• The month of october that includes the zodiac signs of Libra and Scorpio has an assortment of 14 stones listed as birthstones.
• The birthstones marked for October are opal, tourmaline, jasper, aquamarine, coral, and beryl.
• The zodiac signs add on eight more birthstones peridot, sapphire, lapis, agate, topaz, garnet, ruby, and amethyst.

The Featured stone has its name derived from the Latin word "opalus" which means "a stone". The precious opal presents a peculiar play of colors of delicate tints, and is highly esteemed as a gem.

The chemical formula of this gemstone is SiO₂·nH₂O and its crystal structure is amorphous. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is 6.5. This stone was formed as the silica coming from decomposing rocks got mixed with the ground water to form a gel that got deposited in underground cavities. Precious opal was formed if the silica particles came together in regular rows and layers leading to reflection of light in various shades. Brilliance or luster is one of the primary factors that determine an opal's value. Opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white and greens are the most common.The varieties include boulder, menilite, cacholong, girasol, hyalite, geyserite. Amongst the most valued and rare varieties is the black opal that is not actually black but a very solid base colour.

The October birthstone is found in Australia, Mexico and US with Australia producing almost 97% of the world's opals. The black fire opal is the official gemstone of Nevada. Other significant deposits of this valuable stone can be found in Czech republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Indonesia, Brazil, Haunduras, Gautemala, Nicaragua and Ethiopia.

• During the middle ages, Opal was thought to bring great luck to its wearer as it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose colour was represented in its colour spectrum.
• Romans called this magnificient gemstone 'Cupid Paederos' (child as beautiful as love) and thought it protected the wearer from diseases.
• The Arabs believed that opals fell from the heaven in flashes of lightening. Ancient Greeks also believed that opal possessed the power to give foresight and the light of prophecy to its owners.
• This stone carries both the sun and moon's energy. It is basically a moon's stone or female energy but has it's flash of male energy in the iridescent colors and carries the sun's energy.
• In ancient India, an opal was rubbed across a person's brow to strengthen his memory.
• Opals were also ground and ingested for their healing properties and to ward off nightmares.

• The healing properties of opal are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the eyes and eye infections. The Opal is also used to enhance visualization, imagination, dreams and healing.
• It is given to commemorate a 14th wedding anniversary.
• It is a stone for support during times of transition and intense change.
• The Fire Opal (orange) is a great energizing stone. When our movement in a particular direction is long overdue, the Fire Opal imparts its fire to us to get us moving.
• The energy of the Boulder Opal is very grounding. It helps us to stay rooted during times of upheaval in our lives.
• The opal is tied to our emotional side. It Brings out clarity by amplifying and mirroring feelings and brings buried emotions to the surface so they can be dealt with.

Pink Tourmaline is also listed as a birthstone for October. It has the seemingly magical property of pyroelectricity i.e. when heated; the gem takes on a static electric charge, making it capable of attracting lightweight objects. Thus it was revered for its mystical properties centuries ago. Considered the "stone of the muse," it was believed to stimulate the creative process of its wearer. The varieties available range in color from pastel pink to ruby red and are mined in Brazil, Afghanistan, Burma, and India. A gift of this stone is symbolic of hope. It is used to commemorate the 8th wedding anniversary. It is believed to inspire creativity was thus used as a charm by artists and writers.