The Opal of the Andes
Opals from Peru, bracelets, pendants, beads, tumbled gemstones

Stone symbols

The name "Opal" comes from the Sanskrit word upala, which means precious stone.

Andean opal is mainly mined in Peru, where it is the national stone and traditionally associated with Pachamama, goddess of fertility and Earth.

Its soft colors, ranging from translucent blue-green to soft pink, convey soothing protection and the life forces of the Earth.

Opal in all its variants is the birthstone of October in the West.
 

Significations and benefits

In lithotherapy, Andean opal is a stone that promotes the release of emotional tension: tension related to stress, obsessive thoughts, and anxiety that hinders clear and communication. This tension essentially expresses the difficulty of grief or a period of transition.

Its delicate colors combine serenity with the openness of its action. Its accompaniment will be soothing, calming emotions in search of inner peace.

This can facilitate the expression of personal feelings that are clear and , helping to free the bearer not only from the source of their suffering, but also from the blindness that prevented them from seeing within themselves.

The symbolic and value of Andean opal can then act as protection against the temptation of stagnation or decline during moments marking the end of a period and necessary transformation.

Its great gentleness invites and on a path of inner healing. Its help in better coping with emotional overload or hypersensitivity can be a great support in times of conflict.

The stone's guidance can then reveal a neglected connection to your intuition. It can be a reminder of your creativity: if openness to emotions paves the way to oneself, their expression is part of a quest for form. The stone will then be an inspiration for artists and .

Andean pink opal

She is compassion and , applying balm to your wounded heart. Her help will facilitate understanding of wounds related to notions such as legitimacy, abandonment, betrayal, lack of recognition, or emotional deprivation.

His alliance will be an asset in helping you realize your worth and taking your place. By accepting and receive and give kindness, taking care of yourself and yourself.

In lithotherapy, pink opal can be a great source of support following a breakup, an argument with a loved one, or in any situation involving painful memories that weigh heavily on the heart.

The Blue Opal of the Andes

Blue opal traditionally helps to smooth emotions in lithotherapy.

When a lump of grief tightens your throat, when words come out confused or don't come at all, when tears are held back or flow freely, blue opal can ease your pain and clearly express the feelings that are overwhelming you.

His wisdom teaches you to view waves of emotion like the water in a river; if you hold them back too much, there will be an overflow and overflowing and will become difficult to control without causing damage. But allowing your emotions to flow through you, like water flowing smoothly between rocks, is an expression of the realization that turmoil is only a momentary part of the flow, sometimes necessary for calm and waters to follow.
 

On a physical level

Physically, the effects of Andean opal are not scientific but are based on tradition: the stone is said to balance bodily fluids. It is believed to be useful in cases of water retention or dry mucous membranes (eyes, vagina, mouth). It is also said to be beneficial for stimulating lactation during breastfeeding. Blue opals may provide relief in cases of infection affecting the throat area.
 

How to use Andean Opal?

• Carry an Andean opal with you, either as jewelry or in your pocket, to benefit from its virtues every day.
• You can create a fertility ritual with this stone with the intention of having a child.
• In case of dry mucous membranes, place an Opal of the Andes directly on the affected area every day.
• When properly sized and supervision, it can be given to young children to calm them down in the event of a crisis or difficult emotions.

Where to place an Andean Opal?

• An Andean opal in your home can have a purifying effect. It will bring fluidity and . Pink opal radiates energies of love and blue and radiates energies that promote communication and .
• in your bedroom or children's bedrooms, to promote peaceful sleep
• in a place dedicated to relaxation, such as a lounge or treatment room
• on the dining table to promote good relations among guests
• in the workplace of artists and .

Who is Andean Opal for?

• For highly sensitive and people
• for people who struggle to be kind to themselves and take care of themselves
• for pregnant women or anyone who and gentleness and comfort
• Blue opal can help and who speak too quickly or who get carried away easily to express themselves in a more thoughtful manner.
• its symbols can be a source of inspiration for artists and .

Mineralogy of Andean Opal

Andean opal is a common variety of opal composed of hydrated silica. It does not exhibit an iridescent effect, and its structure is amorphous or partially crystalline, but randomly organized.

Its color is therefore chemical and , due to mineral inclusions and an iridescent optical phenomenon. Its transparency can range from opaque to semi-translucent. Its hues range from blue or blue-green to pink.

Blue opals from the Andes owe their color to micro-inclusions of chrysocolla or other copper silicates.

The color of pink opals can be explained by the presence of palygorskite, which modifies the way the stone absorbs and light, producing shades ranging from pale pink to deep pink. Traces of metal oxides (iron or aluminum) can accentuate the pink coloration by influencing optical absorption.

The stone is the product of the sedimentation of silica-rich fluids in volcanic rocks, particularly in deposits in the Arequipa region of Peru, in the geologically rich Andes.

Handle with care

With a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, Andean Opal can scratch Chrysocolla, Turquoise, and , and in turn and scratched by Amazonite or Labradorite—stones that we recommend pairing with Andean opal.