No, it's a type of silica, and is classed as a mineraloid.
Opal is neither a sedimentary, igneous, nor metamorphic rock. It is actually a mineraloid composed of hydrated silica that is formed from silica-rich solutions at low temperature, often found in sedimentary rocks like sandstone or volcanic areas.
SiO2 .nH2O
The type of rock that likely formed first to initiate the rock cycle is igneous rock.
Opal is typically extracted from the earth through open-cut mining or underground mining methods. Miners use heavy machinery to remove overburden and dig into the opal-bearing layers, where they extract the opal-bearing rocks. These rocks are then processed to extract the opal gemstones.
River rock can be composed of any rock type, or any combination of rock types.
Its a rock. Just a shiny one.
Fire opal is not an igneous rock; it is a mineraloid form of opal, primarily composed of silica. While it can form in volcanic environments, it is classified as a gemstone rather than a rock type. Fire opal is known for its vibrant colors and play of color, which result from its unique internal structure rather than crystallization like igneous rocks.
yes
Neither. Opal is a mineraloid, as it does not have a sufficiently organized structure to be considered a mineral.
The rarest type of opal is the black opal, particularly those that originate from Lightning Ridge in Australia. Black opals feature a dark body tone that enhances their vibrant play-of-color, making them highly sought after by collectors. Other rare types include white opal with a unique play-of-color and boulder opal, which is formed within ironstone rock. Overall, the combination of color, clarity, and origin significantly impacts their rarity and value.
Geyserite is a type of rock that is formed by the precipitation of silica from hot spring water, typically around geysers and hot springs. It is composed mainly of siliceous material and resembles opal or chalcedony in appearance.
No, it's actually a form of silica.
igneous
Yes, diatomite is a type of sedimentary rock made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of single-celled algae. Opal silica, on the other hand, refers to a non-crystalline form of silica that can be found in amorphous, hydrated, or gel-like states. While diatomite contains opal silica, they are not the same thing.
An opal is considered to be a mineraloid, meaning that it has all of the properties of a mineral-- solid, inorganic, naturally forming, has a chemical composition-- but does not demonstrate crystallinity. Other examples of mineraloids include obsidian, an amorphous glass (that is not a crystal).
The types of Opal that i am familiar with are White Opal, Fire Opal, Boulder Opal, Black Opal, Crystal Opal, Light Opal, Doublet Opal, Triplet Opal, Common Opal, Synthetic Opal, and Immitation Opal.
Opal is amorphous mineraloid, occurrence : Sedimentary and secondary from the alteration of high silica igneous extrusive rocks