Hyalite Opal (fluorescent), Orthoclase, and Schorl

Item Description

Brilliantly fluorescent, Hyalite Opal is most often found in Erongo as an accessory mineral, albeit a bright one under UV light. This specimen, where the Hyalite Opal is a major component, along with Orthoclase and Schorl, might very well be the richest overall hyalite example I have seen from Erongo in this collection heavy on Erongo material. The gemmy and lustrous green Opal coats nearly the entire top of the specimen, including both the euhedral Orthoclase and the lustrous black Schorls. So rarely do you see Hyalite Opal so pure and dominant. The single Orthoclase is almost 4 cm across, and nearly complete. Between the Orthoclase and the Opal is a layer of sharp, well-formed Schorl crystals averaging 3-4mm in size.