Australian Oora Opal ( Fire Opal )

Oora Opal, lound naturally in Andamooka in South Australia and in parts of Western Queensland, is very similar in appearance to black opal.
Oora Opal is genuine opal but differs from the regular variety because the opal is embedded in sandston. The sandstone has been heat-treated to darken it. The resulting contrast brings out the natural colours of the opal.
For many years miners overlooked this beautiful stone but in 1995 Mr. Marian Anic of Andamooka discovered how to bring out the colour and beauty of these Mysterous gemstones. Since then many people have admired and appreciated the colour and uniqueness of oora opal.
Unlike regular opal, oora opal is resistant to cracking, fading and scratching and should give much pleasure for many decades to come. ( www.krching.com )