metamorphic

Tiffany Stone

Bertrandite-Bearing Fluorite Hyalite Opal

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Purple, lavender, white, cream, and brown; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Amorphous/Microcrystalline; Specific gravity: 2.1-2.9

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Purple, lavender, white, cream, and brown
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified June 6, 2026More metamorphic →

Explore Tiffany Stone in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Purple, lavender, white, cream, and brown; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Amorphous/Microcrystalline; Specific gravity: 2.1-2.9

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal replacement of volcanic rhyolite and limestone near beryllium-rich deposits. These specimens occur as nodules in volcanic tuff across the western United States.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in lapidary work for cabochons and jewelry. It is also an ore for beryllium, which is essential for aerospace, telecommunications, and high-tech defense industries.

Geological facts

This stone is found in only one location in the world: the Brush Wellman beryllium mine at Topaz-Spor Mountain in Utah. It is often called 'Ice Cream Opal' or 'Opalized Fluorite'.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive purple and cream swirl patterns. It is no longer legally open to the public for collecting, as it is a byproduct of active commercial beryllium mining.