2 October Birthstones By: Olivia B. Tourmaline The alternate birthstone for October is the tourmaline, a gemstone that exhibits the broadest spectrum of gemstone colors. Gem-quality forms of this mineral have in the past been misidentified as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Opal Opals are formed in near-surface volcanic rocks, within cavities and cracks. In sedimentary volcanic ash rock, percolating water in the ground dissolves silica that eventually precipitates to form the opal, sometimes becoming the replacement material for fossils – shells, bones, wood – whose original material had dissolved away.

3 Tourmaline Fun Facts! 1. Tourmaline is found in many localities including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa, and the USA. 2. Since it is available in a wide variety of colors, it is ideally suited to almost anyone's taste. 3. Tourmaline also is known for displaying several colors in the same gemstone.

3 Opal Fun Facts! 1. The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color).“ 2. Through time and nature's heating and molding processes, the gel hardened into the form of opals. 3. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its background.

Tourmaline

Opal

Websites I used! www.americangemsocioty.org/birthstones, 3/25/14 www.earthsky.org/?s=birthstones , 3/25/14 http://www.gia.edu/gem-encyclopedia, 3/26/14

The end! I hope you liked my birthstone!