Opal Around the world

It has been published that the earliest references to opal are regarding a supposed discovery in Kenya Africa, by the renowned archaeologist Dr Louis Leakey in 1939. Dr Leakey reputedly discovered opal artefacts buried in the “Nakuru” cave which have been dated by modern scientific methods to an age of approximately 4000 BC. However as History and publication can sometimes be misplaced or incorrect such is the case with this report in the literature. Both the occurrence of what was reported to be opal has been determined not to be opal. As mentioned earlier, in a Biography by Virginia Morell entitled “Ancestral Passions” pages 116-118 (reproduced in the Literature section of the Library), that the artefacts were described as opal. Leakey’s original information was published in 1938 in London in newspaper articles of “The Times”, and the reports were cautious and qualified using words like ‘tentative’ and appears to be’. In 1950 the more Scientific paper was published.

During the last Century before Christ, noted historian “Pliny the Elder” wrote in his Natural History:

“Of all the most precious stones, Opal is the most difficult to describe, since it displays at one time the piercing fire of carbuncle, (Ruby) the purple brilliance of Amethyst and the green of emerald, blended together and refulgent with an incredible brightness….. Some by their refulgent splendour rival the colours of painters, other the flame of burning sulphur or of a fire quickened by oil.” - Kunz (The Curious Lore of Precious Stones).

Pliny also told the story of the first famous or named opal gemstone, that of the “Nonious stone”, about a Roman senator named Nonious who had in his possession a fabulous opal renowned throughout his world. Mark Antony wished to have the stone as a gift to Cleopatra.  However Nonious refused to sell it and as a result had to flee from Rome for his life giving up everything – except the opal.

Up until approximately 250BC opal had been promoted as originating from the “Orient”.  However Skertchley reported opal mining near the town of Dubnik in Slovakia. These mines are believed to be the source of all the opal that was commercially available up until discoveries were found and reported in Mexico in the 16th century.

Slovakia

Opal history begins with the Slovakian opal mines in 400BC (Ekert 1997, Leechman 1961), with the first mention of “opalbanya” perhaps translated as “opal mine” in the Dubnik district in the Carpathian Mountains (Leechman 1961). Known more correctly as the Slanske Mountains and the districts of or “fields” of Dubnik, Simonka and Libanka. This occurrence of opal is still considered to be the historical source of opal from early times, including the opal known to the Romans.

More recent reviews of Slovakian opal history (Barok and Semrad 2001) write the following:

“It is almost impossible to find any record about Dubnik precious opal and Slovak opal in any historical records . The political situation of that time gave a national seal not only to Dubnik precious opal but also to local names. The original locality was placed to the mountains not far from the village “Vörösvágas” (or in Slovak Červenica) in the upper Hungary. In the time of so-called “magyarisation” became the miners’ village Dubnik name “opalbanya” and near the village Zamutov “Opálhegy”…….”     

In the 15th Century mining records began in these mines and a century later more modern mining techniques appeared for production. In 1788 the government assumed control of the mines and opal production ceased for 20 years. By 1877 there were only 150 miners in the district and the on November 5th 1922 the mines were officially closed. 

Mexico

Opal was first discovered in Mexico by the Aztecs in approximately 850AD at Queretaro which was a part of their empire. Opal was used in burial ceremonies and specimens may be seen in the collection of the National Museum of Mexico.

During the early 16th Century Mexican type opal was available for sale in Europe. Whilst the actual source remains in conjecture (either Mexican or Honduran), it is possible that the opal appeared as the result of the Spanish destruction of the Aztec empire.

In 1855 the Queretaro district in Mexico became an important producer of precious opal, perhaps rediscovered from Aztec times by plantation workers on the Hacienda Esperanza.

United States of America

1893 appears to be the date of discovery of opals at Opal Butte in Oregon, and perhaps the beginning of small opal occurrences in the USA. In 1987 - 88 commercial mining in Opal Butte produced 400 kilograms of precious opal. 

In 1900 opal was discovered at Panther Creek in Lemhi County Idaho. In 1910, in Gooding County opalised wood was discovered, not precious opal but very well preserved fossilised structure of the wood in a common opal. In 1948 the Spencer opal mine in Idaho was accidentally discovered by deer hunters and also named “the lost deer hunters mine”.

Perhaps the most significant discovery was by a mining engineer Marsden Nanson who discovered opal in Virgin Valley, Humboldt County, Northern Nevada in 1905, and the Opal Queen mine was born. In 1906 the Bonanza Mine was established and in 1911 the Rainbow Ridge opal mine opened. In 1912 the Royal Peacock mines, a group of up to 14 workings, were established. In 1976 the Bonanza opal was discovered in Virgin Valley, and weighing 23,587.2 carats, was one of several very large opal specimens found at this location.

In 1989 a blue body coloured precious opal was discovered in Arizona state, and a sandstone matrix opal was discovered in Louisiana state.

Honduras

Precious opal was known in Honduras from early Indian times prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.  However, mining operations are thought to have commenced in the early 19th century. Honduran government records show claims being filed in 1853 for opal mining and the production made its way to the European market.

Most of the opal is mined in Erandique, in the state of Lempira.

Brazil

Very little information appears about opal in Brazil. Ekert reports the opal being sold abundantly in the 1970’s and again in 1983. The only mine mentioned being the Pedro 2 mine.

Indonesia

Opal in Indonesia, on the island of Java, has apparently been known since Dutch times and during the Japanese occupation. However, it would seem that only after independence that a few miners began to work the areas in 1967. 

Opal occurs in three locations, the Labaak District in West Java, Bengkulu province in North-west Sumatra, and South-east Sulawesi province Celebes.

Ethiopia

The first Ethiopian opal deposit was discovered in 1993 and is located approximately 200 kilometres north east of Addis Ababa on a plateau in central Ethiopia, the province of Shewa and near the town of Mezezo and is referred to as Yita Ridge in some literature.

In 2008 a new source of opal was discovered near the town of Wegel Tena in Wollo Province in northern Ethiopia. (Wollo Province has been called Wello in some literature.

It is interesting that these deposits of opal pose some questions for the source of early opal such as the artefacts discovered by Dr Leakey in Kenya, and the recognition or discussion that the traditional source of early opal originated from Slovakia.