Opal is the birthstone for the month of October. It forms over long periods of time as silica-rich water flows through cracks in the earth, picking up silica and eventually depositing it in layers that crystallize into opal. Opal was believed by ancient Romans and other cultures to have healing and protective properties and was often worn by royalty who believed it would protect them from harm. Opal is mined primarily in South Australia today, although other sources exist in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.