Hyalite
is typically a colorless,
glassy
variety of Opal, also known as Opal-AN. Opal-AN is an
amorphous silica-glass. The "A"
stands for amorphous and the "N" stands for
its network-like structure, similar to silica glass.
Hyalite, as with all types of Opal, contains a certain percetage
of water. Hyalite contains about 3-8% water. Because
of its homogeneous internal structure Hyalite Opal does
not exhibit any opalescence or "play of color". Hyalite
may not show any play of color, but it does show a strong
green color under shortwave UV light. If you hover your
cursor over the picture above, you will see this bright
green color under shortwave UV light. Hyalite is valued
as a mineral specimen with its attractive glassy, globular
masses but it is very rarely available as a faceted
gem.
Hyalite
was named in 1794 by German geologist
Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817) from
the Greek word ϋάλος (hýalos),
meaning glass, for its resemblance to glass. Hyalite
has also been known by the synonyms Amiatite, Hyaline,
Jalite, Lava Glass and Müller's Glass. Amiatite was named in
1802 by Italian naturalist Giorgio Santi (1746–1822)
for its locality at Monte Amiato, Tuscany,
Italy. Jalite is the Italian translation for Hyalite.
The name Lava Glass is due to Hyalite often being found
in volcanic fumaroles. Müller's Glass
is named after its discoverer Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein (1740 or 1742 – 1825 or 1826), Austrian mineralogist and mining engineer. The
name Hyalite has also been used as a synonym of Axinite (Klaproth,
1797).
Hyalite
distribution: at Valeč, Doupov, Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic.
At Hosszú Hill, Megyaszó, Zemplén Mts, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary.
Portugal No. 2 quarry, Malpartida, Almeida, Guarda District, Portugal.
In Australia at Squaretop Mountain, Kaimkillenbun, Wambo Shire, Western Downs Region, Queensland;
Boral Limited quarry, Bundoora, City of Whittlesea, Greater Melbourne Region, Victoria;
Eastern Hill, Mount Anakie, Anakie, City of Greater Geelong, Victoria;
Mt Painter area, Arkaroola Region, North Flinders Ranges, Flinders Ranges, South Australia.
In Austria at Osterwitz, Deutschlandsberg, Koralpe,
Styria; Stradner Kogel, Wilhelmsdorf, Bad Gleichenberg, Styria;
Holler quarry, Badersdorf, Oberwart, Burgenland; Feldspar quarry, Laas, Fresach, Millstatt lake ridge, Carinthia.
In Brazil at Itinga, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais
and Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais. In France at
Le Croustet, Ceyssac, Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne
and other locations. In Germany at Fohberg Quarry, Bötzingen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden-Württemberg
and at the Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg.
On the Lesbos Island, Lésvos Prefecture, Aegean Islands Department, Greece.
In Italy at Ploaghe, Sassari Province, Sardinia; and
at the Puricelli quarry, Cuasso al Monte, Ceresio Valley, Varese Province, Lombardy
as well as a couple other Italian locations. In Japan
at Hosaka, Fukushima Prefecture, Tohoku Region, Honshu Island.
In Mexico at Tepetate, Mun. de Villa de Arriaga, San Luis Potosí.
In Namibia at Erongo Mountain, Erongo Region. In New
Zealand at Lake Rotokawa, Taupo, Waikato, North Island
and Maerewhenua, Otago, South Island. In Pakistan at
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan.
In Poland at Jordanów, Gogołów-Jordanów Massif, Lower Silesia.
In Portugal at the Portugal No. 2 quarry, Malpartida, Almeida, Guarda District.
In Slovakia at the Coal deposit, Handlová, Prievidza County, Trenčín Region.
In the USA at the Blue Bell Mine, Baker, Soda Lake Mts, San Bernardino County, California;
Road side quarry on Hwy 131, Wolcott, Eagle County, Colorado;
Girard, Girard District, Burke County, Georgia; ; Route 13 area, Lunenburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts;
Chalk Mountain Mine, Spruce Pine, Spruce Pine District, Mitchell County, North Carolina;
Ryerson Hill Quarries, Paris, Oxford County, Maine;
Richardson Ranch, Madras, Jefferson County, Oregon;
Aurora, Sevier County, Utah; and many other USA locations.
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