Gem-Grade Ethiopian Opal - Crystal Fire Opal from Ethiopia - Precious Opal

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Gem-Grade Ethiopian Opal - Crystal Fire Opal from Ethiopia - Precious Opal - Wello Opal (Welo or Wollo)

Below is a gallery of gem-grade Ethopian Precious Opal specimens for sale from John Betts - Fine Minerals in New York City, NY. Opal from Ethiopia was discovered about 10 years ago and is slowly coming to the marketplace.

There are now two major opal producing areas in Ethiopia: the area around Yita Ridge near Mezezo and in the north in Wello (also known as Welo or Wollo). The newest is the Wello opal that is very hard and highly transparent - so transparent you can see through the opal easily, except in the largest specimens where the thickness is so great that they are cloudy.

Much of the opal from Mezezo is hydrophane opal that is dehydrated internally. When you apply your tongue to the surface it draws moisture off the surface of your tongue and sticks to it. Hydrophane opal will absorb water if soaked and appears darker and loses much of it's fire. After it dries, the fire and light color returns.

The opals below are all I have available. Every one has exceptional internal fire or play of colors and are all are even more impressive when seen in person.

#44119, Opal var. Crystal Fire Opal (cabochon and rough), 570 km north of Addis Ababa, Wello (Wollo), Ethiopia (m) $3850	#39999, Opal (var. Hydrophane Fire Opal), near Mezezo, Ethiopia (t) $1150	#44115, Opal (var. Hydrophane Fire Opal), near Mezezo, Ethiopia (m) $3500
#40004, Opal (var. Hydrophane Fire Opal), near Mezezo, Ethiopia (t) $1250	#44121, Opal var. Crystal Fire Opal (cabochon and rough), 570 km north of Addis Ababa, Wello (Wollo), Ethiopia (t) $6500	#40006, Opal (var. Hydrophane Fire Opal), near Mezezo, Ethiopia (t) $1550
#36437, Opal (var. Hydrophane Fire Opal), near Mezezo, Ethiopia (t) $775	#40005, Opal (var. Hydrophane Fire Opal), near Mezezo, Ethiopia (t) $1175