Fire opal

Specimen Summary

Opal is a mineraloid composed of amorphous silica. It is not considered a true mineral as it lacks an ordered atomic arrangement. This is due to the presence of water, differentiating it from crystalline silica (quartz). The internal structure of opal causes it to diffract light, producing pearly iridescence.

Specimen Data

 

The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.

Collection Details

Original Collection:

British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS)

Sub Collection:

-

Collection ID:

Fire-1

Virtual Museum ID:

19-BCGS-Fire-1

Accessibility:

Date Added to VM:

2019-05-07

Location Information

Sample Origin:

W of Burns Lake

Specific Site:

-

UTM Easting:

312545

UTM Northing:

6008660

Datum:

10 (NAD 83)

Coordinate Accuracy:

Specimen Details

VM Category:

Rock

Primary Features:

Fire opal

Primary Mineral Formula:

SiO2

Primary Category:

silicate

Secondary Features:

Advanced Geological Information

 

The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.

Geological Formation:

Endako Group / Hazelton Group

Geological Period:

Oligocene to Miocene/Lower Jurassic

Stratigraphic Age:

-

Geological Belt:

Intermontane

Geological Terrane:

Overlap Assemblage

Minfile ID:

093K095

Minfile Link:

https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/summary.aspx?minfilno=093K%20%20095

Site Details:

The Eagle Creek showing is located on the Opal 2 claim about 6.5 kilometres west of Burns Lake.

The area is designated as a No Staking Reserve and is accessed by a well-kept walking trail about 4.2 kilometres in length. Walking time to the collecting area is abouot 1.5 hours each way.

The area is underlain by volcanic rocks of the Oligocene to Miocene Endako Group and the Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group.

The showing is underlain by flat-lying vesicular to amygdaloidal basalts of the Endako Group.

Elongated (up to 7.5 centimetres) and rounded leaf green agates occur in vesicles within the basalt. White and amber agates (up to 5 centimetres in diameter) and rare opals, including fire opals, have been reported. Two pieces of precious opal were found along Eagle Creek. Common opal and agate are plentiful.

Additional Images