Ethiopian Opal

The Ethiopian Opal is mined in the Shewa province, which is about 150 Miles from the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. The first report on the Ethiopian opal appeared in the February 1994 ICA GAZETTE (BAROT, 1994). The report states that the Ethiopian Opal was first seen in the Nairobi Gem Market in 1993. 

The Opal is found as RHYOLITE NODULES, in welded volcanic ash. The NODULES occurs in the broad range of body colors and body size. Some NODULES weigh more than one kilo each. The Ethiopian Opal comes in a wide variety of  yellow, brown, red, orange, purple, lavender, play of color. The Opal can cut good to precious opal gems and the crystal materials is facetable. In our recent experiment we found an Ethiopian Opal to be the best for inlays, accent stones, and wire wrap art. The Ethiopian opal is unique in color and shape.  It is perfect for inlays and accent stones.

We sell these precious opals from Ethiopia in all their varieties, rough, free forms, calibrated, specimens, jewelry, faceted, and faceted cabs, at a very minimal price.  We have the Ethiopian opal in white, brown, jelly, contra luz, jelly, cherry, translucent and black.

Reference:  African Opal Unearthed by Paul Downing, Lapidary Journal July 1996.

Opal from Shewa Province, Ethiopia by Mary L. Johnson, Robert C. Kammerling, Dino  G.DeGhanno, and John I. Koivula, Gems and Gemology Summer 1996.