Surface areas of ‘amorphous’-type opals measured by nitrogen-absorption techniques were not consistent either with the surface area of the spheres of about 2000 Å diameter observable by electron microscopy or with the thermal dehydration data. This apparent inconsistency can be explained in terms of a smaller particulate structure of the order of 100–200 Å shown by higher resolution electron micrographs. This structure also accounts for a marked shrinkage shown in dilatometer curves of this type of opal.