Potch opal and its genetic significance
V.V. Serdobintseva, D.V. Kalinin
Geological data on the precious-opal deposits of Southern Australia and Queensland indicate a relationship between potch mineralization and salinity of host sedimentary rocks. A theoretical analysis of the processes in opal-generating colloidal systems as well as experimental modeling and calculations prove that potch forms at high concentrations of electrolytes. The ranges of salt concentrations at which potch and precious opal form are considered. It has been established that electrolyte concentration in natural suspensions of the monodisperse silica spheres is the major parameter governing the supermolecular crystallization during the formation of precious opal.
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