There is a legend about the origin of opals from the Wanggumara people in Australia. It tells of a pelican who undertakes a dangerous journey, carrying water in its beak, hoping to find a place where it turns to gold. However, the pelican is mortally wounded on the way; the water spills and turns to gold, and the pelican's blood turns into fire opals.

More here
http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2022/04/f-is-for-fire-opals-gemstone-folklore.html

#MinCup23 #folklore #opal

Match 11 of #MinCup23 today and this will be a tough one: shiny mineraloid #opal against good, old bubbling #calcite. Opal has the looks but I prefer a crystal structure... See some fabulous examples of #calcite to convince you...

#Calcite can form very well-defined crystals but sometimes also looks a bit plain and beige. All samples from mineral exhibition at Uni Münster.

After the deadheat of last match, we can all relax for #MinCup23 Round 1 Match 11 where… oh no, it’s two favourites!

#Calcite vs #Opal

One fights on, the other is eliminated for 2024. Eek!!

Vote: https://www.mineralcup.org/2023/campaigns/round-1-match-11

Results: https://www.mineralcup.org/results/round-1-match-11