Dig for opals.
While you see only bare hills when visiting Northern Nevada's Virgin Valley today, the area was covered in lakes and forests nearly 14 million years ago. Volcanoes periodically erupted in the area numerous times over the next million years, resulting in layers of accumulated blasted trees and ash. Fire opals were created from the blasted trees and ash combining with super-hot water bubbling upward from the earth. Mining for fire opals began in 1905 and since then millions of dollars' worth of opals have been taken from the area. You can dig for fire opals today at one of the area's mines.
Instructions
1. Research identify fire opals. Fire opals are translucent or transparent with a red or orange body color, according to Opals.info.
2. Call the various mines of the Virgin Valley of North Nevada for digging fees, times of operation and accommodation information, if applicable. Mines include the Bonanza Opal Mine, the Royal Peacock Opal Mine and the Opal Queen Mining Company. The Royal Peacock is open for public digging May through October while the Bonanza Opal Mine is open May through the end of September. Opal Queen Mining Company is open all year round for private digs.
3. Make accommodation arrangements, if applicable. Full RV hookup at Royal Peacock is $35 per day while camper or tent rental space is $7 per day per person and includes access to showers, restrooms and laundry rooms. Bonanza Opal Mine's website features a list of inns, hotels and motels near the mine while the Opal Queen Mining Company features a hot springs campground with shower but no hook-ups and a motel on-site.
4. Dig for opals in designated digging areas. Push the shovel or rake into the dirt for resistance, which can indicate the presence of opals. Although the ground may be hard from people walking on it, dirt will eventually move from the pressure put on it by the shovel, while opal rocks will not. Use your kneeling pad for comfort as you dig if desired. Push away the dirt around the uncovered opal and hit the opal with a hammer to break off a small piece. Examine the rock for the characteristics of fire opals and use a small pick to remove other pieces of opal from the larger rock. Place found opals in your bucket.
5. Clean and cut found opals as desired.
Tags: Opal Mine, Bonanza Opal, Bonanza Opal Mine, Mining Company, Opal Queen
