Opal is a very varied family of gemstones and Hyalite Opals are possibly the most unusual.
More a gemstone for the collector than the jewelry market, Hyalite Opals can be found in Namibia, Madagascar, the USA and most recently, Mexico.
The name Hyalite means water-like and, as the name suggests, they are generally colorless and clear.
However some rare examples can be found in vivid greens and yellows with a spectacular color change and fluorescing phenomena. Tiny amounts of uranium within the gemstone cause dramatic color changes when viewed under daylight or in incandescent lighting.
In addition, the Hyalite gemstone can display fluorescence or luminescence in daylight conditions which is very unusual.
Hyalite Opals contain minute amounts of radioactivity which surely contributes to their amazing color behavior but does not pose any health dangers.