Groundwater collects silica spheres and deposits them in subsurface pockets, eventually solidifying into opal. Dendritic opalite is the name given to this type of gemstone.Īs with other opals, dendritic opal development occurs over time. Natural opalite, which has a mossy green body color and may display chatoyancy, can also have black, gray, or bluish-black dendritic inclusions.

The stone is usually opaque, although it can also be translucent or a mix of both. It has dark, generally black, dark green, or brown inclusions. Metallic oxides, like manganese and iron, are the most common dendritic inclusions in these opals.ĭendritic opal has a milky, opalescent gloss and resinous luster and is often white or yellowish-brown.

Any substance that becomes trapped in another mineral during its development is referred to as an inclusion. The variant names 'moss opal' and 'mossy opal' come from the inclusion patterns. Gemologists refer to opal or any gemstone that has tree-like inclusion patterns as a 'dendritic' variation.ĭendritic opal is a type of common opal with mossy or branch-like inclusions and no play of color. Dendrites are tree-like marks on a gemstone or rock, according to gemologists. Dendritic opal, a variety of opal with black inclusions that produce magnificent fern-like patterns over the stone's surface, is one such gemstone.ĭendrites are the branching terminals of nerve cells that communicate with other dendrites along synapses to send messages throughout the body, according to biologists. The name 'opal' is derived from the Latin opallus, which means 'precious stone', or the Ancient Greek opallios, which means 'to witness a color shift'.ĭendritic is a term that can be found in a few gemstone kinds. Dendritic Opal Beads for Jewelry Makingĭendrite derives from the Ancient Greek dendrits, which means 'tree-like', and is derived from dendron, which means 'tree'.Let’s get a sneak peek into the world of one such white gemstone called the ‘dendritic opal’. Accents of wood and glass, as well as black to balance it out, look fantastic with white. Colors are associated with specific feng shui components, and white represents the element metal. In feng shui, a concept of arranging your environment to promote harmony, white is considered a powerful hue. It is the color commonly used to convey a bride's virginity. In this post, we reveal everything you need to know about dendritic opal, including its meaning, properties, and uses.

Dendrite opal necklace