mineral

Tiffany Stone

Bertrandite (Be4Si2O7(OH)2) mixed with Fluorite (CaF2), Opal, and Chalcedony

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 4 to 7 (variable); Color: White, purple, violet, cream, with black veins; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Amorphous/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.1 - 2.65

Hardness: 4 to 7 (variable)
Color: White, purple, violet, cream, with black veins
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in volcanic ash or tuff deposits through hydrothermal activity where fluorine-rich fluids interacted with beryllium-bearing minerals, primarily in the Spor Mountain region of Utah during the Tertiary period.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in lapidary arts as a semi-precious gemstone for cabochons and carvings; also historically crushed for its beryllium content used in aerospace and automotive alloys.

Geological facts

Also known as 'Ice Cream Opalite' or 'Bertrandite'. It is considered one of the rarest specimens in the world because it is almost exclusively found at the Brush Wellman beryllium mine in Utah, which is closed to public collecting.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive 'swirling' or 'fractured' purple and white patterns. In the field, look for nodules or heavy mineralization in rhyolitic tuff. Most specimens reach the market through old stockpiles from the Topaz-Spor mountain region.