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Geosciences LibreTexts

16.50.02: Blue Peruvian Opal

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Opal
Chemical composition SiO2+.H2O
Crystal system Amorphous
Hardness 5- 6 1/2
Refractive index 1.45 (+.020;-0.080)
Specific gravity 2.15 (+0.07;-0.90)
Lustre Vitreous
Phenomenon Play of Color

The name comes from the source from where it is mined, the Peruvian Andes.
Other tradenames include Andean opal, Andean blue opal, Andean blue silica, and blue opal.

Diagnostics

Color

Aquamarine to sea-green color due to trace amounts of copper.

Occurrence

Main source: San Patricio, Peru.

Care

Opal is relatively soft, Peruvian opal should be treated with care as it can be scratched by any harder material. Wash in warm soapy (non-detergent) water.


16.50.02: Blue Peruvian Opal is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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