The "Hokkaido Stone," which has become a hot topic, will be on display at the Tokachi-Kaoi Geopark Visitor Center in Shikaoi-cho from May 29. Other exhibitions are scheduled to be held at various facilities in Hokkaido, including the Hokkaido University Museum, the Ministry of the Environment's Higashi Taisetsu Nature Museum in Kamishiboro-cho, and the Hokkaido Museum.

Tokachi-Kaoi Geopark Visitor Center

Address: 28-2, 29-nishi, Urimaku, Shikao-cho, Kawagoe-cho, Kawagoe-gun, Hokkaido
Hours: 10:00 - 19:00
Closed: Tuesdays

See more information about the Tokachi-Shikaoi Geopark Visitor Center on Domingo

The Taisetsu National Park has been the source of opals since before World War II, but recently there have been a number of potentially stolen opals being sold on the Internet and other sources. The opal and its locality, including the new mineral "Hokkaido stone," must urgently be protected so that it can be handed down to future generations, not to mention educated about its geological and mineralogical importance.

The discovery of this new mineral may provide a clue to a mystery that has remained unresolved for many years, and we hope that you will visit the exhibition when it is held in various areas of Hokkaido.

Thumbnail photo: "Opal containing Hokkaido black opal (from Oi-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. (The part of the opal that fluoresces black under ultraviolet light irradiation is Hokkaido black). © Ryo-ni Solanaka
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