Peruvian Blue Opal is a common, non-play-of-color opal valued for its distinct, calming teal or cyan hues. It typically occurs in massive, botryoidal, or nodular habits within volcanic rhyolitic formations and is highly prized by lapidaries for its ability to take a high polish.
Is this peruvian blue opal?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch peruvian blue opal with a known reference. Peruvian Blue Opal sits at Mohs 5.5-6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Peruvian Blue Opal leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Peruvian Blue Opal typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, teal, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Peruvian Blue Opal vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside peruvian blue opal
Minerals reported to co-occur with peruvian blue opal. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6.5
- Density
- 1.98-2.25 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Volcanic Rhyolitic Host Rocks
- Typical price
- $10-50 per gram for rough, $50-300 for finished cabochons
Where rockhounds find peruvian blue opal
Classic worldwide localities
- Ica Region, Peru
- Andes Mountains, Peru
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic rhyolitic host rocks country — that is the host setting where peruvian blue opal typically forms. If you start seeing chalcedony, quartz, rhyolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find peruvian blue opal on the map
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