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  • Opalite

Opalite

Opalite

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: January 2022
Opalite Polished
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Opalite Colors
  • Alternate Names
  • Countries of Origin
  • Care
  • Material Composition

Opalite is the name for man-made opalescent glass. The term is sometimes erroneously used for impure common opal. In 1988 a plastic opal simulant was introduced with the tradename “opalite”.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Opalite
Species
Opalite
Transparency
Translucent-Transparent
Refractive Index
1.500-1.520
Optic Character
NA
Optic Sign
NA
Polariscope Reaction
Anomalous Double Refraction (ADR), Singly Refractive (SR)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Variable; plastic: chalky bluish white
LWUV: Variable; plastic: bluish white, orange edges
Hardness
5
Specific Gravity
Glass: 2.410-2.500, Plastic 1.20-1.22
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Air bubbles or swirls
Luster
Dull, Vitreous
Fracture
Conchoidal
Cleavage
None
Crystal System
NA

Opalite Colors

  • Blue Opalite
    Blue
  • White Opalite
    White
  • Pink Opalite
    Pink
  • Multi-color Opalite
    Multi-color
  • Colorless Opalite
    Colorless

Alternate Names

Opal simulate, glass, argenon, sea opal, and opal moonstone,opal essence

Countries of Origin

Unknown; China; Japan

Care

Normal Care

Material Composition

Opalite Glass

Opalite is a man-made opalescent glass. When opalite is placed against a dark backdrop, it takes on a luminous blue or pink glow. Blue opalite has even been confused for moonstone at times.

Opalite Glass Opalite
Opalite Glass Opalite
  • Classification
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Opalite Glass
Specific Gravity
2.410
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Air bubbles or swirl lines

Opalite Plastic

First manufactured in the late 1970’s in Japan these plastic opal simulants show play of color and are often confused with true opals. The material is constructed of minute polystyrene spheres that often show a columnar appearance in profile.

Opalite Plastic Opalite
Opalite Plastic Opalite
  • Classification
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Opalite Plastic
Specific Gravity
1.20
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Columnar growth, snake skin or chicken wire pattern
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