Honduran Opals vary from milky-white to matrix based, formed mostly by volcanic eruptions in South America. Honduras has some of the oldest opal mines in the world, with the most famous opal mine in Tablon. Many farms subsidize their income from opal mining. The opal mines are found in volcanic black basalt. Honduras Black Matrix are naturally black, but some are treated by soaking in resin, similar to emeralds
The largest opal deposit in Honduras is the Tablon mine.
This mine has black matrix opal
This area covers a hill 3 miles long with large blocks volcanic black basalt that has to be chipped by experience operators to source the hidden opal colours which is found in horizontal bands in the basalt rock.
Due to the porous nature of this opal it can be polished on warm wheel and no need for water .best results are obtained on hot wheel to have a high polish
Other areas have seam opal deposits which can be very thin and up to half inch in depth, these are milky white opals with dark base of basalt.
Opals are also found in Las Colinas in steep mountain sides and also Andesite opals
