#wello opal

Wello Opal from Wello Province, Ethiopia. Thumb size clear precious opal. This opal tends to be hydrophane (absorbs water), so it will develop small cracks if exposed to air for more than a few days.

A pile of rocks I had to repost from my old blog

Ethiopian Opal has been mined since 2008. The entire region around Wegel Tena consists of a volcano-sedimentary sequence with alternating layers of basalt and rhyolitic ignimbrite. Over the entire region, only one thin seam is mineralized with opal. The opal is extracted by artisanal miners using picks, hammers, and shovels.

Ethiopian Wello opals originate from volcanic activity. All volcanic opal is known as “hydrophane opal”. The term hydrophane comes from the Greek words meaning “water-loving” and describes their ability to absorb water and change from opaque or semi-translucent to translucent or transparent in humid or aqueous environments. Amazingly, some stones will become almost colorless if soaked in water but then retain their original color after a week or two under arid conditions. If you live in a dry or desert like climate these opals will always look great but, if you reside in a rain forest, your stones will look very different.

Ethiopian Wello opals originate from volcanic activity. All volcanic opal is known as “hydrophane opal”. The term hydrophane comes from the Greek words meaning “water-loving” and describes their ability to absorb water and change from opaque or semi-translucent to translucent or transparent in humid or aqueous environments. Amazingly, some stones will become almost colorless if soaked in water but then retain their original color after a week or two under arid conditions. If you live in a dry or desert like climate these opals will always look great but if you reside in a rain forest, your stones will look very different.

'Mount Zion' ... "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" Ring by Ornella Iannuzzi, made from a 65 cts rough Wello opal set in black rhodium silver and decorated with 24k gold leaves, 2010.

Some of you like your coffee hot and others like it iced, but there’s no doubt that the best Arabica beans should be served with Ethiopian opals. This selection is from the Wello deposit in the North Central part of the country. The important locality has yielded substantial quantities of world class opals in a broad range of sizes and colors for the last 7 or 8 years, and production continues. With incredible colors, good durability, and attractive price points, it’s no wonder these stones continue to sell better than almost any other gemstone. Ethiopian Wello opals originate from volcanic activity. All volcanic opal is known as “hydrophane opal”. The term hydrophane comes from the Greek words meaning “water-loving” and describes their ability to absorb water and change from opaque or semi-translucent to translucent or transparent in humid or aqueous environments. Amazingly, some stones will become almost colorless if soaked in water but then retain their original color after a week or two under arid conditions. If you live in a dry or desert like climate these opals will always look great but, if you reside in a rain forest, your stones will look very different.