Blue dendritic opal is hard to find but not the rarest color.Purple dendritic opal is the rarest color to find in nature.Yellow dendritic opal gets its yellow hue from the minerals in the dendrite.Green dendritic opal gets its green hue from the impurities in the opal.While the stone is typically opaque, it can sometimes be translucent or a combination of both.Īside from the common white and yellowish-brown stones, dendritic opal can be found in several other colors and I’ve listed them below with examples to help make identifying which one you have easier. The inclusions are dark-colored, found in brown, black, or dark green. Dendritic opal is typically yellowish-brown or white with a resinous luster and opalescent sheen. The most common dendritic inclusions in this opal type are metallic oxides like iron and manganese. Over the years the gem and mineral industry has given dendritic opal a few trade names such as “Mossy Opal” and “Moss Opal.” This common opal is unlike the Austrailan opal because it shows no play-of-color and is characterized by the inclusions displaying branch-like or mossy patterns. This variety of opal contains dark inclusions that form incredible fern-like or tree-like patterns across the gemstone’s surface.ĭendritic opal is relatively abundant and a favorite among lapidary artists. There are a few gemstone varieties that have dendritic inclusions, dendritic opal is one of the well-known ones.

25kt dendrite opal