25 Extremely Magnificent Minerals And Gemstones In The World

Luz Opal With Galaxy Inside: At first glance, it looks like something from a sci-fi films - an entire nebula trapped inside a stone. However, in fact the incredible object is an opal, found in Oregon.'The clear, transparent crystal body having a fine, firey play-of-color that is gem quality,' the auction house said. Contraluz is opal where you see the play of colors suspended inside by illuminating the back of the stone. In most opal the light has to fall on the front of the stone to see the play of fire.'The piece has a botryoidal jasper formation which forms a unique inclusion,' Bonhams said. The 'nebula' inside is caused by Jasper, a microcrystalline variety of the mineral Quartz. It often contains an abundance of impurities, and therefore some regard it as a rock instead of a mineral.