Menilite opal

ETYMOLOGY: OPAL = from de hindu "upala" = stone changes the color. MENILITO: it believed to come from an old suburb of Paris called Ménilmontant, where appeared frequently opals of this type.

CRYSTAL SYSTEM: Amorphous.

PRINCIPLE OF FORMATION: Primary.

CLASS MINERAL:  Silicates.

CHEMICAL FORMULA, MINERAL ELEMENTS: SiO2 · nH2O + Fe.

HARDNESS: 5.5 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale.

FIELDS: Albacete (Agramón).

MINERALOGY: Its rounded aspect is that in the process of formation, the diatomite have been deposited by filling cavities. The diatomite is a sedimentary rock composed mainly accumulation of remains of unicellular aquatic plants (diatoms) consolidated by a slurry composed mainly of silica (opal). The opal is often an element fosilizador animals and plants. What we see is not the opal, but a hardened layer of diatomite. If scratches or polishing the white layer underneath leaves true opal, grayish or black. The materials are found in nature lake belonging to the upper Miocene and are from a product gel deposition thermal water, found in raw form as nodules forming concretions in these rocks.

MYTHOLOGY: menilito Opal is given the name of "natural idol" or "little idol" because many resemble figures, the head is less bulging with the trunk in two, and chest and abdomen in three, neck and waist. Its height varies between 8 cm being of 3-5 cm usually. In some specimens inlaid gastropods fossils appear as turritellas. The greeks called the pederota opal, associating it with the love of children (paidos eros) and was the jewel that Marco Antony gave to Cleopatra as a token of his love.

PROPERTIES: It is said that the opal menilito helps bring out the inner beauty, helps you to respond in moments of doubt or indecision by providing clarity and good emotional management the ability to help ourselves, focusing on the present, allowing a psycho-emotional fulfillment and get back in touch with our true selves, white mineral purity makes for clarity and neutrality in the soul plan.
 

CHAKRAS: Crown.

ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer.

USES: Collection, jewelery.