It will crumble when dehydrated, crack apart when frozen.

>>16962611
>I kinda want to try microwaving one, but I'd feel bad if I damaged an expensive jewel.
buy a cheap synthetic; they already look kinda bad, so you don't have to feel bad destroying it (and you'll probably have pretty pure quartz powder after to boot.)

>>16962659
> bismuth watery hydrated amorphous stephen malkmus domestic azimuth >

>>16962611
You will, in fact, destroy it. Opals have to be sealed or they will often lose their water and therefore their opalescence over time anyway. It's one of the reasons they are associated with bad luck.