The world of gemstones is filled with wonders, and among them, the Ethiopian Opal stands out with its unique charm and captivating properties. Ethiopian Opal has been a favorite among gem sellers and gem lovers for years. This is perhaps due to its rarity and ridiculously lower prices than Australian opals and other select gemstones. This article delves into the fascinating world of Ethiopian Opals, exploring their origin, properties, value, and the mystical beliefs associated with them.
Historical Context and Discovery
Before the discovery of Ethiopian opal, archaeology showed that opals played a huge part in East African trade as early as 4000 BC. Ethiopian Opal was first discovered in 1990 and first mined commercially in 2008. The stone’s origin is Ethiopia’s northern Welo District. The name “opal” comes from the ancient Sanskrit Upala, meaning “precious stone,” and later Greek Opallios meaning “to see a change in color."
The Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, described opalus - the Opal, as a precious stone containing the fiery flame of the carbuncle (Garnet), the resplendent purple of the Amethyst, and the sea-green glory of the Emerald - all shining together in incredible union and exquisite pleasure. It was considered by all in the ancient world to be the most bewitching and mysterious of gems, worn for its virtues of soothing and strengthening the sight, healing diseases of the eyes, and capable of providing great luck, as it possessed all the virtues of the gemstones whose colors reside within it.
Fast forward to 1994: miners discovered the first Ethiopian opal deposit in the Shewa province. These precious opals were inside volcanic rock nodules and had brown, reddish-brown, or orange coloring. Unfortunately, they also were prone to crazing.
In 2008, miners discovered a second deposit in the Wollo province near Wegel Tena. Wegel Tena opals were more durable than Shewa opals and came in more attractive types like white, crystal, fire, and the occasional black opals. “Welo opal” soon became a trade name for this deposit’s opals.
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The last major discovery in 2013 occurred at the Stayish mine, also in the Wollo province. Some specimens produced were white or crystal opal, but the majority were black or dark gray opal. Today, the Wegel Tena deposit is known for stunning white and crystal opal, while the Stayish mine is known for its black opal.
For the longest time, Australian opal has dominated the opal industry, generally setting the standards for opal trading. Currently, the quantity of Ethiopian opal found in the market rivals what comes from Australia. However, some gem experts believe that Ethiopian opal may soon overtake the Australian opal with relatively steady growth.
Geological Formation and Properties
Unlike Australian opal that forms deep underground, Ethiopian opal forms high up in the mountains. Generally, opals are sedimentary by default. This means that the opals are created from the layers of ancient waterways. However, Ethiopian opals are also classified as hydrophane opals. These opal types are formed due to volcanic activity.
Opal is hydrated silicon dioxide - submicroscopic silica spheres bonded together with water and additional silica, sometimes containing the minerals cristobalite and tridymite. It is amorphous, meaning it has no crystalline structure and no definite chemical composition and is therefore considered to be a “mineraloid” rather than a “mineral.” Over time, this gelatinous mix seeped deep into fractures, veins and between the layers of underground sedimentary rock, and the solidified material, Opal, formed as much of the water evaporated.
Ethiopian welo opal is a relatively new type of opal discovered in mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia, most importantly the Wollo Province. Ethiopian miners have already produced more than 1,500kg (3,300lbs) of rough Ethiopian opal! Technically nothing, as Ethiopian opals are still opals, with the same 5.5-6.5 ranking on the Mohs mineral hardness scale.
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One distinguishing feature is that most Ethiopian opals are hydrophane, meaning their porous surfaces absorb water, shifting their appearance, size, and stability when submerged. These stones are opaque to translucent, like many opals, but Ethiopian opal in water becomes transparent!
“Hydrophane” originates from Greek and translates to “water-loving”. This describes Ethiopian opals’ typical water absorption. Water absorption often changes the Ethiopian opal’s appearance, altering it from semi-translucent or opaque to near transparency or extremely translucent.
The main difference between Ethiopian opal and Australian opal is Ethiopian opal’s hydrophane properties. Unlike the Australian opal, Ethiopian opal changes its state in water. Moreover, the Ethiopian opal is the best crystal material and is considered the finest quality due to its high transparency. Unlike Australian opals, Ethiopian opals also come in varying shapes and colors. They are also generally larger than Australian opals, yet still cheaper.
Grading Ethiopian Opal
Since the stone is new to the industry, Ethiopian opal grading is complex and somewhat subjective, but they’re generally graded on pattern, brightness, treatments, and color.
- Pattern: Ethiopian opals are unique in their varied, vivid patterns, ranging from Welo Broad Flash to Fire Cloud! The most sought-after pattern is honeycomb, a pattern exclusive to Ethiopian opal where common opal forms a line with web-like inclusions across the stone. Stones with honeycomb patterns are typically cut as cabochons.
- Brightness: Brightness refers to a stone’s “fire,” or the colorful flashes caused by light dispersion. The fire within many Ethiopian opals shows a rare 3-dimensional effect. Color-wise, blue and green color flashes are typical, though the rare red flash may occur. In general, stones with brighter, more saturated fire command higher prices.
- Treatments: A fair amount of Ethiopian opals have been treated. Besides basic filling treatments to reduce crazing, the three primary techniques are sugar-acid, smoking, and dyeing.
- Color: Ethiopian opals can be white, black, blue, red, pink, orange, or brown, depending on the mine. Colorless crystal opals come from the Wegel Tena mine. The main significance of body color is its effect on the stone’s brightness and patterns.
Types of Ethiopian Opal
In terms of color, Ethiopian opals come in several varieties, from solid colors like black, pink, or blue to rainbows of hues against various body tones. That said, what are the different varieties of Ethiopian opal?
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All Ethiopian opals show play-of-color, but the body tone differs. The three key deposits produce distinct varieties, including:
- Precious Fire Opal: Abundant, translucent opals from the Wollo Province with the red, orange, or yellow body color of fire opals and play-of-color indicative of precious opal, often showing vibrant purple and green color flashes.
- Black Opal: Rare naturally black opals that are not hydrophane, found in the Stayish mine of the Wollo Province, though many Ethiopian opals are treated to be black.
- Shewa or Mezezo Opal: The first Ethiopian specimens discovered in 1994 in the Shewa province, typically reddish-brown, orange, or chocolate brown but often has problems with crazing-a type of damage where drying leads to web-like cracks.
- White Precious Opal: Ethiopian opals with white body color, bright color play, and much better stability than Shewa opals. These are typically found near Wegel Tena.
These examples don’t cover every type of Ethiopian opal, as the number of body colors and patterns rivals that of Australian opals.
Ethiopian comes in many colors. However, its dominant colors have been deployed to represent and excite the chakras.
- The white Ethiopian opal energy activates the Crown Chakra, the epicenter of spirituality that allows wearers to interact with divinity. The white energy offers peace and wisdom and binds the user to the source of universal force. In addition, it transforms and eliminates negative energies while stabilizing your aura.
- The opal’s pink and green energies inspire the Heart Chakra, which facilitates users to moderate the interactions with the external existence.
- The opal’s red and brown energies inspire the Base Chakra, perfect for balancing kinaesthetic movement energy.
Here is a table summarizing the different types of Ethiopian Opal:
| Type of Ethiopian Opal | Description |
|---|---|
| Precious Opal | Opals with vivid play-of-color. |
| Precious Fire Opal | Opals with yellow to the orange body with a vibrant play of color. |
| Black Opal | Opals have a very dark body color. |
| Mezezo Opal | Opals mined in the Shewa Province, Ethiopia. |
| Welo Opal | Opals mined in Wello Province. |
| Honeycomb Welo Opal | Yellow, yellow-orange, or orange opals with a honeycomb-like pattern. |
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Value and Pricing
The Ethiopian opal rival the Australian opal in terms of versatility. It has more color intensities and variations. Surprisingly, it is cheaper than the Australian variety. The stone’s jewelry is surprisingly very affordable, unlike its Australian competition.
Different factors influence the prices of Ethiopian opal, for example, the presence of color flashes and the number of colors displayed. The most valuable stones have transparent colors, intense color flashes, larger sizes, and are evenly cut. Generally, the Ethiopian opal’s price per carat ranges from $10-$250 based on the color intensity, patterns, and varieties. The low price of the Ethiopian opal is largely owed to its availability.
The price of Ethiopian opals can vary a lot depending on their color, clarity, size, and pattern. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $10 and $500 per carat, though rare, high-quality stones can cost even more.
Key Factors That Affect the Price:
- Play-of-Color: Bright, full-spectrum colors increase the value. The more vivid and visible the colors, the higher the price.
- Body Tone: Black or dark-toned opals are often more valuable due to their rarity and strong color contrast.
- Clarity & Transparency: Opals that are clear or have fewer inclusions are usually more expensive.
- Size: Larger opals with great color and clarity tend to cost more.
- Origin: Stones from well-known mining areas like Wollo, Ethiopia, are in high demand and often command better prices.
Metaphysical Properties and Healing Benefits
In the metaphysical world, Opal acts as a prism within the aura, bringing a full spectrum of Light energy to the system, soothing and clearing the emotional body, and boosting the will to live and the joy of one’s earthly existence. It enkindles optimism, enthusiasm and creativity, and allows for the release of inhibitions inspiring love and passion.
Opal is most known for its ability to bring one’s traits and characteristics to the surface for examination and transformation. Just as Opal absorbs and reflects light, it picks up thoughts and feelings, desires and buried emotions, amplifying them and returning them to the source. While magnifying one’s negative attributes may prove to be uncomfortable, it allows for understanding how destructive these emotions can be and assists the process of letting them go.
The word “opal” originates from the Greek word “opallios”, meaning to see a change of color. This meaning is connected to how precious opals refract light. The stone grants extraordinary user foresight.
Ethiopian opal provides users an overwhelming sense of calm. This, in turn, encourages honesty, faith, truth, purity, and loyalty. In addition, the stone is dedicated to providing strength and healing to one’s emotional existence. The stone has potent internal energy that draws all emotions to the surface level, allowing you to handle the situation with a clearer, decisive mind. It also helps users get rid of negative emotions and soothes their sadness. Besides, Ethiopian opal stimulates one’s confidence, positivity, and ability to love.
Over time, the stone has been considered a jewel of happy changes. The stone comes in varying beautiful colors, each carrying an important symbolism. In addition, Ethiopian opal helps women tap into their soul goddess, allowing them to reach peak femininity.
For years, the stone has been linked to the matrix of life. The stone possesses a notable tendency to inspire wisdom. It also tends to reinforce and allow the growth of love due to its unwavering magnetic potency.
The Ethiopian opal is a reliable and effective gemstone for welcoming spiritual light into the aura. Moreover, it opens up your mind to fresh hopes and wishes. The stone enhances the user’s cosmic awareness, thus increasing their level of insight and intuition. It also augments lucid dreaming and has been used to invoke apparitions.
The stone is believed to be linked to Mercury and Hermes, the Greek god. It is a jewel of light and attracts angelic energies to allow for easier communication with the heavens. It also grants intuitive recognition, allowing you to easily absorb what the cosmos demands and not what it requires.
Ethiopian opal favors the user’s skin, nails, hair, and eye health. Moreover, Ethiopian opal helps to purify the user’s blood and kidneys. Ethiopian opal is believed to protect the user from the evil’s eye. The stone also enhances sexual libido and lifts sensuality. In addition, it strengthens visual acuity while also healing ear complications.
Moreover, the stone has laxative and sedative effects. It also minimizes the effects of poison and acidity. The stone also helps in slimming down fevers. It revives your memory and steadies out your neurotransmitter issues. Finally, the Ethiopian opal helps with issues related to female hormones and provides immense comfort during childbirth.
How to Cleanse Ethiopian Opal
Like all crystals, Ethiopian opal accumulates a lot of energy, so it’s best to cleanse them regularly. Additionally, due to their special geological properties, common cleansing methods like placing them under running water for a long time may not be a good idea. As with most crystals, avoid subjecting the opal to chemicals, including everyday products like hair dye, oil, and lotion.
Here are some safe methods to cleanse your Ethiopian Opal:
- Sound: You can use Tibetan bells, a singing bowl, or tuning forks to create a vibrational tone that will fill the stone and renew them again. Play the sound for about 10 minutes to charge your crystals.
- Visualization: Focus on filling your hands with a radiant light through visualization for a minute or two. Focus on removing the negativity from the stone, allowing it to be cleansed and recharged with purpose.
- Sun: You will want to remove the stone from the sun after an hour or two as the sun could discolor your crystals.
- Full Moon: Place your crystals on a windowsill or a place where they will be able to absorb the light of the moon (and its vibrations).
Ethiopian Opal as a Birthstone
Opals are the birthstone for October, and Ethiopian opal makes a brilliant choice for those born in this month. This gemstone is said to inspire creativity, passion, and emotional balance while also symbolizing hope, purity, and truth. What makes Ethiopian opals truly unique are their vivid colors and hydrophane properties-traits that set them apart from other opals.
Spiritual Benefits of Ethiopian Opal
- Emotional Healing: Helps calm the mind, ease emotional stress, and bring mental clarity.
- Boosts Creativity: A favorite among artists and creatives for sparking inspiration.
- Brings Protection & Luck: Believed to guard against negativity and attract good fortune.
