Ethiopian Opal

Ethiopian opal was largely unknown to the gem trade until deposits were found in the Wollo Province in the 1990s and 2000s. It forms in volcanic rhyolite — hardened lava — which distinguishes it from Australian opal, which forms in sedimentary rock. The Stayish mine in Wollo Province has become one of the most significant opal sources in the world. Ethiopian opal is considerably younger geologically than its Australian counterpart.

Unlike most Australian opal, Ethiopian opal is often transparent to translucent, meaning the play-of-color is visible through the body of the stone rather than just across its surface. The color can shift from blue and green to orange and red in a single movement. Some stones are nearly clear with flashes of fire; others carry a honey or brown body with vivid color play. It is the most expressive of the opals — unpredictable, layered, a stone that shows something different every time the light changes.