Australian Opal Cutters Black Opal Earring Stainless Steel 5x3 mm 0.17 ct Classified by the Opal industry as Natural Opal Type 1 - Australian Black Opal is defined when the Opal is presented in one piece in its natural state apart from cutting or polishing and is of substantially homogenous chemical composition. Genuine Natural Australian Black Opal is Australias National Gemstone and the State Emblem of N.S.W., the lucky gem from the lucky country. A hydrated amorphous form of silica SiO2nH2O consisting of spheres of silicon dioxide molecules arranged in regular, closely packed planes. And only found in Lightning Ridge, Australia. Guaranteed free of dyes and artificial colour. With Base tones ranging from Black (N1-N4) Black Opals with evidence of Iron Oxide and mined from Lightning Ridge that has a base body tone of (N5-N6) are today defined as Australian Dark Opal s (which in the past have sometimes been referred to as Grey, Dark or Semi-Black) and have been mined in fields such as Mintibie and found in limited quantities in various other Opal mining fields.