Precious Opal at Virgin Valley, Nevada
by Marilee Strech

With winter upon us comes the opportunity and time to research and plan for spring trips.  Some of the desert collecting areas in the Southwest are not open until Memorial Day, due to winter snows and spring mud.   If you like opals and desert scenery, Virgin Valley, Nevada should be on your list for a spring  trip.  Just make sure you do your homework with respect to gas stations, grocery stores and campgrounds before you take off in search of those beautiful gems.  Virgin Valley, Nevada, is home to several well-known precious opal mines, with great potential for finding these brilliant fire-filled stones. The nearest goods and services are a couple of hours away in Lakeview, Oregon, if you take Hwy. 140 east into Nevada to the opal fields.   It is about the same distance from the other approach, which is from Winnemucca, Nevada, at the junction of Hwy.95 and Interstate 80.   It is dry and desolate desert all the way to the opal fields, whichever way you come.  

You will need to bring plenty of water, food, sunscreen,  digging tools and screens , as well as some sort of tent, trailer or motorhome for shelter from the sun and mosquitoes.  Yes, there are some very large and HUNGRY mosquitoes out here in the swampy areas adjacent to the opal mines.  This area is also known for the wild burro population,  which is drawn by that same wetlands that harbors the mosquitoes. The BLM does a yearly burro roundup from the old way station which you will pass just a few miles before you reach your destination.

At present, there are two fee dig mines listed in the Gem Trails of Nevada book by James Mitchell.  The first one is the Rainbow Ridge Precious Opal Mine.  At this mine, overburden is removed from the opal-bearing clay layer, allowing collectors to attack the wall or screen in the tailings pile.  You will find that the opal in Virgin Valley is wood replaced by opal, and comes in colors similar to the famous opals of Australia, from black to white.  Most of this opal must be kept in water, as it will most likely crack if allowed to dry out.  This is due to the high percentage of water contained in all opal.  If you do want to try to cut some of your opal into stones, you must let it dry out for several months before attempting to cut it.  For more information on this mine, go to their website at www.nevadaopal.com.

The other fee dig mine is the Royal Peacock, which according to James Mitchell's book, also encompasses the Northern Lights and Little Pebble Opal mines.  Also in this fee area are located a moss opal claim and a fluorescent opal claim.  There is a rock shop and a campground here with hot showers and laundry facilities available for campers.  This is the mine I went to with my family in August, which is probably not the best time to come due to the 100 degree weather in the middle of summer here in these clay hills.  It seems that the best opal is found by attacking the opal bearing walls, as the tailings are rather barren of opal.  Several nice pieces of black opal with red and green fire were found the day we were there.  Not everyone is rewarded by finding beautiful large opals, but it is certainly worth the time and effort to come here and try your luck.  For more information on this mine, go to their webstite at www.royalpeacock.com.

There are also a number of collecting areas for other stones such as Apache tears, carnelian, yellow and gold jasper, orange opalite, petrified wood, etc. for you to stop and search as you travel to Virgin Valley.  Don't forget how close you will be to the Sunstone mines at Plush, Oregon.  There are fee dig mines as well as the free dig area operated by the BLM for Rockhounds, either of which will net you some great clears, yellows, schiller and even some peach or orange stones.  Your best chance to get greens, bi-colors or reds is to collect at the Dust Devil Mine or the Spectrum Sunstone mine----both have great potential and very reasonable fees.  For more information, look them up on the web.  You can also find them listed in the Gem Trails of Oregon book by James Mitchell.

Wherever you decide to take your spring desert trip, I know you will have a great time---the scenery is just as spectacular as the rocks and gems you will find there!  Happy Hunting!