this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2024
306 points (99.0% liked)
196
16377 readers
2142 users here now
Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.
Rule: You must post before you leave.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Wait, I'm confused. Glass is a blob that is slowly cooled, same with obsidian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass#Microscopic_structure
opal is what happens when spheres of particular size pack in grain structures of particular size.
you get like interference making diffraction patterns, but not monochrome because pseudo (meta?) crytals of balls modify the ball modes. you can make opal from latex balls, it's just not hard or as pretty. .
Basically opal is just the earth playing with its balls.