Thermal properties of Australian sedimentary opals and Czech moldavites

摘要

The thermal properties are presented for a precious opal sourced from Coober Pedy, South Australia and a moldavite from Bohemia, Czech Republic whose origins differ significantly as opal is derived from the slow isothermal diagenesis of silica, while the tektites are specimens of vitreous silica formed from the terrestrial impact of asteroids. The differences between the two glassy silicates are presented through measurement of the TG-DSC, TMA and high-vacuum-hot-extraction DEGAS analysis.