Silification Geology (OPALS) with Patrice Rey
Silification Geology (OPALS) with Patrice Rey  
Podcast: Ologies with Alie Ward
Published On: Wed Sep 30 2026
Description: Gems of lightning and shadows. Rainbow fossils. Underground tunnel homes. Mysterious sedimentary origins. Aboriginal dreamtime stories. Armored snails. Questionable song lyrics. It’s opals, folks. And world expert geophysicist and University of Sydney professor Dr. Patrice Rey is here to talk about why he left France to explore the geological mysteries of the Outback. Should you get an opal engagement ring? Can they get wet? What’s the difference between an Australian and Ethiopian opal? What was one doing in a Kenyan cave 3000 years ago? What’s a Kyoto Opal vs. opalite? And why was your great grandma named Opal? (Cultural warning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners: this episode mentions names and stories of people who have passed.)Visit Dr. Rey’s website and follow him on Google Scholar A donation went to the GO FoundationMore episode sources and linksOther episodes you may enjoy: Geology (ROCKS), Areology (MARS), Speleology (CAVES), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), FIELD TRIP: I Go France and Learn Weird France Stuff, Gemology (GEMS & MINERALS), Volcanology (VOLCANOES), Biomineralogy (SHELLS) 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes Sponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline MalekWebsite by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.