A species of Glass, Also known as Opalized Glass, Cream Stone
Opalite is an artificial variety of opalescent glass. It is mainly used as a decoration and is usually sold carved into decorative objects or as tumble-polished stones. It can be confused with true opals or moonstones. Because of its lovely iridescence, it is used to make jewelry pieces like rings, earrings, and bracelets.
Hardness:
5
Density:
2.41 - 2.5 g/cm³
On This Page
Properties
Health Risk
Values
Market Price
How to Care
Characteristics
Cultural
Common Questions
General Info About Opalite
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Physical Properties of Opalite
Luster
Pearly, Vitreous, Waxy
Diaphaneity
Transparent to translucent
Colors
Colorless or white with opalescent
Magnetism
Non-magnetic
Tenacity
Brittle
Cleavage
None
Fracture
Conchoidal, Uneven
Streak
White
Crystal System
Amorphous
Hardness
5 , Soft
Density
2.41 - 2.5 g/cm³, Normal Weight
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Chemical Properties of Opalite
Chemical Classification
Silicates
Formula
SiO2 . nH2O
Elements listed
Si, O
Optical Properties of Opalite
Refractive Index
1.48-1.70
Optical Character
Isotropic
Health Risk of Opalite
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What is the hazards of Opalite?
Quartz, silica, crystalline silica and flint are non-toxic materials, but very fine dust containing quartz, known as respirable crystalline silicon (RCS), can cause serious and fatal lung disease. Lapidaries should exercise caution when cutting silica.
Discover the Value of Opalite
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Rarity
Easy to obtain
Collection Recommendation
3.6 out of 5
Popularity
3.5
Aesthetic
4.0
Rarity
2.8
Sci-Cultural Value
3.3
The Market Price of Opalite
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Weight is a decisive factor affecting the price of opalite. The price of a tumbled stone about 2.5 cm across is usually $1-$4/piece.
Rough/Tumbled Price
Smaller Than Hand (0-1.5in)
$2 - $15
Close Hand (1.5-3in)
$13 - $25
Equal To Hand (3-6in)
$25 - $50
Bigger Than Hand (>6in)
$50
How to Care for Opalite?
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Durability
Nondurable
Scratch resistance
Poor
Toughness of Opalite
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
The poor toughness of opalite arises from its glassy nature that lacks a crystalline structure, rendering it prone to cracking and chipping under stress or impact.
Stability of Opalite
Sensitive
Stable
Opalite is generally resistant to water, sunlight, and dry conditions. While it should avoid high heat and harsh chemicals, it maintains stability under most everyday circumstances.
More Care Tips of Opalite
Characteristics of Opalite
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Natural Opalite (as opposed to the man made Opalite) shares the same basic chemical properties as Opal. It is made of tiny spheres of Silicon Dioxide which stack onto each other in a pyramid grid shape. This grid is what allows the cat’s eye effect to be displayed when the stone is cut into a high domed cabochon. Natural opalite is referred to as "common opal" to prevent confusing it with glass opalite.
Cultural Significance of Opalite
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Uses of Opalite
Opalite is most often used as a gemstone in jewelry, or for carving decorative objects. Natural opalite is an extremely popular decorative green mineral that has been used as a semi-precious stone in Africa for at least 40,000 years.
Common Questions People Also Ask
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