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 Main Menu > GeoGallery > Minerals > Silicates > Opal 
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Opal The cause of the brilliant play of colors in opal was an enigma until relatively recently. Scanning electron microscope studies show that opals consist of transparent spheres of silica that are tightly packed. The voids or spaces between the spheres contain air or water. The regular arrangement of spheres acts as a diffraction grating, breaking visible white light into separate colors.
Group: Silicates |
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