Opal Healing Properties gemstone that develops in silica-rich water. A Sanskrit term that meaning precious stone is the source of the English word "opal." In the Roman era, opal also went by the name of opallios. Amplification, hope, and purity are the meanings of opals. The Opal stone is a mysterious play of light, purity, and a thousand glittering colours, with the dance of fire blazing beneath its surface.