Ethiopian opal was first extracted for commercial use in 2008. It was discovered in 1990. It originates in the Welo (or Wello) District in northern Ethiopia. Numerous opal kinds, including those found at Australia’s Coober Pedy mines, can be found in the area’s deposits.
Anthropologists discovered evidence of opal in 1929 in Kenyan caverns, with some of the material having been fashioned into implements.The word “opal” originates from the Sanskrit word upala, meaning “precious stone.” The Mother Goddess allegedly transformed the virgin Goddess of the Rainbow into a stone to protect her from the amorous advances of three gods, according to legends from ancient India. During the Roman era, the word was used in Latin as opalus.

Dye Treatment: Because hydrophane opals, such as those found in Ethiopia, naturally absorb liquids because to their porosity, dyeing them is a simple process. Those who are familiar with opal can spot dyed opal when it’s utilized in an extravagant color. Nonetheless, the technique of subtly boosting an opal’s body color through dyeing might be considerably less noticeable. In these situations, dye treatments are frequently identifiable through microscopic analysis or by making an incision in the opal to determine whether the color is concentrated close to the surface.

Treatment for Smoke: Smoke is an extremely fine particle suspension in gas or air. Opal’s body color can be altered by fine smoke particles getting into its pore spaces. The opal can be treated with smoke by wrapping it in paper and heating it to a point where it begins to smolder. The opal’s body color darkens as a result of tiny black soot particles released by the smoldering paper seeping into its pores. The opal’s color play is accentuated and made more striking by the deeper body color’s contrast.

Treatment with Sugar and Acid: The sugar and acid treatment involves soaking the opal in a warm sugar water solution for several days, followed by immersing the opal in sulfuric acid. Dark-colored carbon particles and stains are produced when the acid oxidizes the sugar present in the opal’s pore spaces. This gives the opal a gray, black, or brown body color, or deepens it. Similar to smoke treatment, microscopic inspection or carbon testing in the lab are frequently used to identify these.

To best display the flow of hues, opals are usually polished free-form or cut en cabochon. The National Gem Collection has been enhanced and expanded by these stunning Ethiopian opals.