What is a Fire Opal?
A fire opal, sometimes called girasol, is a distinctive type of opal found in Central and South America, which has a deep orange to red fiery color that has captivated jewelers for centuries. Unlike other opals, the fire opal is not actually opalescent, although it is composed of silicon dioxide, like other opals and quartzes. The color of the stone comes from iron oxide, a distinctively red-orange contaminant which frequently colors gemstones. The rich flamelike color dances with light when the stone is cut properly, but the inside of the stone is usually clear and free of inclusions.
