Ethiopian Opal
100% Authentic Ethiopian Opal
Bought at $400 from a gem show.
Pre - cut and could be used for jewelry or kept in case.
Beautiful rainbows and colors.
Message for offers!
Most opals are sedimentary in nature--that is, they are created from the layers laid down by ancient waterways. Ethiopian opals, however, are hydrophane opals, created as a result of volcanic activity, forming in nodules within the volcanic ash in stratum between rhyolite layers.
"Hydrophane" comes from the Greek words meaning "water-loving," and describes how these opals tend to absorb water. Water absorption can alter the appearance of Ethiopian opal, changing the stone from opaque or semi-translucent to highly translucent and almost transparent!
The high cost and fragility of sedimentary opals mean the stone is rarely faceted. The significantly lower price and tougher structure of hydrophane Ethiopian opal rough has made it more likely for gem-cutters to experiment with faceting and carving the stone.
