How to Find Black Opals in the Nevada BLM
Visitors to Nevada's opal mines are in store for a real treat---maybe even a cash profit. Some of the most beautiful and highly coveted black opals in the world are found in Humboldt County, just shy of the Oregon border. Julie Wilson, part owner in The Royal Peacock Opal Mines, prepares novices for the reality of discovering black opals. According to Wilson, it takes patience, perseverance and luck to uncover these fine gems. Anyone with an adventurous spirit could find himself caught up in the excitement of spotting that glint of color in the Nevada sand.
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Instructions
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Pack the essential items for sustenance. Roads that lead to the opal mines of northern Nevada are dry and barren. A high-clearance vehicle is necessary to smoothly enter the area. Stock up on water and food. Take a tent if you are planning to spend the night in one of the nearby camping areas. Take along mosquito repellent. Mosquitoes love the area due to the wetlands that are adjacent to the opal mines. A kneeling pad will help to prevent sores and chafing.
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Prepare for Nevada's summer heat. Opals are typically hunted from May through September. Temperatures can easily soar above the 100-degree mark. Wear a hat with a sun visor. Be sure to lather on plenty of sunscreen.
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Decide upon land-bank digs or tailings digs. Land-bank digs entail carving into the side of the Virgin Mountains. When a section of the bank is pushed out with a hoe by an expert, a miner can examine the tailings. This generally provides a safer location without the possible dangers of a remote bank. Although tailings are considered easier to maneuver, there is no way to be sure which method will produce better gems.
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Rake or pick the land, depending upon your chosen digging method. Rakes are better for digging in tailings, while picks must be used when digging into mountain banks.
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Dig out the stones you find carefully with a screwdriver. This will prevent breakage. A delicate touch is important in handling the gemstones.
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Place the stones into a bucket of water. The Virgin Valley black opals have an unusually high water content, 10 to 13 percent by weight. These black opals in the Nevada mines must be dried before cutting due to the high water content. The drying process should be slow, spread out over a matter of months.
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Tips & Warnings
Be on the look-out for wild burros. Just as mosquitoes are drawn to neighboring wetlands, so are burros. The Nevada BLM does a yearly round-up; however, the animals can still be found wandering.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit black & white bean, black bean & barley image by Jane September from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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gona get some fire opals.
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John Church
Nov 30, 2010
Swordfish Mining advises you to mine for ore in the mine and don't waste time checking every piece if it is opal until later when you can't get any more ore. Toss all those muddy wood and glass lumps into a bucket of water and the soaking will help clean them without breaking. I prefer a mid size pick or matlock not a big 8 lber or a hand rock hammer. The big one will wear you out fast and the little one wears out one hand fast. A long handled garden claw or bow rake is my preferred tool for tailings. Expect blisters so bring gloves. Opal is sharp bring band aids. More links on website.
