Reviews
2.4" Polished Atacama Blue Opal (Chrysocolla & Opal) - Chile
This is an incredibly vibrant, 2.4" wide section of "Chilean blue opal", also known as "Atacama blue opal", collected from the Atacama region of Chile. One side has been polished to a glossy finish on and sealed to highlight the incredibly vivid blue coloration of this natural stone.
About Atacama Blue Opal
Atacama Blue Opal is a natural variety of common opal, a hydrated silica mineraloid (SiO₂·nH₂O) valued for its soft blue to blue-green coloration. It is found in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, where it occurs in volcanic rocks within the arid Atacama Region. The opal forms when silica-rich groundwater moves through fractures and cavities in the host rock, depositing amorphous silica gel that gradually solidifies over time. Its distinctive blue color is typically caused by inclusions of copper-bearing minerals—most commonly chrysocolla—within the opal. Unlike precious opal, Atacama Blue Opal does not display play-of-color, but its soothing hues and striking desert locality make it a distinctive and desirable gemstone material.
Atacama Blue Opal is a natural variety of common opal, a hydrated silica mineraloid (SiO₂·nH₂O) valued for its soft blue to blue-green coloration. It is found in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, where it occurs in volcanic rocks within the arid Atacama Region. The opal forms when silica-rich groundwater moves through fractures and cavities in the host rock, depositing amorphous silica gel that gradually solidifies over time. Its distinctive blue color is typically caused by inclusions of copper-bearing minerals—most commonly chrysocolla—within the opal. Unlike precious opal, Atacama Blue Opal does not display play-of-color, but its soothing hues and striking desert locality make it a distinctive and desirable gemstone material.
$45
SPECIES
Opal & Chrysocolla
LOCATION
Copiapó, Atacama Region, Chile
SIZE
2.4 x 2.25"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#352148
