In November 1986, Australian miners climbed Lunatic Hill and bored 20 meters into the Earth. They were rewarded with a fist-sized, record breaking gemstone, which they named the Hailey's Comet opal. Thanks to a characteristic called "play of color," no two opals look the same. So what causes these vibrant displays? Jeff Dekofsky digs into the rock's shimmering, dancing displays of light. [Directed by Ivana Bošnjak and Thomas Johnson, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Salil Bhayani].

Jeff Dekofsky: The most colorful gemstones on Earth

The most colorful gemstones on Earth

Opals' unique 'play of color' emerges from a mesmerizing dance of light, an interplay of chemistry, geology, and optics.

The rarest opal color, red, emerges from near 300 nanometer silica beads, a testament to the patience of nature's artistry.

Opals' unique 'play of color' comes from light interference within silica spheres, a process millions of years in the making.