The Specimen Library / Under the Loupe
Opal · Science
Hydrated silica / material varieties
A closer look beyond the specimen label.
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The material, examined
What the name tells you
A doublet or triplet contains layers assembled by people. It is not the same thing as a solid natural opal or a laboratory-grown opal. Ask what the object is before deciding how to clean or value it.
A useful question at the counter
Solid, assembled or laboratory-grown? What does the seller know about the particular material’s stability?
A note for your collection
Avoid heat, rapid temperature changes and chemical experiments. Do not apply a soaking rule to all opals; assemblies and individual material vary.
Sources & further reading
References are labeled by role. A source documenting a belief is not evidence of a medical or mineralogical effect. Reflection prompts are C&C editorial suggestions.
- GIA: Opal
- GIA: Opal care
- C&C original crystal-practice index, 2017 archive: contemporary C&C teaching and symbolic associations.
Adjacent drawers
Related Specimens
The cabinet