Opal in Honduras

The following discussion is extracted from a publication by Tony Dabdoub, Tropical Gem Explorations and published in 1985. The literature is published as “Opal report form Honduras - The Fire Still burns” and published in 1985. There is a link to an extract listed below.

A LITTLE HISTORY

The report says in the introduction:

“Mining operations were known from the early 1800’s perhaps earlier. And yet, the first description of the opal deposits did not appear till the year 1843. Approximately 10 years later the Honduran Government Department of mines records show that numerous “denuncios” or claims had been filed.”

You can reference an extract from “The Fire Still Burns” by Tony Dabdoub here.

GEOGRAPHY AND MINING FIELDS

Areas in Honduras where opal has been found and mined include: Erandique, San Antonio Mountains, Gaulchuluca, Las Colinas, Granadia, La Laguna, Paso de Lajas, Quelacasque, La Labor, Rancheria, El Desvio, Lepaera, and Gracias. The report mentioned above give some discussion for each of these localities.

ERANDIQUE

The report says that “The Honduran deposits are volcanic in origin”, and that the Erandique deposits are the most extensive in Honduras. The district is known as “the Department of Lempira” and the locality or township in this case is Erandique. The pages from the report have been reproduced in the Literature section of the website.

The country of Honduras showing the various departments or what we may call “States or municipalities” in Australia.

A LITTLE GEOLOGY

This extract of comments regarding the geology of the opal deposits in Honduras at Erandique is also from Tony Dabdoud “The Fire still burns'“ and already referred to in the literature.

The most extensive opal deposit in Honduras at Erandique, the first observation made at the top of the hill which the local indigenous people refer to as the “Tablon”. Here many large blocks of dense volcanic rock are partially exposed and weathered on the surface.

A soft grey-coloured bed of clay covering the basalt or trachyte flows also contains opal and it is obvious that the mines were designed to take advantage of this formation.

The opal at Erandique is found in seams that penetrate the basalt or trachyte rock in a near vertical fashion. Sometimes the opal fills irregular gas holes and horizontal cracks as well.

Black opal matrix is found in abundance at Erandique. This material is widely sold as “Black Honduran Opal” and it constitutes the bulk of the production. it is not uncommon to find large massive pieces of many pounds weight.

OTHER LITERATURE

Lapidary Journal - April 1965 - Hugh Leiper, FGA - “Some notes on the early History of Honduras opal. pp 62-64

Lapidary Journal - November 1964 - Tom R. and Joyce Barbour - Country of Opals—- Honduras, A six part series over six issues of Lapidary Journal.

Lapidary Journal - April 1965 - Tom R, Barbour, CG - “A description of Honduras opal with some cutting tips” - pp66-71.

The Opal Book - Frank Leechman - Honduras - pp25 -26.

European Journal of Mineralogy - 1999 - Arun Banerjee and Thomas Wenzel - “Black opal from Honduras” - V11, pp401-408.

Geology of Central America - 1980 - Richard Weyl - Chapter 3.33 - Honduras - pp92-95

TYPES AND VARIETIES OF OPAL FROM HONDURAS

An example of Black precious opal from Honduras.

Note in this instance the ‘banded’ nature of the play-of-colour in this specimen. The top portion s bright and multicoloured, the middle section is slightly translucent and a little more subdued, then a few darker bands, and a bottom section with a smaller pattern with predominantly smaller colour grains in which blue predominates