Use this page to keep an informational log specific to this treasure: The more detailed the information, the more helpful it will be to other hunters.

Possibly the largest opal field in North America was discovered in 2003 south of Riverton, Wyoming. Much of the field is on BLM (public) lands.

The Nevada opal fields are found by the Oregon border in Virgin Valley, NV. This mining district was first established in the early 1900s. There are currently 3 fee digs open to the public where you find black precious opal along with the white, crystal, and fire opals. Most opals are a replacement after wood. 120 species are identified so far with all stages of opalization represented. There are otherprecious opal fee dig mines; one in the Black Rock desert The Family Rainbow Peacock Mine and one by Spencer, ID The Spencer Opal Mine.

Over 95% of the opal gemstonesin stores come from Australia and the rest come from Mexico. Please don't count the light blue plastic opal from Japan as real.

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• Read more in the Opals Toolkit on the Cash and Treasures main site.

General information on Opals

[Natural or cultural history of the item, trends in value, tips for where to look for it, etc. ]

Scuttlebutt is that the buckaroos picked up the pretty rocks to trade the Ladies of the Night in Winnemucca, NV for their favors. The world discovered this and the was an opal rush in 1906. The mining district has never shut down completely. Opal values have always climbed.

Where to find it:

Virgin Valley Nevada, South of the Border, and Down Under.
And in Wyoming, a giant opal field, known as the Cedar Rim field, was found covering parts of 14 sections (square miles) to include hundreds of giant common opals (10 to >100,000 carats), fire opal and some precious opal along with the popular Sweetwater agate. This field sits in the middle of an oil and gas field south of the town of Riverton Wyoming and much is on BLM land. An article in the ICMJ Prospecting & Mining Journal described this new discovery and the variety of opals are described in a book - Gems, Minerals and Rocks of Wyoming.

What areas of the world are famous for this treasure?

If you have first-hand experience with a spot where other treasure hunters can go, enter info here:

GPS Coordinates, if known: Town/region: Denio, NV State, country:Humboldt County Tips for finding it:Go to the fee digs - essentially all the productive area is under claim and belongs to someone.	GPS Coordinates, if known: Town/region: State, country: Tips for finding it:
GPS Coordinates, if known: Town/region: State, country: Tips for finding it:	GPS Coordinates, if known: Town/region: State, country: Tips for finding it:

Tools needed:
None to hard rock mining and earth moving equipment.
You can just surface hunt. Bank digging requires a pick and rake. If you shovel tailings you are not looking well enough, rake them away. I like an Estwing pick to make it easier swinging all day. A garden rake is needed not a leaf rake.
Once you break half the opal out of the bank. Stop and pick up all the pieces that came off. Then use a pick, screwdriver, or tine to work the mud from around the opal and free it.
You'll need buckets and jars or baggies (or nothing depending on your luck) for your opals storage. Most people keep them wet until after being cleaned.

Most Nevada opal has a tendency to crack if left dry for long periods of time.


Special skills needed: None; good eyesight and stamina greatly increase the odds of finding gems to less than half the diggers.

Identification tips:
Precious opal has play of color in it or as light passes through it.



Additional helpful resources:
[include links to websites, book titles, maps, clubs]

• John Church at Swordfish Mining has links to all the fee digs and informational sites. Black opal pictures and essays on a variety of opal subjects.
• Some additional info on Nevada opal mining can be found at:Virgin Valley Opal Info

Recommend a guide:
[If you need a guide, list them here with phone/email and website URL]

• John Church at Swordfish Mining, Independent opal miner, claim seller, and guide. 1-775-941-0725

Recommend an appraiser:
The only one with certification and experienced in Virgin Valley Nevada opal I know offhand is Hodsons of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ.

Nobody out here at the mines does certifications and we kinda resent being repeatedly asked what price to charge and will we pay it. You have to do your own retailing.