Honeycomb opal is a mesmerizing rare variety of precious opal characterized by its intricate honeycomb pattern. Honeycomb Opal pattern also known as "snake skin opal,".
Rough Homeycomb Welo Opal Specimen From Ethiopia. Photo: Opal Auctions
Formation of Honeycomb Opal
The precise formation mechanism of honeycomb opal is still under investigation, but the prevailing theory suggests that it originates from a combination of factors, including:
- Silica-rich volcanic ash: Volcanic eruptions eject ash and other debris into the air, which eventually settles into bodies of water. This ash contains silica, a key component of opal.
- Layered deposition: Over time, layers of silica-rich ash accumulate on the seafloor, intermingling with other sediments. This layering process is crucial for the development of the honeycomb pattern.
- Fluid-rock interactions: Percolating fluids, carrying dissolved minerals, interact with the deposited layers, causing chemical reactions that lead to the formation of opal and other minerals.
- Influence of organic matter: Organic matter present in the sediments can play a role in shaping the honeycomb pattern. Organic molecules can act as catalysts or templates, guiding the formation of silica patterns.
Characteristics of Honeycomb Opal
Honeycomb opal is distinguished by its unique honeycomb pattern, resembling a network of hexagonal or polygonal cells. These cells exhibit flashes of brilliant color, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, creating a mesmerizing iridescent effect.
Here are some of the distinguishing characteristics of honeycomb opal:- Honeycomb pattern: This is the most obvious characteristic of honeycomb opal, Resembling the intricate hexagonal cells of a beehive. This pattern, the result of the opal's unique formation process, sets it apart from other varieties of opal.
- Play of color: Honeycomb opals have a strong play of color, which means that the color of the opal changes depending on the angle from which it is viewed.
- Translucency: Honeycomb opals are typically translucent or semi-translucent, which means that light can pass through them.
- Variety of colors: Honeycomb opals can be found in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
Occurrence and Value of Honeycomb Opal
Honeycomb opal is primarily found in Ethiopia, particularly in the Welo region, where it is mined as a precious gemstone.
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About Ethiopian Welo Opal
Ethiopian Welo Opal is a relatively recent discovery of Opal, discovered in the mountainous region of northern Ethiopia, particularly in the Wollo Province.
Opal had previously been discovered in the Shewa province of Ethiopia prior to 2008, and although that material is beautiful, it is very unstable and the vast majority of it develops cracks and can literally break apart. Great for specimens, bad for jewelry! This early material gave “African opal” a bad name. The 2008 discovery of a new deposit, in the Welo province in the northern part of the country (hence the name "Welo opal"), quickly brought out the naysayers who claimed that this new material, too, was not stable.
The reality is that at the time, nobody really knew how stable - or not - this material actually was. The story has a happy ending - 17 years into the discovery, this opal, once cut and polished, has turned out to be just as stable and durable as Australian opal.
Unique Properties of Ethiopian Welo Opal
The Ethiopian Welo opal has some very unusual characteristics. Most notable is its hydrophane property, which means it has an ultra low water content and can actually act like a sponge and absorb water - as much as 10% of its weight. Opal has varying degrees of water in it, and traditional belief is that the higher the natural water content, the less stable the opal.
Honeycomb Opal
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When Ethiopian Welo opal is immersed in water, it will soak up the water. As it does so, the opal’s color will first become very vivid, but as the saturation process continues, the opal will become completely transparent and the color disappears. It is bizarre to witness, and had me completely flipped out when I first began cutting this material back in 2009!
Alas, all is not lost - this process is reversible. As the opal begins to dry, it will first become very milky and opaque, and over the coming days - and in some cases weeks - it will gradually return to its original body color, color play, and degree of translucency.
It is important for jewelry artists who use these opals to educate their customers - Ethiopian opal is a dynamic stone and care should be taken to avoid prolonged contact with water or other liquids, oils, soaps, or even perspiration!
A word to the Wise: BEWARE of unscrupulous dealers who sell treated or dyed stones and fail to disclose them as such!! Since this opal is so porous, it can be smoke-treated to significantly darken its base color to make it appear "black", or dyed to alter the base color. Treated stones should ALWAYS be represented as such, and will always command a lower price than an untreated stone!
Most Ethiopian opal is "crystal" opal, which refers to its translucent to transparent body color rather than physical composition. Thinner stones will show their color best against a dark background. Many Ethiopian opals have beautiful color and patterns through-and-through the stone and may be polished on both sides or into free-form shapes.
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The "honeycomb" pattern is the most rare and highly desired, and is unique to Ethiopian opal. It appears as orderly arranged cells resembling the honeycomb appearance of a beehive. This opal exhibits a subtle columnar webbing pattern within the host stone which produces a striped pattern if cut on the side, and the honeycomb pattern when cut across the "top". The honeycomb pattern itself can range from a very small, orderly arrangement of cells to large, irregular cells.
Ethiopian opal is the only opal that displays a "rainbow" flash in which each patch of color is actually a full spectrum of color. A flat surface results in a broader flash of color, whereas a more curved surface (or "higher" dome) results in smaller patches of color which roll over the stone as it is moved.
The base color - the color of the actual host opal itself - ranges from water clear to amber, brown, tan, white, and black.
Properties and Meaning
"Opals" come from the Sanskrit word upala, meaning "precious stone". These are famous for their vibrant "play of color" that makes them unique. These gemstones can be found globally, but some mining areas produce unique and amazing variations.
While Australia owns the title of the "Opal capital of the world", discoveries of Ethiopian Opals have moved this title close behind. Nearly 95% of Opals originate from Australian mines, still the recent discoveries of Ethiopian Opals have made this African region a strong competitor in terms of both production and quality. One main difference between an Australian Opal and an Ethiopian Opal is that Ethiopian Opals are mainly large, rare, and less costly as compared to Australian Opals.
Opal is one of the official birthstones for October. Ethiopian Opals symbolize hope, luck, and innocence, while also representing enthusiasm and creativity. Ethiopian Opals are famous for their rare beauty and affordability, and their ability to become transparent when submerged in water. They are known for their vibrant play of color, which can include various hues like reds, greens, blues, yellows, and sometimes even shades of purple.
Apart from its physical beauty, Ethiopian Opals hold some metaphysical properties that have fascinated humans for centuries. Emotionally, Ethiopian Opals are thought to support anyone dealing with indecision, communication, or pessimism by reminding you to embrace personal growth and creative pursuits. Spiritually, Ethiopian Opal is said to benefit by promoting purification, encouraging you to feel more content.
One of the major Ethiopian Opal benefits is said to be Chakra healing. In Chakra healing, Ethiopian Opals are said to connect with the crown chakra, located above the head and associated with self-realization and spirituality. A blocked crown chakra is believed to lead to feelings of instability and resistance to personal growth.
Care for Ethiopian Opals
A hydrophane Opal is a type of Opal that absorbs water and alters its apperance. To take care of Ethiopian Opals, you need to avoid contact with water, extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, and rough handling. You must store them in a cool, soft, and dry environment. like in a soft jewelry pouch, away from direct sunlight. Because the stones can contain water, storing them in very dry or warm conditions can eventually cause the stone to become brittle.
If they come in contact with water, they will absorb it like a sponge. Absorbing too much water may result in unwanted changes to your Opals. When drying an Opal that has soaked up water, let it dry naturally. Ethiopian Opals should only be exposed to gradual temperature changes. If Opals are left in water and allowed to soak it up, they may lose their fire temporarily and turn yellow or brown. Don't worry, the fire and color will come back once the Opals have fully dried, which can take a few minutes to weeks, depending on how much water they managed to absorb.
Liquids like perfumes, soaps, and cleaning products can stain your Opals, which will also result in a change in color. This is why your Ethiopian Opal jewelry should be the last thing you put on when you get ready, and the first thing you remove when you get home. A lot of jewelers use ultrasonic cleaners to clean gemstone jewelry. While some gemstones can withstand it, Ethiopian Opals are more fragile and may crack. To clean your Opals, simply wipe away with a soft cloth.
When wearing Opal jewelry, you should remember its moderate hardness and toughness. It rates 5.5 to 6.5 on Moh's scale of hardness. This puts them below Quartz (7) and Emeralds (7.5 to 8) and above Pearls and Coral (3 to 4). This means that it is best to take off your Opal rings and bracelets when trying to build an IKEA bookshelf or weed your garden!
Here is a summary of care tips:
- Avoid contact with water, extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, and rough handling.
- Store in a cool, soft, and dry environment away from direct sunlight.
- Dry naturally if it absorbs water.
- Avoid perfumes, soaps, and cleaning products.
- Clean with a soft cloth.
- Remove when doing strenuous activities.
Treatments and Enhancements
Yes, Ethiopian Opals are often treated or enhanced, mainly to darken their body color or enhance their play of color. Treatments help opals look brighter, vibrant, and desirable.
Value and Affordability
Ethiopian Opals are more affordable than Australian Opals because of several factors like high supply, reduced mining costs, and a fragile nature that makes them less wanted among collectors.
