Mineraloid (Man-made)
Opaline Glass (Opalite)
Synthetic Silicon Dioxide Glass
Hardness: 5-5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent blue with orange/yellow 'glow' when light passes through; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to translucent blue with orange/yellow 'glow' when light passes through; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Opalite is a man-made variety of glass produced by melting dolomite and magnesium with silica. Unlike natural opal, it is manufactured in industrial settings rather than geological environments.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for decorative purposes, costume jewelry, healing crystals, and lapidary practice. It is popular among collectors of 'metaphysical' stones due to its aesthetic appeal.
Geological facts
Although often marketed as 'Sea Opal' or 'Moonstone,' it is entirely synthetic. It exhibits the Tyndall effect, which causes the blue coloration by scattering light, similar to why the sky appears blue.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for tiny air bubbles inside the material and a uniform 'glow' that natural opals lack. It will feel warmer to the touch than natural stone and lacks the specific 'fire' or play-of-color flashes seen in precious opal.
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