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A unique specimen of a natural Pink Opal vein covered with quartz from the Pink Opal mines near Ica, Peru. Top-quality Pink Opal like this is called “Angel Skin” is highly appreciated by lapidarists and jewelers and would normally be used for top-quality gemstone production for jewelry. Angel skin Pink Opal like this reaches rough kilo prices of above 1000.00 USD per kilo as jewelry raw material.
Even though pink opal is classed in the group of “common” opals (because it does not show an internal play-of-color but is of opaque color), there is nothing common about pink opal. In fact, Pink Opal is a very rare color variety of opal only found in the Peruvian desert. Furthermore, the mines are located only in a small area of a few hills near Ica, Peru.
Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica; its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. Because of its amorphous character, it is classed as a mineraloid, unlike crystalline forms of silica, which are classed as minerals. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock. Opal is softer and more easily chipped than most other popular gemstones. It has a hardness of about 5.5 to 6.0 on the Mohs hardness scale.