World's Most Expensive Opal Glows in the Dark

The Virgin Rainbow Opal: The Most Beautiful and Expensive Opal in the World

The Virgin Rainbow opal is a rare and exquisite gemstone that was discovered in Coober Pedy, Australia in 2003. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful opals in the world, and is valued at over $1 million.

The Virgin Rainbow is an opalized fossil, which means that it formed inside the skeleton from an extinct cephalopod called belemnitida that existed during the Mesozoic era. The opal has a black body color with flashes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, and violet. It is also known for its ability to glow in the dark.

The Virgin Rainbow was first discovered by miner John Dunstan. Dunstan was working solo in the opal field when he came across the opal. He was immediately struck by its beauty, and knew that he had found something special.

Dunstan took the opal to a gemologist, who confirmed that it was a rare and valuable gemstone. The gemologist named the opal the "Virgin Rainbow" because of its beauty and its unique glow in the dark.

Photo: Richard Lyons courtesy South Australian Museum

The Virgin Rainbow was put up for auction, but no bids met Dunstan's expectations. He eventually decided to sell the opal to the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. The museum was eager to acquire the opal, and they paid Dunstan a sum that was reportedly in the millions of dollars.

The Virgin Rainbow is now on display at the South Australian Museum. It is a truly stunning gemstone, and is a testament to the beauty and wonder of nature.

What makes the Virgin Rainbow opal so special?

• Its rarity: The Virgin Rainbow is one of the rarest opals in the world. There are only a handful of opals that are comparable in terms of their beauty and value.
• Its beauty: The Virgin Rainbow is a truly stunning gemstone. It has a black body color with flashes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, and violet. The colors are so vibrant and alive, and they seem to change depending on how the light hits the opal.
• Its glow in the dark: The Virgin Rainbow is also known for its ability to glow in the dark. This is due to the presence of a mineral called opalescence, which causes the opal to reflect light in a unique way.

The Virgin Rainbow opal is a truly remarkable gemstone. It is a testament to the beauty and wonder of nature, and it is sure to continue to be admired for generations to come.

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