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Lemon Opal, Manhattan Mine, Knoxville, California

Chris Clemens

Lemon opal, also known as semi-opal, from the Manhattan mine in Knoxville, Napa County, California. Under long wave UV, the lemon opal shows a bright yellow fluorescent response. The fluorescence is similar under short wave UV, but not as bright. The size of this specimen is 42 x 40 x 30 mm.

The Manhattan mine, also known as the McLaughlin mine, is located on a hot spring type deposit that produced lead, gold, silver and mercury, beginning in the 1860s. This site is no longer available for collecting.

Lemon opal from the Manhattan mine, showing fluorescence under long wave UV (254nm).

Same specimen seen under visible light (left), short wave UV (middle) and long wave UV (right). Click on the individual images for a larger view.

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