World Class Fire Opals mined area of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
We all know that Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a famous tourist destination and place of retirement. We also know that almost all the Mexican Riviera cruise ships Vallarta normal port of entry, providing visitors with fun and interesting things to do, places to visit, the following side trips, beautiful beaches to enjoy, etc., but few tourists get to know the area, local customs and 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 area Greater Guadalajara (including Zapopan, Tonala, Tlaquepaque), has a population of approximately 4,000,000 inhabitants, therefore, decisions on the same size of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the U.S.. Puerto Vallarta is the second largest city in Jalisco with a population of 350,000 inhabitants, located in the foothills of Sierra Madre along the coast of Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean.
At 3,000 feet deep, Banderas Bay is a of the largest natural harbors in the world, the Western Sierra Madre to the north, the Sierra Madre del Sur to the south, and the transnational Volcanic Axis Range to the east. All three of these major ranges converge at Banderas Bay, where more than 60 million years when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, these mountains were formed in the crust of the planet changed forever. Much more recently, only about a million years ago during the Pleistocene volcanoes erupted in the region exposing a land rich in minerals that contain vast deposits of gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, tin, and
The word opal derives from the Roman word opalus (for a change of color), and popularized the opal around 100 BC and prized this gemstone, especially gemstones others believe that the holder to seduce with good fortune. Mexican fire opal, sometimes referred to as cherry opal, precious fire opal, sun opal sunflower (Spanish for sunflower) and Quetzalitzlipyollitli (gemstone of the bird of paradise) by the Aztecs, was used by the Mayans and the Aztecs during the past millennium ritual purposes and in various mosaics. Today, connoisseurs say that fire opals bestow value, strength, willpower and energy on the user heat, fire red-orange colors are said to have a positive effect on psyche and convey a deep sense of warmth, peace and harmony.hundreds other minerals. As a result, Mexico became the world's largest producer of silver for centuries and has only recently fallen to second place in the world. Much Mexican silver has been mined in this region in a 100 miles of Vallarta.
Because of the rich volcanic soil, all tequila in the world comes from this area Jalisco. With plenty of tequila, there was also a mood for music and dancing! Consequently, this area 100 miles of Vallarta, music mariachis evolved (a symbol of the Mexican Revolution) as did the Mexican hat dance (the national dance of Mexico).
Much of the land fertile in the Vallarta area is also ideal for agriculture and the location being on the same latitude as Maui, Hawaii, the weather is perfect for growing many fruits and vegetables. One example is the handle, where Mexico is the third largest exporter of mango in the world.
Now that we know the area around Vallarta is rich in mineral and agricultural wealth, let's take a step further. What happens is that about a dozen different classifications of minerals, with hundreds of varieties exist in Mexico. For example, the class of silicates alone, contains over 60 different minerals such as jadeite, zircon, topaz and quartz, a subgroup of which includes amethyst. The class consists of bismutite carbonates, calcite, magnetite, dolomite, while the class of barium sulfate is gypsum, cuprotungstite, etc, many of these minerals are used for industrial applications. Finally, the class containing mineraloids amber, obsidian, and opal minerals that are frequently carved, ground, cutting and polishing of art objects, jewelry, etc.
Many of these minerals, including most opals, formed during the Cretaceous period and brought to the surface of the Earth 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 found in Mexico. One of the two largest sites of mining Mexican fire opal, which just so happens be the "national gemstone of Mexico", is located near Magdalena, Jalisco, a small town about 100 kilometers east of Puerto Vallarta that can be visited from PV during one of the tours a day ten hours. Magdalena is in a charged region of igneous rocks, obsidian, volcanic lava, and more of 300 mines opal.
Mexican fire opals consist of silicon dioxide or silica spheres arranged in an orderly pattern with iron oxide dispersed for everything. It is the iron oxide that gives the Mexican fire opal its distinctive bright as the flame of yellow, orange and red. The three most important attributes of opal fires are body colors, transparency and color play (different colors when viewed from different angles). The greater the play of colors, the most precious gemstone. Because most opals are faceted, usually appears as a cabochon. However, since fire opals are often found naturally facets that can be cut, polished and mounted as cabochons or faceted stones.
Opal is the lucky stone of those born under the sign of Aries and stone pounds. For those of us fortunate retirees Vallarta that happen to be free, we are able to obtain these spectacular birthstones virtually in our "Backyard". For those of you visiting Vallarta and just want to have one of these gems estimate, there are many fine jewelry stores in the city some of which specialize in Mexican fire opals.
Now that you have a better appreciation of fire opals and where they come from, will one reason to visit Puerto Vallarta I retire in the beautiful tourist destination of the Riviera Maya, where the sunsets and opals abound bright fire.
Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 25 years and resided there for the past eleven years. The mission of his series of 45 articles related to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to present the recent changes that have occurred in Puerto Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles on travel to and retirement in Puerto Vallarta, as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at Agents Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers' and click on the articles.
About the Author
Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 25 years and resided there for the past eleven years. The mission of his series of 45 articles pertaining to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers‘ Agents
