Okenite to Orthoclase

Okenite enhances a sense of the higher self. It purifies the charkas and the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual bodies. It facilitates the means to channelling sacred writings. It removes obstacles on life's path and promotes the recognition of learning opportunities. Okenite helps with the connection to, and healing of, your inner child. It lessens the ageing processes. It stimulates blood flow and circulation in the arms. It reduces fevers and nervous stomach disorders.

Photo shows classic Okenite crystals in a geode.

Onyx builds confidence and assertiveness and encourages self-actualisation. It enables hearing inner guidance. It helps with overcoming grief. Onyx aids left brain mental processes. It is beneficial for ear and eye problems and the nervous system.

Photo shows an Onyx tumblestone.

Generally, Opal has a gentle, yet powerful energy. It promotes honest representation of feelings and increases a sense of optimism. It facilitates positive dreaming and connecting to higher aspects of the self. It encourages psychic awareness and the use of intuition. Opals may develop crazing if they are over exposed to the sun and if there is sufficient water loss then the opalescence is reduced. Do not cleanse in salt. It is one of the birthstones ascribed to Libra (September 23 - October 23) and to the 14th and/or 18th wedding anniversary.

Andean Opal promotes acting for the highest good. It aids and protects during astral travel. It benefits functions of the heart, lungs and thymus gland and reduces symptoms of water retention.

Photo shows an Andean Opal tumblestone.

Blue Opal has a fluid energy that connects to the fluid systems of the body, bringing them into balance. It facilitates psychic awareness and developing insight. Blue Opal aids voicing opinions and emotions and brings a sense of peace and calm. This is a great crystal for putting on the third eye for meditation or on the throat chakra to aid expression.

Photo shows a natural piece of Blue Opal in matrix.

Dendritic Opal has a soft, spongy energy that helps to keep a sense of reality during times of challenge and unrest. It focuses on action for the highest good and gives confidence to achieve this. Dendritic Opal aids physical and spiritual growth. It balances the body, and particularly helps the nervous system.

Photo shows a polished Dendrictic Opal freeform.

Fire Opal facilitates a greater understanding of the Self and helps with finding our spiritual path. It energises and motivates, particularly at challenging times. They enhance meditation. Fire Opal benefits red blood cells and the blood system, lifts depression, apathy and lethargy and builds hope and energy.

Photo shows a Fire Opal in matrix.

Rose Opal has a gentle, loving energy. It protects the heart chakra following emotional challenges. It builds and supports self-love, belief and confidence and enhances the ability to build relationships. Rose Opal heals on the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual levels. It stimulates the circulation and benefits the lungs, spleen and heart.

Photo shows a rose Opal tumblestone.

Opal has the chemistry SiO2 - nH2O; Hydrated Silicon Dioxide, although it is primarily SiO2 with varying amounts of water from 5-10% plus. It is a member of the mineral class Mineraloids because its structure is not truly crystalline. However, it does possess a structure that consists of random chains of silicon and oxygen packed into miniscule spheres. Often, these spheres are irregular in size and inconsistent in concentration, although in precious Opal, they are organized more into pockets of approximately equal size and regular concentration. These pockets have the effect of diffracting light at various wavelengths, creating the beautiful colours for which Opal is known. Each pocket produces a different colour, with a different intensity depending on the angle from which a viewer sees it. The common Opal lacks this opalescence.
The colours of Opal can range through white, colourless, pale yellow, pale red, grey or black when impurities are common. The diffraction seen in precious Opal can cause flashes of any colour of the rainbow. Specimens are transparent to translucent and lustre is vitreous to pearly. A crystal system does not apply because Opal is amorphous.
Habits include massive, cavity-fillings such as in fractures and geodes, nodular, reniform or as a replacement of other minerals and wood. A crystal system does not apply because Opal is amorphous. Cleavage is absent, fracture is conchoidal and hardness is 5.5 - 6.
Opal has been mined for centuries, at least since Roman times when they extracted the Opal from areas now within the Czech Republic. The Aztecs made use of local Mexican sources, as did the Spaniards when they exported the material back to Europe. Today most precious Opal comes from Australia with significant sources from Mexico and the Western United States. The name Opal probably is derived from the Sanskrit name for precious stone, upala or from the Latin word opalus, which means seeing jewel.
Minerals associated with Opal include Chert (a form of microcrystalline Quartz) and volcanic rocks. Notable locations include Western USA, Mexico, Australia, England and the Czech Republic.

Orpiment Healing Energies and Mineralogy

Orpiment cleanses and activates the solar plexus, bring confidence in many situations. It stimulates the intellect and aids assimilation of new information. N.B. Do not ingest in any form.

Photo shows gemmy Orpiment on matrix.

Orpiment has the chemistry As2S3, Arsenic Sulphide and belongs to the mineral class of Sulphides and Sulphosalts. It is a rare mineral that usually forms with Realgar. Orpiment will deteriorate into a powder over a very long time and exposure to light will accelerate this process. For this reason, specimens should be stored in dark, enclosed containers.
Crystals of Orpiment are extremely rare as it usually forms foliated or earthy masses and crusts. The masses are sometimes transparent to a degree and have a gemmy quality to them. Crystals, when they do form are crystals are translucent to transparent, with a resinous to pearly lustre. The crystal system is monoclinic, cleavage is perfect in one direction producing flexible, non-elastic flakes, fracture is flaky and hardness is between 1.5 and 2.0
The colour is a gold-yellow that is particular to Orpiment. The name Orpiment is derived from the Latin auripigmentum, meaning golden pigment. Often there is a distinct odour that is similar to sulphur, but is due to the arsenic content.
Minerals associated with Orpiment are Realgar, Calcite, Stibnite, Barite and Gypsum. Known locations include Romania, Peru, Japan, Australia and Utah in the USA.

Orthoceras facilitates connections to the young Earth and past lives in ancient civilizations. It brings stability, organization, and harmony to the home and enhances businesses whatever there size.

Photo shows an Orthoceras in matrix pebble.

Orthoceras (pl Orthocerids) is an ancestor of the squid and octopus. It is a primitive member of the Phylum Cephalopods and is the most common of the straight Palaeozoic Cephalopods. The word Orthoceras means straight horn, and if you look at one you can see why they were given that name. They are cone shaped, consist of a central siphuncle filled with calcareous deposits, and have transverse ribs. Their age is Lower Ordovician through Upper Triassic, which means that they are approximately 400 million years old! Orthoceras is the name for European species, many of which are found in Morocco; those found in North America are called Michelinoceris.

Photo shows massive natural Orthoclase.

Orthoclase has the chemistry KAlSi3O8, Potassium Aluminum Silicate and belongs to the mineral class Silicates, subclass Tectosilicates, Feldspar Group. Orthoclase is named after the Greek orthos and kalo meaning right and cleave, an allusion to Orthoclase's good cleavage in two directions, which form almost right angled prisms.
Feldspar has two main groups, Plagioclase Feldspars (Sodium Aluminum Silicate) and Alkali (K) Feldspars (Potassium Aluminum Silicate). Orthoclase belongs to the latter group and is a polymorph (sharing the same chemistry but having a different structure) as the other members, Microcline, Sanidine and Anorthoclase. Orthoclase is the main K-Feldspar of granites and syenites, which cooled moderately quickly, whereas Sanidine and Anorthoclase are common constituents in extrusive igneous rocks (e.g. Rhyolites), where the rock cooled more quickly. Notable locations include Austria, England, ant the USA, however there are many more.

Crystal habits of Orthoclase include blocky or tabular crystals, which are near rectangular or square with slightly slanted dome and pinacoid terminations and twinning is common. Crystals are usually opaque, may be translucent or rarely transparent, lustre is vitreous and the colour is white, clear, yellowy, pink, greenish or shades of red, orange or brown. The crystal system is monoclinic. Some crystals show opalescence and are then referred to as Moonstone.