptable sort because water could get in and thus ruin the gem.

Answer: noodling

Although a claim may be staked for what is under the ground, the opal mounds left on top after mining are available for amateurs to fossick through, so next time you are wandering through Coober Pedy...
Dry blowing was used for gold mining in Western Australia when water was virtually more precious and panning was the traditional method of gold mining by hand. As for canoodling, well I'll leave that to your imagination.

Answer: An opal with three different layers

There is no such thing as a triplet opal with three colours.

The word 'triplet' refers to the number of layers in the stone, not the number of colours. Triplets consist of a thin slice of opal glued to a black backing, which is designed to bring out the colour of the opal. A third layer is then applied and is made of crystal, glass, or quartz capping to round off the stone. 'Doublets', on the other hand, consist of two layers - a thin layer of opal and a black backing, with no capping.

Answer: precious

Opal is one of the world's most beautiful and precious gemstones, predominantly found in Australia. It is one of only six types of precious gemstones found on the earth, sharing prestigious company with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and pearls.
There is also 'common opal' which shares none of the qualities of precious opal.

Answer: Black opal

Black opal is the most valuable opal and is only mined in one place, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales. The play of colours is usually heightened because the rock itself is black.
White opal has a milky colour with colours shining through however it is not as striking as black opal. Crystal opal is usually shades of blue and green. Boulder opal can be found in Queensland and is mined leaving the ironstone attached to the stone itself.

Answer: False

This is one of many myths. Considering the personal danger associated with this, it's not a very good idea. Lightning has nothing to do with opal colours. This perception may come from the ancient Arabian belief that opals were cast down in lightning storms.

Answer: October

There is much trivia and myth about opals.