Opal

E60368

Opal is a precious gemstone renowned for its vibrant play-of-color and is especially associated with major deposits in Australia.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Australian black opal 1

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf gemstone
mineraloid
canExhibit crazing
containsComponent water
containsElement oxygen
silicon
formsBy precipitation from silica-rich solutions
formsIn sedimentary rocks
volcanic rocks
hasChemicalComposition hydrated silica
hasChemicalFormula SiO2·nH2O
hasCleavage none
hasColor black
blue
colorless
orange
red
white
hasCrystalSystem amorphous
hasFracture conchoidal
hasLuster vitreous
waxy
hasMajorDepositIn Australia
Brazil
Ethiopia
Mexico
United States of America
surface form: United States
hasMohsHardness 5.5–6.5
hasOpticalEffect opalescence
play-of-color
hasRefractiveIndex 1.37–1.52
hasSpecificGravity 1.9–2.3
hasTypicalTransparency transparent to opaque
hasVariety black opal
boulder opal
common opal
crystal opal
fire opal
matrix opal
precious opal
white opal
isAssociatedWithCountry Australia
isBirthstoneFor October
isNationalGemstoneOf Australia
isPrimarilyFoundIn Australia
isRenownedFor vibrant play-of-color
isSensitiveTo dehydration
sudden temperature changes
isUsedFor jewelry
ornamental objects

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

this entity surface form: Australian black opal