Black Opal natural mineral from gracios o dios mine gracias a dios department Honduras
Size-
7.9cm x 6.2cm x 3.5cm
Weight-
109g
You will receive the item in the photo
Crystal system- Amorphous (non-crystalline). Rather than an organized crystal structure,its internal makeup consists of billions of submicroscopic silica spheres arranged in a regular three dimensional grid that acts as a diffraction grating for light.
Mineral class- Mineraloid. Because it lacks a crystalline structure and contains a variable amount of water, it cannot be categorised as a true mineral. Under chemical classification it belongs to the hoarder group of oxides/silicates.
Hardness- 5.5-6.5 on the MOHs scale.
Rock formation- Primarily sedimentary. Black opals are formed over millions of years as silica-rich ground water percolates down through weathered sandstone,mudstone and clay stone. The solution settles into underground cracks,faults and voids left by decomposing fossils. As the water slowly evaporates it leaves behind a harder gel deposits.
