World Class Fire Opals near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Extracted

We all know that in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a world famous resort destination and retirement Haven. We also know that virtually all of Mexican Riviera cruise ships make Vallarta a normal port of entry and offers visitors many interesting things to do and fun attractions, rides to be seen, Taken enjoy beautiful beaches, etc., but few Tourists never really get to know the environment, customs, and local history.

Puerto Vallarta is located in the state isJalisco, the third largest state in Mexico, with its capital Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city. The metropolitan area of Guadalajara (including Zapopan, Tonala, and Tlaquepaque), has a population of around four million inhabitants, making it approximately the same size as Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. Puerto Vallarta is the second largest city in Jalisco with a population of 350,000 people in the hills of the Sierra Madre along the foot immersedShoreline of Banderas Bay, the Pacific Ocean.

At 3,000 feet deep, Banderas Bay is one of the deepest natural bays in the world with Sierra Madre Occidental in the north, the Sierra Madre del Sur in the south and the Trans National Volcanic Axis Range to the east. All three major mountain ranges converge Banderas Bay, where over 60 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, these mountains were like the planets formed the crust changed forever. Veryrecently, only a million years ago during the Pleistocene volcanoes in the region broke suspend a country rich in mineral resources with large deposits of gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, tin, and hundreds of other minerals. As a result, Mexico became the world's leading producer of silver for centuries and only recently took place on the second to the fallen world. Much of the Mexican silver mined in the region within 100 miles of Vallarta.

Byfertile volcanic soil, all tequila in the world comes from this area in Jalisco. With a lot of tequila, there was a mood for music and dance! Therefore in this area within 100 miles of Vallarta, Mariachi music developed (a symbol of the Mexican Revolution) as the Mexican Hat Dance (Mexican National Team).

Much of the fertile soil in the Vallarta area is also ideal for agriculture and is located on the same latitude as Maui, Hawaii, the climate is ideal forgrowing many fruits and vegetables. An example is the mango, in which Mexico is the third largest exporter of mango in the world.

Now that we know that the area around Vallarta is rich in mineral and agricultural wealth, we take a step further. It so happens that there are about a dozen different classifications of minerals with hundreds of varieties in Mexico. For example, the class contains only silicates over 60 different minerals such as jadeite, zircon, topaz andQuartz, a subgroup that includes amethyst. The class consists Bismutite carbonates, calcite, magnetite, dolomite, etc. while the sulfates class has gypsum, barite cuprotungstite, etc. Many of these minerals used for industrial applications. Finally, the class that amber mineraloids, contains obsidian, and opal; minerals that are frequently carved, ground, cut and polished for art, jewelry, etc.

Many of these minerals, including most opals, formed during thethe Cretaceous period and brought the earth's surface during the Pleistocene. Of the 25 or so varieties of opals, fire opal is the only naturally faceted opal and the most significant fire opal deposits are located in Mexico. One of the largest sites for mining the Mexican fire opal, which just so happens to the "national gemstone of Mexico", is located near Magdalena, Jalisco, a small town about 100 miles east of Vallarta that are visited by PV may, during aten hours a day tour. Magdalena is located in a region full of igneous rocks, obsidian, volcanic lava, and more than 300 mines opal.

Mexican fire opals consist of silicon dioxide or silica spheres arranged in a scattered pattern with ordered iron oxide. And 'the iron oxide that gives the Mexican fire opal its distinctive brilliant flame, such as yellow, orange and red. The three most important characteristics of fire opal are body colors, transparency, and playcolor (different colors when viewed from different angles). The greater the play of color, the most precious gem. Like most of the opals are not faceted, they are usually displayed as cabochon. However, since fire opals are often found naturally faceted, which can be cut, polished and mounted as cabochons or faceted stones.

The word "Opal was opalus the Roman word (derived see a color change) as the opal around 100 BC and enjoyed this gem popularabove all other gems faith of the owners, with luck inspire you. The Mexican fire opal, also known as cherry opal, precious fire opal, sun opal, Girasol (Spanish for sunflower) and quetzalitzlipyollitli (Gem bird of paradise) was by the Aztecs, Maya and the Aztecs used during the past millennium for ritual purposes and in various mosaics. Today, connoisseurs say that fire opals courage, strength, willpower and energy to give to the carrier;are the warm, fiery orange-red color, a positive effect on psyche said, evoking a deep feeling of warmth, tranquility and harmony.

Opal is the lucky stone is born under the sign of Aries and is the birthstone of Libra. For those of us fortunate retirees Libra Vallarta that happen, we can get these spectacular stones virtually in our backyard. For those of you visiting Vallarta and just want one of these precious stones haveThere are many jewelers in the city, some of which specialize in Mexican fire opals.

Now you have a better understanding of fire opals and where they come from, you have one more reason for visiting and or retiring in Puerto Vallarta, the destination most beautiful places in the Mexican Riviera, where brilliant fiery sunsets and opals abound.

World Class Fire Opals Mined Near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

We all know that Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a world famous resort destination and retirement haven. We also know that just about all of the Mexican Riviera cruise ships make Vallarta a normal port of entry providing the visitors with numerous fun and exciting things to do, sights to be seen, side tours to be taken, beautiful beaches to enjoy, etc., but few tourists ever really get to know the area, customs, and local history.

Puerto Vallarta is located in the state of Jalisco; the third largest state in Mexico with the Capital of Guadalajara which is the second largest city in Mexico. The greater metropolitan area of Guadalajara (including Zapopan, Tonala, and Tlaquepaque), has a population of approximately 4,000,000 residents, thus making it about the same size as Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US. Puerto Vallarta is the second largest city in Jalisco with a population of 350,000 people, nestled in the Sierra Madre foot hills along the shoreline of Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean.

At 3,000 feet deep, Banderas Bay is one of the deepest natural bays in the world with the Sierra Madre Occidentals to the north, the Sierra Madre Del Sur to the south, and the Trans National Volcanic Axis Range to the east. All three of these substantial mountain ranges converge at Banderas Bay, where more than 60 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, these mountain ranges were formed as the planet's crust changed forever. Much more recently, only about a million years ago during the Pleistocene age , volcanoes erupted in the region exposing a land rich in mineral wealth containing vast deposits of gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, tin, and hundreds of other minerals. As a result, Mexico became the world's leading producer of silver for centuries and has only recently fallen to second position in the world. A great portion of the Mexican silver has been mined in this region within a 100 miles of Vallarta.

Due to the rich volcanic soil, all tequila in the world comes from this area in Jalisco. With plenty of tequila, there was also a mood for music and dancing! Consequently, in this area within 100 miles of Vallarta, Mariachi music evolved (a symbol of the Mexican Revolution) as did the Mexican Hat dance (the Mexican national dance).

Much of the rich soil in the Vallarta region is also ideal for farming and with the location being on the same latitude as Maui, Hawaii, the climate is perfect for growing many fruits and vegetables. One example being mangos, where Mexico is the third largest exporter of mangos in the world.

Now that we know the area around Vallarta is rich with mineral and agricultural wealth, let's take it a step further. It just so happens that approximately a dozen distinct classifications of minerals with hundreds of varieties exist in Mexico. As an example, the silicates class alone, contains more than 60 different minerals such as jadeite, zircon, topaz, and quartz, a subgroup of which includes amethyst. The carbonates class consists of bismutite, calcite, magnetite, dolomite, etc. while the sulfates class has gypsum, barite, cuprotungstite, etc.; many of these minerals being used for industrial applications. Finally, the mineraloids class which contains amber, obsidian, and opal; minerals that are frequently carved, ground, cut, and polished for objects of art, jewelry, etc.

Many of these minerals, including most opals, were formed during the Cretaceous period and brought to the Earth's surface during the Pleistocene age. Of the 25 or so varieties of opals, the fire opal is the only naturally faceted opal and the most significant fire opal deposits are found in Mexico. One of the two largest sites for mining the Mexican fire opal, which just so happens to be the "national gemstone of Mexico", is located near Magdalena, Jalisco; a small city located approximately 100 miles east of Vallarta that can be visited from PV during one of the ten hour day tours. Magdalena is in a region laden with igneous rocks, obsidian, volcanic lava, and more than 300 opal mines.

Mexican fire opals consist of silicon dioxide or silica spheres arranged in an orderly pattern with iron oxide dispersed throughout. It's the iron oxide that gives the Mexican fire opal its distinctive brilliant flame-like colors of yellow, orange, and red. The three most important attributes of the fire opal are body colors, transparency, and play of color (differing colors when viewed from various angles). The greater the play of color, the more precious the gemstone. Because most opals are not faceted, they are generally displayed in the cabochon form. However, since fire opals are often found naturally faceted, they can be cut, polished, and mounted as cabochons or faceted stones.

The word opal was derived from the Roman word opalus (to see a change of color) as they popularized the opal around 100 BC and prized this gemstone above all other precious stones believing the holder to be charmed with good fortune. The Mexican fire opal, sometimes referred to as cherry opal, precious fire opal, sun opal, girasol (Spanish for sunflower), and Quetzalitzlipyollitli (gemstone of the bird of paradise) by the Aztecs, was used by the Mayas and Aztecs during the past millennium for ritualistic purposes and in various mosaics. Today, connoisseurs say that fire opals bestow courage, stamina, will-power and energy on the wearer; the warm, fiery orange-red colors are said to have a positive effect on the psyche and convey a profound sensation of warmth, peace and harmony.

Opal is the lucky stone of those born under the Aries sign and it is the birthstone of Libras. For those of us fortunate retirees in Vallarta that happen to be Libras, we're able to obtain these spectacular birthstones virtually in our "back yard". For those of you visiting Vallarta and just want to possess one of these prized gemstones, there are numerous fine jewelry stores in town; a number of which specialize in Mexican fire opals.

Now that you have a better appreciation for fire opals and where they come from, you'll have one more reason for visiting and or retiring in Puerto Vallarta; the most magnificent resort destination on the Mexican Riviera, where brilliant fiery sunsets and opals abound.