Tiffany Stone

Physical Properties

Hardness: 4-7 (highly variable); Color: Purple, lavender, white, cream, and black swirls; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Amorphous (opal) to Orthorhombic (bertrandite); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.1 - 2.6.

Formation & Geological History

Formed through the hydro-thermal replacement of limestone or volcanic ash by fluorine-rich fluids containing beryllium. These deposits in Utah are roughly 25 million years old (Miocene epoch).

Uses & Applications

Primary source of industrial beryllium (used in aerospace and electronics); highly prized by lapidaries and jewelry makers for cabochons and as a rare collector's specimen.

Geological Facts

It is also known as 'Ice Cream Opalite' or 'Bertrandite.' It is only found at the Brush Wellman Beryllium Mine in the Topaz-Spor Mountains of Utah, which is closed to the public.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify by its distinctive purple 'swirl' or 'cobweb' patterns and waxy texture. It is extremely rare because the mine crushes almost all extraction for beryllium processing, leaving very little for the specimen market.

Identified on: 4/27/2026

Mode: Standard