PINE CONES & BARK

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="1d400500dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Swordfish Mining:   Virgin Valley Opal</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Swordfish Mining: Virgin Valley Opal"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="black_precious_opal.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BLACK OPALS">BLACK OPALS</A>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_precious_opal_mining_claims_from_the_miners_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CLAIMS">CLAIMS</A>   |   <A HREF="opal_from_nevada.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PRECIOUS OPAL">PRECIOUS OPAL</A>   |   <A HREF="what_we_do.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, JEWELRY">WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, & JEWELRY</A>   |   <A HREF="cut_stones__tops_gemstones_cut_for_years__these_stones_have_all_been_displayed_i.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GEMSTONES">GEMSTONES</A>   |   <A HREF="opal_twigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LIMB CASTS">LIMB CASTS</A>   |   <B>PINE CONES & BARK</B>   |   <A HREF="precious_opal_snake_head_cast.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE SNAKE HEAD">THE SNAKE HEAD</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GOODS">GOODS</A>   |   <A HREF="leah_and_john.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT US">ABOUT US</A>   |   <A HREF="picture_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SWORDFISH PICS">SWORDFISH PICS</A>   |   <A HREF="the_sheldon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHARLES SHELDON NWR">CHARLES SHELDON NWR</A>   |   <A HREF="numbers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us">Contact Us</A>   |   <A HREF="map_to_virgin_valley_fee_digs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Location">Location</A>   |   <A HREF="qa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="QA">Q&A</A>   |   <A HREF="links_to_friendly_web_pages.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS">LINKS</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="045d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> This little cone was in water.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1bfbd8e0.png" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="Swordfis deposit Fir cone" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Pine cones are usually broken during the mining.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1f5b98b0.jpg" border=0 width="185" height="139" ALT="cone embedded in clay" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  These next two cones contain some black opal. The selenite coated cone has a black center (no fire) and the brown petrified cone has veined opal (no fire) in the veins of its seed bracts. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="0cfbd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="Two Opalized Pinecones" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I can't see fire on the surface but not all surfaces are usually exposed without cutting or slabbing.</div> <div> This fruit (berry?) is an example of the sort of things that I haven't identified yet. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1bebd8e0.png" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="gooseberry cast?" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> PINE CONES & BARK</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2aaecf10.jpg" border=0 width="1004" height="753" ALT="Precious opal penetrating bark from the Peacock." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Opalized bark from the Royal Peacock Mine. In 3 pieces $100.</div> <bR> <div> I have the largest selection of cones to chose from at shows.  A opal pine cone such as this in light yellow opal, dry, full of bright fire, with good cast definition retails for over $1,500. Currently sold out and I may never find another. Multicolor lemonish opal with excellent definition to the tiny cone. I have several not perfect cones.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0ab80000.jpg" border=0 width="384" height="256" ALT="Gemstone opal pinecone fossil" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >Sold both as a pair</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Here is the 2008 show frame of opal cones found in Virgin Valley.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="29b77040.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="516" ALT="Priced pinecones" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prices are retail.</div> <bR> <div> The top left two cones are well made and the rarest species. The better cones are harder and have more opal content or definition. The sequoia cones in the top row are solid well made common opal, some clay on them still. These aren't so tough you can brush scrub them clean fast. The  pine cones usually are soft and not hard Opalized. Until you clean them you don't really know. These are so perfect I did not chance cleaning them yet. Considering color, form, and then quality of pattern, on top of the fossil considerations. Rarity of species is important. U.C.Berkeley has been given several fossil cones for species identification by our families. The various mines have produced Picea Wolfei cones which are unique to Virgin Valley deposits. We also donated some unusual surface finds including a rare healed broken toe bone from some Miocene Denizen to put in the colleges' collection. This valley has been an important resource for Miocene North American flora fossils. The fauna has been studied by expeditions to the mining district with many new mammal species being discovered in the past. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1c040f00.png" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Opal pine cone" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Cone from Royal Peacock</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1c140f00.png" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="precious opal pinecone" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >Small flash of red color on end showing in black eye of a pastel shaded solid opal, Cast is about 4/5 of round and has some cracks. $200  A big jpg is on the bottom of this page.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1c3bc4d0.png" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="50, 25, and less pinecones" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> These are $50 half's and $25 Pieces. Natural untreated or treated for display pieces start at $5 for encased soft ones glued onto dirt clods.</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div>      Redwood, willow, larch, firs, conifers, gooseberries, black locust, sequoias, elms, spruce, hardwoods, and softwoods have all left fossils out here. I'm a miner not a plant ID person.</div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >Precious Opal will fill in any cavity in the montmorillite clays that make up the pay layers in the opal mines. It seems less than 10 percent of the ones possible in the gem pockets that are actually less than 1 1/10 of 1 % in the bank. The bank as a whole makes opals all through it here and there. Precious opal replacement of wood can range from total replacement to a thin skin, or a rind of precious opal, over a common petrified limb.  The pay layers or streaks can vary from less than 1" thick to over 10' thick in some areas.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>      I have rarely found fossil teeth and bones from the opal beds in the valley. Many of the fossils are not recovered from the opal layer itself, but the over laying sedimentary layers, or more recent overburden. Our paleontology mirrors that documented in the John Day Beds in Oregon and the Rattlesnake formation in Wyoming. Most vertebrate fossils are what is called dry land scatter, just bits and pieces on the surface, left by the scavengers.  Written up and published by Meade they found no complete skeletons, even though they identified numerous teeth from previously un-discovered species. Mostly small rodents, cats, and dogs in transition for millions of years were the new discoveries.</div> <bR> <div>      Gem pine cones are most coveted. Nobody has camels teeth, or 3-toed horse bones from Virgin Valley for sale, let alone at market prices from the Chinese.  Being collected from deeded ground these fossils are completely legal to possess and sell freely. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1c425dc0.png" border=0 width="293" height="220" ALT="Swordfish Deposit Pinecone" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Water worn and of hard common opal, these 1/3 " diameter cones are $30 per partial cone when available.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >Black Opal pine cones might be found on any mine, but digging all year doesn't find one every year.  I have the largest selection of fossil pine cones for sale from Virgin Valley anywhere.  Literally there are no other dealers I have found except one in Tuscon out there. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     The rarest perfect round Sequoia cones I alone have, start at $500 each. I am not keeping them for myself and have sold the biggest ones to private collectors as this is a new discovery not found at any other mine. I have both open and un-opened specimens for sale. Swordfish Mining has provided specimens for many different collections around the world and into numerous educational settings. Fossil Elm twigs are a popular wood ID item.</div> <bR> <div>       Opals are the only gemstone made by animals, plants, and inside the earth.  Geysers and ground water make opal sinter from silicon. Mosquitoes use opal it in their proboscises as the point. Also a beetle has been discovered in Australia uses actual green opal for it's color. As for plants some species of Bamboo in Vietnam have opal stones in the nodes and the nettle uses the same points the mosquitoes do to make you AND in Australia they found a beetle that uses green opal for camouflage. </div> <bR> <div>      Super gem crystallized bark is a special rare treat and commands a premium price for it's outstanding art and design value. The structure of lenses of multicolored opal and fluid wood grain is unmatched in the Gem world. Very little bark is Opalized completely through. Very little bark is even preserved due to it's softness.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1c525dc0.png" border=0 width="293" height="220" ALT="62 ct precious opal bark conk" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Bark Conk<IMG SRC="2a3ecf10.jpg" border=0 width="1004" height="753" ALT="The bottom showing the play of color around the wood inclusions" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="2a5ecf10.jpg" border=0 width="1004" height="753" ALT="tops 62 ct opalized bark conk. stabilized with ca" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>      This 62 ct precious Opalized bark was pictured in 'Mining Opal in Nevada' in Rock and Gem Magazine.  The picture has fair color rendition of the electric running bright color flashes coming out of a fine lace wood structure pattern. This is now priced at $25 ct.  It's been treated with a cyro-acrylate fracture sealer and has shown no changes in the play of color or brightness of fire since first  polished. It's been displayed since cut in 1996 in our display showcase in the sun at shows without any loss of color or sealer degradation.</div> <bR> <div>      Leaf prints and pine needles are commonly found, but rarely in opal. Most are embedded in mud or poorly fossilized mats of forest floor. 15 million year old leaf mats.  There is a bog opal which is like an algae mass or mats of reeds and sedges from the old swamps.  I can supply tons of weathered bog opal. If you desire samples send an e-mail for a quote or buy the claim. </div> <bR> <div> Note all text and photographs copyrights reserved by John Church.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Republication not for gain is permitted with proper URL credit given.</div> <div>  <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2" src="http://www.altavista.com/help/free/inc_translate"></script> <noscript><a href="http://www.altavista.com/babelfish/tr"></noscript>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div>  <img align=bottom src="http://www.thebook.com/cgi-bin/thebook/Counter1/Count.cgi?ft=0|tr=0|prgb=0;255;0|md=7|dd=B|st=333332|sh=1|df=virginvalleyopal_9_own.dat">  </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>