mineral

Pink Opal

Hydrated Silica (SiO2·nH2O)

Hardness: 5.5-6.0 on Mohs scale; Color: Delicate pink to salmon; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 1.9-2.3

Hardness: 5
Color: Delicate pink to salmon
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 7, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 5.5-6.0 on Mohs scale; Color: Delicate pink to salmon; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 1.9-2.3

Formation & geological history

Formed from silica-rich groundwater filling cavities in volcanic rocks and sedimentary layers. This specific variety is largely associated with the Tertiary period in the Andes Mountains.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry for cabochons and beads, as a healing stone in metaphysical communities, and as a collector's specimen.

Geological facts

Unlike 'precious' opal, pink opal is a 'common' opal, meaning it lacks play-of-color. Its pink hue often comes from tiny inclusions of palygorskite (a clay mineral) or organic compounds.