Underground mining here is very dangerous work, as the ignimbrite is often fractured, friable and poorly lithified. The seam outcrops along steep valley walls, where short horizontal tunnels are excavated to mine the opal.

Silica gel precipitated in the pore spaces of the ignimbrite and was later transformed into opal. The opal likely formed as silica-bearing waters accumulated on top of the impermeable clay. The main vein is an opalized rhyolitic ignimbrite up to one meter thick that overlies a base of clay. Much of the welo opal is produced from a single area of stratified volcanic rocks. This material quickly became known in the trade as “welo opal,” but the names “wollo” and “wello” are also encountered. It is more stable than the North Shewa opal. This opal can have vivid play-of-color flashing from a body color of clear, white, yellow, orange, or brown. The most important opal discovery in Ethiopia to date was made in 2008 near the town of Wegel Tena in the Wollo Province in the northern part of the country. These opals are often called “Shewa opals” or “Mezezo opals” after their locality of origin. Although much of this opal has crazing problems, stable material enters the gem and jewelry market. Shewa Province opal is found in stratified igneous rocks such as rhyolite, tuff, and ignimbrite. Much of the opal has a brown, red, or orange body color however, yellow, white, and clear body colors are also found. Opal from this area occurs in a wide range of body colors. This opal originated from a discovery made in the Menz Gishe District in the northern part of the Shewa Province. Precious opal mined in Ethiopia began entering the gem and jewelry market in 1994. This popularity is being driven by the beauty of Ethiopian opal and their current attractive prices. This surge of public awareness has developed in just a few years without a major mining company or jewelry brand spending millions of dollars to promote them. People now go to the store looking for “Welo opals” or “Ethiopian opals.” They also use the internet and search for these opals by name. These are now producing beautiful precious opal, fire opal, and black opal with spectacular play-of-color in a variety of patterns and body colors.Įthiopian opals are not only beautiful, but they generally cost less than similar-quality opal from Australia. This was followed by important discoveries in 20.

Today, Ethiopia is on its way to becoming the second heavyweight in the opal market.Ī small discovery in 1994 put Ethiopia on the worldwide opal map. During that time as much as 95% of the worldwide opal production has been mined in Australia.

Australia has been the dominant force in the opal market for over 100 years.

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