Natural Australian Black Opal from Lightning Ridge NSW is classified by the Opal industry as Natural Opal Type 1 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 Australia's 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 have a base body tone of (N5-N6) are today defined as Dark Opals (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. This is a rare and valuable gemstone with a named pattern. Arguably the rarest commercially available gemstones on earth this Opal is five thousand times rarer than diamond and has an exquisite display of colour and pattern.