Black Opal or Dark Opal
Pictures of Black Opal or Dark Opal

"Black opal" is a term used for opal that has a dark body color - often black or dark gray. The term is also used for opal that has a dark blue or dark green body color. The dark body color often makes the fire of black opal more obvious. This contrast of fire color to body color makes black opals very desirable and sold for high prices. This specimen is a solid black opal with a strong blue face-up color play. It was mined at Lightning Ridge, Australia. It is 2.46 carats in weight and 9.5 x 12.5 millimeters in size. The specimens below are black opal cabochons with directional fire. They display fire from some directions but are "dead" from others.