{"product_id":"welo-opal-ethiopia-1-81grams","title":"Welo Opal (Ethiopia) (1.81grams)","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\"\u003eA vivid nodule of precious opal from the Semien Wollo Mountains of northwestern Ethiopia — one of the most exciting gem discoveries of the last two decades. Welo (Wollo) opal forms in silica-rich veins within volcanic rhyolite and ignimbrite, a fundamentally different origin from the sedimentary opals of Australia, and was only recognized commercially in 2008.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis particular specimen is \u003cstrong\u003enon-hydrophane\u003c\/strong\u003e — a less common and generally more stable variety of Welo material. Unlike the majority of Ethiopian opal, which readily absorbs water and shifts in clarity and colour as a result, non-hydrophane Welo opal holds its water content and structure and doesn't undergo that transformation, making it more forgiving to handle, display, and wear without the risk of crazing or cracking that can come with repeated wetting and drying cycles in the hydrophane form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\"\u003ePrized for exceptionally bright, saturated play-of-color, this piece shows flashes of [red\/orange\/green\/blue — describe what's actually present] set against a translucent to milky body — with the added durability advantage that comes with its non-hydrophane structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Precious opal (non-hydrophane), rhyolite-hosted\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wollo Province, Ethiopia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5–6.5 (Mohs)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rad Man Minerals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54621088809244,"sku":"O1.81","price":26.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/5524\/1500\/files\/P9280145.jpg?v=1790636660","url":"https:\/\/radmanminerals.com\/products\/welo-opal-ethiopia-1-81grams","provider":"Rad Man Minerals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}