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Tiffany Stone Properties, Facts and Photos

tiffany stone a natural rock from Western Utah
Contents

1. What is Tiffany Stone?
2. The Name Tiffany Stone
3. Where is Tiffany Stone Found?
4. Article Picture
5. Shop for Tiffany Stone

What is Tiffany Stone?

Tiffany stone is a rare material made up of several different minerals.  It's a rock not a mineral.

To be more precise tiffany stone is a mineralised nodule found in just one location, the Sevier Desert, Western Utah (USA).

The nodules were once impregnated by ground water rich in natural minerals.  These impurities are the reason for the stone's striking colour.

The minerals that make up tiffany stone include quartz, fluorite, dolomite, rhodonite, beryllium and manganese oxides.  The black colour comes from impurities of manganese oxides whilst white, yellow and pink comes mainly from beryllium. Blue and purple comes from fluorite.  

Tiffany stone is sometimes referred to as bertrandite which is not correct.  Bertrandite is a mineral in its own right but is present in tiffany stone.  It's a primary source of a highly sought after chemical element called beryllium.  

Most tiffany stone is crushed in order to extract even the smallest amount of this sought after metal.

Being graded 4 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness means tiffany stone is quite soft.  It's widely used for cabochons because its colour and markings make it ideal for jewellery.

The Name 'Tiffany Stone'

Despite extensive research we cannot find any factual information to explain how the name tiffany stone came about.

Many articles state that it's linked to tiffany glass.  Some larger slabs of tiffany stone are said to have a similar appearance to tiffany glass lampshades.  Several other articles claim it was named after the daughter of the person who discovered it. 

Whatever the reason for the name, as tiffany stone gained popularity and started being photographed and written about, the name would have become too difficult to change.

Tiffany stone is known by several different names some of which include ice cream opal and opalised fluorite.  The latter from a scientific perspective is a more accurate description of what it is.

 

Where is Tiffany Stone Found?

The primary deposit in Utah where tiffany stone is found is in the Topaz-Spor mountains.  The area is no longer accessible to the public and hasn't been mined for many years.

The 'Spor Mountain mining district' as the area is known is the world’s premier producer of beryllium.  Spor Mountain is known for its abundance of other minerals including the incredibly rare red beryl, opal, hematite and topaz.     

With most tiffany stone now being crushed very little collectable material becomes available.  We have just managed to find a small quantity of very nice polished pieces which are about to be added to our collection.  

Opalised fluorite from Turkey and China are often mis-sold as tiffany stone.  Although they can have a similar appearance it's not the same material.

Tiffany stone is incredibly rare and highly sought after so unless it comes from the Topaz-Spor mountains in Utah, it's not tiffany stone. 

It's worth remembering the location where it's found has been closed for several years.      

Article Picture

The tiffany stone at the top of our article is courtesy of James St.John.  It's clickable and redirects to the original photo.

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