Mineral Mondays #31 - Bacon Opal!
Bacon Opal is a unique stone, the combination of wavy white, pinks & reds gives it the appearance of bacon when cut. I've been trying to get my hands on some for about 1 year now and finally was able to acquire some large pieces of rough last weekend.
The Gemstone
Bacon Opal, also known as Candy Opal, is a hyalite opal. Hyalite opal is a colorless version of common opal, but due to inclusions of hematite and other minerals from this location the hyalite opal in bacon opal is red, yellow, white, pink and shades between those colors.
History
It's unknown exactly when Bacon Opal was discovered, but the area has been inhabited by Native Americans for over 1,000 years, and more recently in the 1800's by Mormon settlers.
It was formed during the Tertiary period sometime between 65 - 2.58 million years ago. Hot, mineral-rich fluids rose up through volcanic rocks, settled and formed the opal. The area is still very geologically active, so much so there is a geothermal plant about 1 mile from the collecting site.
Localities
Bacon Opal is only found in one location in the world, just outside of Milford, Utah at the base of the aptly named Mineral Mountains. The mountain range contains beryl, obsidian, smokey & amethyst quartz and of course common opal. Bacon Opal joins the "rarity club" with other minerals like Red Beryl and Tiffany Stone that are only found in Utah.
Some Bacon Opal Facts:
- Shape - nodules, veins
- Composition - Hyrdated silica SiO2·nH2O
- Hardness - 5.5 - 6
- Refractive Index - NA
- Color - red, yellow, pink, orange, brown, and white
- Localities - Milford, Utah -
I will be cutting some of this material into slabs and offering it on our store in the US at https://www.etsy.com/shop/Rt395Minerals and in Japan at https://www.rt395mineralsjp.com if anyone is interested.
Thanks for reading!
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Oh! I'll be watching for it in your store!
Well then, I better get some slabs cut! My saw arrived yesterday and I have a half day today so maybe I can get some work done.
Ha! Feel free to let me know when they are available!
Melinda, I posted a few. I still have more cutting to do on 2 other pieces. https://www.etsy.com/listing/626725326/bacon-opal-aka-candy-opal-slab-from-utah?ref=shop_home_feat_4
I'm on it!! Now I can say I started my Christmas shopping for the grandkids! Thank you!
Are these names real or do you just make them up 😉? Though I have to admit, the first one does look like a slab of bacon especially if you turn it upside down.
Real names. I wish I had the honor of naming a stone! If you google Bacon Opal you will find specimens that look like fossilized bacon. It's also called Candy Opal. Some of the material looks like those layered candies we had when we were kids.
今度、石の話を聞かせていただきたいです。ビールを飲みながら。
ok! 🥓🍻
what a beautiful stone! like a rainbow🌹
Or bacon! 🥓
or mille crepes!
Keep on writing and stay curious!
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