Mexican Fire Opal,

Mexican Fire Opal

Mexican fire opal is a rare, vibrant variety of the mineraloid opal. Renowned as Mexico’s national gemstone, it is prized for its translucent to transparent gelatinous body and autumnal colors (yellow, orange, and red) caused by trace amounts of iron, with or without brilliant internal play-of-color. 

• Color: Ranging from lemon-yellow to deep blazing red, which distinguishes it from traditional milky or opaque opals. 
• Transparency: Unlike most opals that are opaque, fire opals are beautifully translucent to completely transparent. 
• Cut: Because of their transparency, they are often beautifully faceted rather than cut into traditional rounded cabochons. 
• Play-of-Color: While some feature internal rainbow flashes (diffracted light), many stones display a solid, glowing, fiery brilliance without any play-of-color. 
• Origin: Most commercial production is found in the volcanic highlands of Mexico, particularly in the states of Querétaro, Jalisco, and Hidalgo.