Boulder Opal

(bohl - der oh - puhl)
Main Origins:
Australia, Brazil, and Canada.

What is Boulder Opal?

A boulder opal on a dark reflective background

Boulder Opal is a stunning gemstone with a unique appearance that sets it apart from other Opals. It features a range of earthy colors, including brown, green, yellow, and blue, with flashes of iridescent color.

Boulder Opal is a form of Opal that is found in ironstone boulders. It is made up of silica and can contain up to 20% water, making it a hydrated form of silica. It has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a relatively soft gemstone.

Boulder Opal has been known to Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. The Opal was first discovered by European settlers in the 19th century in Queensland, Australia. Since then, it has become one of the most popular types of Opals in the world.

Did you know that in Aboriginal mythology, Boulder Opal is believed to have healing powers? According to the myth, Opal was formed when a rainbow touched the earth, leaving behind its colorful vibrations. The vibrations were then absorbed by the earth, creating Boulder Opal, which is said to hold the power of the rainbow and bring balance and harmony to its wearer.

Boulder Opal Metaphysical Properties and Benefits

Boulder Opal’s color energies are mainly associated with the Earth element. The brown color symbolizes stability and grounding, while blue represents communication and emotional balance.

Boulder Opal is known to stimulate the Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras, enhancing one’s creativity, confidence, and motivation. It is also said to stimulate the Heart Chakra, promoting emotional healing and spiritual growth.

Boulder Opal’s ruling element is Earth, making it an excellent gemstone for feng shui purposes. It is said to bring grounding and stability to a space, especially in the North direction.

Venus is the planet that governs Boulder Opal, making it a gemstone of love, passion, and beauty. It is said to attract love and enhance relationships.

Boulder Opal is associated with various ruling Gods, including Gaia, the Greek Goddess of the Earth; Apollo, the Greek God of the Sun and Light; and Inti, the Incan Sun God. Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec God of War and the Sun is also associated with Boulder Opal, providing the wearer with courage and strength.

Boulder Opal’s numerical vibration is 2, representing balance, harmony, and duality. It is said to enhance one’s intuition and inner wisdom, promoting a sense of peace and tranquility in the wearer’s life.

Boulder Opal Healing Properties and Benefits

Peace and Balance

  • Boulder Opal promotes peace and balance by enhancing emotional healing and stability. It helps to relieve stress and tension by opening and activating the Heart Chakra, allowing for a more tranquil and harmonious energy flow. Its calming energy is associated with the blue color energy.
  • You can use this stone by placing it under your pillow or in your pocket to help reduce anxiety and promote peaceful sleep.

Focus and Innovation

  • This stone enhances focus and innovation by stimulating the Third Eye Chakra and promoting clarity of thought. Its energy encourages creativity and originality, making it an excellent stone for artists and innovators.
  • You can use Boulder Opal to visualize your goals and intentions. You can also place it on your desk while working to enhance your creativity and focus.

Courage and Power

  • Boulder Opal’s benefits promote courage and power by enhancing self-confidence and personal power. Its grounding energy connects with the Root Chakra and helps to increase inner strength and resilience.
  • Wearing it as jewelry or carrying it with you can help improve your self-confidence and inner strength.

Communication

  • When it comes to communication, the Throat Chakra plays a vital role, and Boulder Opal can help stimulate it. Its blue color energy is connected with the ruling God Apollo, who is renowned for his communication and musical talents, which amplifies clear and more effective communication.
  • It is also good to wear it as a pendant or hold it in your hand while speaking to others. You can also place it on your throat while meditating or doing vocal exercises to enhance your communication skills.

Stability

  • This stone promotes stability by enhancing grounding and balance in the physical body. Its energy is connected to the Earth element, which encourages strength and a sense of connection to the physical world.
  • To use Boulder Opal for stability, hold it in your hand or wear it as jewelry to promote a sense of grounding and stability.

Boulder Opal Spiritual Properties and Benefits

An open book on the table has a light appearing on the middle of it

Akashic Records

  • Boulder Opal is believed to enhance one’s ability to access the Akashic Records, which contain information on every soul and its journey. This stone’s properties, including its connection to the Third Eye Chakra and its vibrational energy, make it a powerful tool for spiritual exploration and growth.
  • To access the Akashic Records with Boulder Opal, hold it while meditating or use it as a focal point during a reading.

Psychic Abilities

  • This stone is known to enhance one’s psychic abilities and intuition. Its properties, such as its connection to the Third Eye and Crown Chakras, help to open up the channels of communication with higher realms.
  • It is best to wear a Boulder Opal as jewelry or keep it nearby during meditation or divination practices to enhance psychic abilities.

Growth

  • One of Boulder Opal’s properties promotes personal growth and emotional healing. Its connection to the Heart Chakra and its grounding properties make it a powerful tool for releasing negative emotions and promoting self-love.
  • You can use this stone by holding it during meditation or carrying it with you throughout the day as a reminder to focus on self-care.

Passion

  • Wearing this gemstone is believed to awaken a strong sense of passion and creativity. Its energetic properties are closely linked with the planet Venus, and it has been known to kindle a heightened appreciation for sensuality and zest for living.
  • To boost passion using Boulder Opal, try wearing it as jewelry or keeping it close by while engaging in romantic or creative activities.

Creativity

  • This stone is also believed to inspire creativity and artistic expression. Its properties, including its connection to the Crown Chakra and its vibrational energy, help to open up the channels of inspiration and connect the wearer with their higher self.
  • You can wear this stone as jewelry or place it in your pocket while engaging in creative activities.

Boulder Opal Side Effects

  • Sleep Disorders: Boulder Opal’s stimulating energy can sometimes cause sleep disorders. To avoid this, it is recommended not to wear or use Boulder Opal before going to bed.
  • Conflict with Birth Chart: Some individuals may experience a conflict with their birth chart when using Boulder Opal, which can result in adverse effects. It is best to consult with a professional astrologer before using Boulder Opal.
  • Fatigue and Dizziness: Excessive use of this stone can sometimes lead to feelings of fatigue and dizziness. It is recommended to take regular breaks when using Boulder Opal.
  • Failures: Although Boulder Opal is known for its ability to enhance the success and personal growth, it can sometimes lead to failures. Avoid it by setting realistic expectations and not relying solely on the stone for success.

Boulder Opal Meaning: What Does Boulder Opal Symbolize?

The transformation stages of a butterfly

Boulder Opal represents “transformation.” 

The name “Boulder Opal” comes from the fact that this gemstone is found embedded in ironstone boulders. It is also called “Matrix Opal” because it forms within the ironstone matrix rock, filling in the cracks and crevices, which creates a unique and beautiful pattern.

Boulder Opal has been traditionally represented as a symbol of purity and clarity. In modern times, it is often seen as a stone that promotes communication and creativity. This stone is also believed to help one adapt to change and find new opportunities.

Did you know that Boulder Opal is the official state gemstone of Queensland, Australia? Boulder Opal’s significance to Queensland’s economy and cultural heritage led to its designation as the official state gemstone.

Types of Boulder Opal

  • Common Boulder Opal: A type of Boulder Opal typically found in Australia and is known for its earthy tones and brownish-orange base color, often with traces of blue or green. It enhances creativity and self-expression.
  • Quilpie Boulder Opal: This variety is found in the Quilpie region of Australia and is characterized by its bright and vibrant colors, including red, yellow, and green. It promotes emotional healing and stimulates passion.
  • Red Boulder Opal: As the name suggests, this type of Opal stone has a predominantly red color and is found in Australia. It enhances passion and increases vitality.
  • Purple Boulder Opal: A rare stone prized for its stunning purple hues, it enhances spiritual awareness and aids in meditation.
  • Blue Boulder Opal: A stunning variety known for its striking blue tones, it promotes calmness and enhances communication.
  • Brown Boulder Opal: This type of Opal is characterized by its earthy brown hues. It is used to enhance grounding and promote stability.
  • Koroit Boulder Opal: A striking stone found in the Koroit region of Australia, it is known for its unique patterns and shapes, including swirls and dendrites. It enhances emotional stability and provides protection.
  • Yowah Boulder Opal: A unique variety with distinct patterns and vivid colors of red and yellow, it is found in the Yowah region of Australia and promotes strength and courage.
  • Mexican Boulder Opal: This is found mainly in Mexico and is known for its vibrant orange, red, and yellow colors. It stimulates creativity and passion.
  • Green Boulder Opal: An amazing variety of Opal, characterized by its green hue, promotes growth and healing, both physically and emotionally.
  • White Boulder Opal: A beautiful type of stone with a white base color and thin veins or patches of Opal in various hues, like blue, green, and red, making an elegant gemstone for jewelry making. Its energy promotes purity, clarity, and balance.
  • Pink Boulder Opal: This stone features a unique combination of pink hues and flashes of orange, yellow, or green, set in the natural brown ironstone matrix. It is a rare type of Boulder Opal, known for its gentle and soothing energy that promotes emotional healing, self-love, and compassion.
  • Boulder Fire Opal: A stunning gemstone that features a vibrant orange-red color and displays flashes of yellow, green, and blue, reminiscent of a burning fire. It is believed to enhance passion, creativity, and spontaneity.
  • Black Boulder Opal: This rare and unique type of Boulder Opal is characterized by a dark body tone with bright flashes of color. It is said to have grounding and protective properties, promoting emotional stability and balance.
  • Dendritic Boulder Opal: Dendritic Boulder Opal showcases natural, tree-like formations known as dendrites. These formations give the Opal a distinct pattern, making each stone one-of-a-kind. It promotes growth and transformation.
  • Winton Boulder Opal: Named after the town in Queensland, Australia, where it is mined, Winton Boulder Opal is known for its vibrant colors and intricate patterns. It has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety.
  • Ocean Boulder Opal: This type of Boulder Opal features a range of blue and green tones, resembling the colors of the ocean. It has a soothing effect, promoting relaxation and tranquility.
  • Sunset Boulder Opal: With warm tones of orange, yellow, and red, Sunset Boulder Opal is reminiscent of a breathtaking sunset enhancing creativity, passion, and confidence.
  • Striped Boulder Opal: Striped Boulder Opal features distinctive stripes of color running through the stone, giving it a unique appearance. It enhances communication and self-expression.
  • Sparkling Boulder Opal: As the name suggests, Sparkling Boulder Opal displays a stunning play of color, resembling glittering stars. It is used to promote joy, positivity, and happiness.
  • Fossil Wood Boulder Opal: This variety of Boulder Opal features intricate patterns resembling wood grains and enhances grounding and stability.
  • Cathedral Windows in Boulder Opal: Cathedral Windows Boulder Opal showcases intricate patterns resembling stained glass windows in a cathedral. It promotes spiritual growth and enhances intuition.
  • Multicolor Boulder Opal: This type of stone displays a range of colors, often including red, blue, green, and purple, creating a beautiful and unique pattern. Its benefit is its ability to promote creativity and self-expression.
  • Boulder Opal in Sandstone: A gemstone found within a sandstone matrix and can have a range of colors, including green, blue, and brown. Its uniqueness lies in its intricate and detailed patterns, and its benefit is its ability to promote grounding and stability.
  • Boulder Opal in Ironstone: This type of stone is formed within an ironstone matrix, resulting in a darker and more subdued color palette. It has the ability to promote emotional balance and strength.
  • Fancy Boulder Opal: This type of Boulder Opal features unique and unusual patterns and colors, making it highly sought after by collectors. This stone brings joy and positivity into one’s life.

How To Cleanse Boulder Opal?

A burning palo santo wood on a bowl x no credit needed

  • Moonlight: Place your Boulder Opal under the moonlight for several hours, preferably on a full moon. Repeat positive affirmations and intentions to amplify the cleansing process.
  • Smudging: Light sage or palo santo and allow the smoke to envelop your Boulder Opal for a few minutes, releasing any negative energy.
  • Positive Affirmations: Hold it in your hand and focus on your intentions while repeating positive affirmations, allowing its energy to realign with your intentions.

Questions and Answers

Do Boulder Opals fade?

Boulder Opals are not known to fade quickly, but they can be affected by heat or chemicals.

Can Boulder Opals get wet?

Yes, Boulder Opals can get wet, but they should be dried immediately to avoid any damage.

Is Boulder Opal safe in the sun?

Boulder Opal is generally safe in the sun, but it is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure.

How can you tell if Boulder Opal is real?

To determine if a Boulder Opal is real, you can check for specific characteristics, such as the play of color, hardness, and density.

How do you store Boulder Opal?

Boulder Opals should be stored in a cool, dry place, preferably in a soft pouch or cloth to avoid scratching.

How do you take care of Boulder Opals?

To take care of Boulder Opals, you should avoid exposing them to heat or chemicals and clean them with a soft cloth and mild detergent.

Is Boulder Opal expensive?

The price of Boulder Opal can range from a few dollars to several thousand dollars per carat, depending on its quality, rarity, and size.

What stones go well with Boulder Opals?

Stones that complement Boulder Opals include Diamonds, Sapphires, and Emeralds.

How can you tell if a boulder opal is real?

To tell if a Boulder Opal is genuine, look for a natural seam or line of separation between the Opal and the host rock.

What is the best color of Boulder Opal?

There is no “best” color for Boulder Opal; it is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer bright and colorful patterns, like red, orange, and yellow, while others prefer the subtle and understated beauty of more muted hues.

Interactions with Boulder Opal

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