Database of luminescent minerals 

hyalite

Chemical formula: See OPALE

Family: Oxides and hydroxides

Status: NON APPR

Crystal system : Amorphous

Display mineral: OUI

Luminescence:

Daylight picture

Hyalite, Valeč, Czech Republic;
Col. G.Barmarin; Photo: G. Barmarin

Shortwave (254nm) picture

Hyalite, Valeč, Czech Republic; UVSW
Col. G.Barmarin; Photo: G. Barmarin

Pictures Galery:

  
  Go to the galery (9 pictures)

Do you have a photo of this mineral you would like to see in the gallery? Contact us!

Phosphorescence (in the common sense of the term) observable with the naked eye:

No phosphorescence visible to the naked eye under any type of UV

Comments:

A colourless variety of Opal. Hyalite is opal-AN, an amorphous silica-glass containing about 3-8% water.

Hyalite is quite often present as a coating almost invisible to the naked eye on quartz, feldspar, topaz, black tourmaline, aquamarine etc. falsely suggesting that these minerals fluoresce.

Activator(s) and spectrum:

Activator(s): (UO₂)²⁺ (ion Uranyle) en impureté,

Peaks in the spectrum (nm):

UO₂²⁺ : 503, 524, 547, 570, 600nm

Col. G. Barmarin; Spectre: G. Barmarin

Spectrum of hyalite in CSV

You can download the CSV file by clicking here: fichier csv

Spectrum Galery:

  
  Go to the galery (3 spectra)

Comments on spectrum and activators:

Typical spectrum of Uranyl impurities.

Best localities for fluorescence (*):

• Valec (Waltsch), Doupov, Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia, Czech Republic ;
• Tarcal, Eperjes-Tokaj Mts., Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary (coming on the market in Munchen in 2014, fluo strong green SW, moderate green LW);
• Kopasz Hill, Tállya, Zemplén Mountians, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary
• Monok, Zemplén Mts, Hungary ;
• Bárdos Hill, Gyöngyössolymos, Heves County, Mátra, Hungary ;
• Chalk Mountain Mine, Spruce Pine, Spruce Pine District, Mitchell Co., North Carolina, USA ;
• Erongo Mountains, Namibia ;
• Lesbos Island, Lésvos Prefecture, Aegean Islands Department, Greece (very similar to samples of Czech Republic);
• Squaretop Mountain, Kaimkillenbun, Wambo Shire, Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia (similar to samples of Czech Republic but moderate lime-green fluo SW);
• Zacatecas, Mexico (coming on the market in 2014 in Tucson, very strong green fluo even in daylight!);

(*)The data are not exhaustive and are limited to a few remarkable localities for fluorescence

Bibliographic reference for luminescence:

• The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
• Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light, Manuel Robbins, 1994, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-945005-13-X ,
• Luminescenza nel regno minerale, Guido Mazzoleni, fotografia Roberto Appiani, Libri Sandit, 2010, ISBN 978-88-95990-63-7 ,
• Handbook of Fluorescent Gems and Minerals, a practical guide for the gem and mineral collector, Jack de Ment, 1949 ,

Reference for luminescence on the Internet:

Mineralogical reference on the Internet:

  http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Hyalite

  http://webmineral.com/data/Hyalite.shtml

Internet Search:

  Image search on 'Google Images'

  Search for documents in all languages on Google

  Search on Wikipedia