Opal Pineapples

Photographer: Mila Zinkova

Summary Author: Mila Zinkova

Opal pineapples are found only in one place on the earth -- White Cliffs, Australia. Although they're called pineapples, they have nothing to do with edible fruits. Tullie Wollaston, the first opal buyer in Australia, named them pineapples over 100-years ago because they somewhat resemble the crown of a pineapple. 

These interesting opals are a rare form of double pseudomorphs. They start out as Ikaite crystals, which only grow under very cold, glacial conditions. Once temperatures begin to rise, they then rapidly change to calcite. This calcite is eventually replaced by opal. Note that the particular specimen shown above is only a fragment of an opal pineapple. Click here to see a video that shows the play-of-color of these unusual opals.   

 

 

 

White Cliffs, Australia Coordinates: -30.8524, 143.0891

 

Related Links:

Opal Pseudomorphs