With over 4,000 minerals on earth there are so many different kinds of beauty to be found. Here is one of the world’s rarest gemstones and most expensive gem stones.

This breathtaking Fire Opal  is a mineraloid and not technically a mineral.  The reason is because opal does not have a crystal structure that is required for all minerals. Opal is a hydrated form of silica or silicon dioxide. Opals form in a variety of amazing hues depending on the environmental conditions during formation. Opal’s mineralogy allows it to diffract light, causing it to shimmer various colors.