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Click on a
letter above to view the list of gems. |
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| Chemistry: SiO2
+ 5-10% nH2O | Prehistoric
Discovery;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Opalus
was the ancient Latin name probably derived from the
Sanskrit word upala, meaning precious stone.
The Greek word opallios literally means "to
see a change of color." |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Oxides
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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4/D.01-80 |
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4 : Oxides & Hydroxides D : Oxides with metal : oxygen =
1:2 (MO2 and related compounds) 01 : Quartz group
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Amorphous
(no crystalline forms) |
Crystal
Habit:
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Amorphous
- (no crystalline forms) Habits include Massive; Concretions;
Botryoidal; Stalactitic; Reniform - "kidney like"
in shape (e.g. Hematite); cavity fillings (e.g. in fractures
and geodes); replacement of other minerals or wood.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
None
(amorphous)
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Fracture: |
Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
5.5
- 6.0
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Density:
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1.90 - 2.30 (g/cm3) |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Colorless,
white, yellow, orange, red, yellowish brown, greenish,
blue, gray, black, violet. |
Transparency: |
Transparent
to Translucent to Opaque
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Luster: |
Vitreous,
Waxy, Pearly, Dull |
Refractive
Index: |
1.43
Isotropic |
Birefringence: |
0.00
(Isotropic)
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Dispersion: |
Weak
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Pleochroism: |
Distinct;
red, orange, yellow, green, blue
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
Sedimentary and secondary from the alteration of high silica igneous extrusive
rocks. |
Type
Locality: |
n/a |
Year
Discovered: |
Prehistoric
discovery |
View
mineral photos: |
Opal
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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This
page contains Opal gems from Africa, Australia, Ethiopia,
Madagascar, Serbia, Tanzania, Turkey and other locations.
For more general information on Opals and Opals from
other locations around the world, please visit our main
Opal
page.
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Opal
gems for sale:
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Gem:
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Opal
- Turkey |
Stock
#:
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OPAL-O-003-TU |
Weight:
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0.955
ct |
Size: |
9.35
x 5.77 x 3.87 mm |
Shape: |
Cushion |
Color: |
Creamy
White |
Clarity: |
Sleepy
- Translucent - SI |
Origin: |
Turkey |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$35.00 |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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A
beautiful gem from an unusual
location. This is the only Opal I have seen
from Turkey in a very long time. It is well cut
with a sleepy appearance with a few very
small mineral specks.
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Gem:
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Opal
- Serbia |
Stock
#:
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OPAL-O-004 |
Weight:
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0.567
ct |
Size: |
7.07
x 5.06 x 3.79 mm |
Shape: |
Oval |
Color: |
Very
pale green |
Clarity: |
Translucent
- SI |
Origin: |
Serbia |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$19.00 |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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A
small beauty from another unusual location.
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Gem:
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Opal
- Africa |
Stock
#:
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OPAL-O-005-AF |
Weight:
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1.362
ct |
Size: |
10.86
x 6.91 x 4.70 mm |
Shape: |
Fancy
- Geometric |
Color: |
Pale green |
Clarity: |
Translucent |
Origin: |
Africa |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$38.00 |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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