DENDRITIC OPAL
MERLINITE /MOSS OPAL

Dendritic Opal is unique among common opal for it’s branch or moss-like dendrite inclusions within the opal. These are formed when the silica gel that would become opal is permeated by solutions of manganese and iron. These minerals form the dendrites. They can be in a single section of the opal, in sprays or splashes, or all throughout the stone. This opal also contains agate, also made of silicon dioxide, but unlike opal is translucent to transparent. Opal is made up of Silicon Dioxide, just like quartz crystal. But unlike quartz it contains up to 38% water, but most commonly 3%-16%. Until recently it was believed that all Opal was completely amorphous, however now we know that isn’t the case. Some Opal’s contain tightly packed spherical SIO₂ molecules in a hexagonal structure lattice. Not always perfect, but they do have a pattern. There are 2 types of opal; precious and common. Precious Opal displays an optical property that gemologists call, “Play of Color” or Opalescence, and Common Opal does not. Common Opal is usually milky white, grey, yellow/brown or black. Precious Opals display every color that we can see. They do so by diffracting light through their lattice structures. Formed under water by diatom shells that accumulate on sea/river/lake beds. Diatoms are algae that synthesize silicon dioxide in water to use in their cell walls. They produce most of the oxygen on the planet, not trees. Diatoms tend to have massive “blooms” and then die off and sink to the bottom of the water column, where they accumulate in silt. Here is where, over thousands & millions of years, they can fall into seams between rocks, pockets in sediment and slowly take over the skeletal systems of decayed plant matter to form opals. Black Opal is the rarest variety, & white, grey and green are the most common. The biggest Opal producers are Australia, Ethiopia & Nevada. There are very rare opals in Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Idaho & Slovakia. Opal is the birthstone for October.

– Associated with the 3rd eye & root chakras, zodiac sign of Gemini & vibrates to the numbers 4 (dendritic opal), 6 (merlinite) & 2 & 11 (moss opal).

– Attracts powerful magic, good luck, conjures memories of alchemists & wizards, such as Merlin.
– Cultivates the energy of the natural world, allowing one the ability to communicate with elementals, spirit guides, teachers or one’s own hidden self.
– Enhances intuition, psychic knowing, visions and mediumship.
– A stone of creativity and inspiration for artists and makers. Brings luck and abundance.
– Connects the intuitive self to the earth, grounding ideas into reality. Allows the creation of new ideas to manifest in the world.

Chemical Formula: SiO₂˖nH₂O
Shape: amorphous
Habit: massive & vein fillings
Color: white, yellowish white, dark green to black dendrites.
Streak: white
Luster: dull, pearly, waxy or vitreous when raw, vitreous when polished
Diaphaneity: translucent, semi-transparent, opaque
Hardness: 5-6 Mohs
Cleavage: none
Fracture: conchoidal
Specific Gravity: 2.09 g/cm³
Refractive Index: 1.34-1.47