![]() Tourmaline is the newer October birthstone. The mines are a tourist destination, and getting to them requires taking a dirt road through dense forests of pine and oak, past scrubby plateaus of cacti and shrubs, and up winding mountain roads. Querétero, a state in Mexico, is known for producing fire opal in yellow, orange and reddish orange to red, some with good play-of-color. Its treasures are buried in steep cliffs that tower over the landscape. Another mine, in Ethiopia’s Shewa Province, yields the coveted black opal, as well as orange, white and crystal opal. Gems unearthed here range in body color from white, yellow, orange and brownish red to “chocolate” brown. Travel 340 miles (about 550 kilometers) north of the capital Addis Ababa and up 8,000 feet (2,400 meters), where miners pry opal from shafts dug into the side of a plateau. In Ethiopia, the October birthstone is found near the village of Wegel Tena, in Wollo Province. Two pieces of boulder opal that is found only in Queensland. Applied Jewelry Professional ™ Online Diploma ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |