Hiya Hiya from Virgin Valley Nevada, USA. I’m the man with the best legal claims for sale. Please ignore the slander about me from the competition plastered on it’s page. I’ve dared him to come to court and prove he is not lying. I’m living here and can show you around in person any day. I don’t use agents who know nothing and do not have to drive to Nevada for clients.
The Virgin Valley Opal Mining District in Humboldt Co has been mined for Black Opal, White Opal, Crystal Opal, Fire Opal and Precious Wood Opal since the early 1900s and it has been suggested; also by the Chinese explorers before Columbus. Swordfish Mining, me, began operations in 1993 on the Swordfish claim group. I fell head over heels for Leah Brashear (RIP 2005) and her family, that with her mom Marie and Grandparents, had established several good digs and a millsite in the 70s we lived on for a decade. Leahs’ eulogy is back on the about me page.
The past 2015 season had about the same traffic or less than the year before. The Kokopelli Opal Mine stayed open and the Opal Queen stayed closed. Kokopelli Opal digging is by appointment through their website. http://kokopelliopals.com/Fee_Digging.html. In Virgin Valley at any of the mines, except the Opal Queen Mine where he has a 50/50 opal split policy, you keep ALL the opals you find for what was paid for the day. All gem opal rough including semiprecious opalized wood is included in the entry fee. Outside on the refuge the limit is 7 pounds. [Opal Queen Currently closed and claimjumped][No digging allowed on refuge]
The brilliance, size, and qualities of the precious Nevada opals play of color is unique and varies. It generally occurs as wood replacements, more than veins or nodules. This offers both collectors and cutters unparalleled variety in a unique matrix; petrified wood. Opal is a mineral pseudo-morph (meaning it fills holes when forming) and can make lifelike fossils, even bones and teeth can be replaced. and the deeded mines have recovered many such items over the years. Miocene Period from about 12 million years ago give or take a few. The genus of the plants are modern ones. There isn’t a big supply of cutting rough from all these mines put together each year. Most all the opal here is mined and consumed by the many rockhounds and jewelers who specialize in our favorite fossil – precious wood and the State Gemstone Black Fire Opal. The best opals are usually kept in water without drying as specimens due to changes all opal might go through after mining. Clarity changes, cracks as it relieves pressure drying and the ones that craze.
Keith Hodson said it was an “Honest Opal” in that it told you right up front what it was.
YOUR luck, skill and effort are the factors of which mine to go to and then what opals you’ll come away with. All have fair offerings, but each Fee Dig is different from the others. They all have their own nature, facilities, and operators to experience, while the black precious opal might be found on every one any given day. Swordfish Mining links to all of their websites to make it easier for you to contact them. You have to work hard for what you MAY find, so don’t give up. Some opals are available in the gift shops here or online from other miners. Ask the owners your questions about their dates, times and fees please. I am not in charge of any of their businesses. Opal is where you find it, the best may come from any mine and the biggest best one is still out there to be found in all likelihood.
When e-mailing me: PLEASE USE AN OPAL RELATED SUBJECT as I blacklist without reading spam.
Contact john at virginvalleyopal.com Or call me at home 775-941-0725 Pacific Time Zone. Please leave a message if I’m out mining and I will call you when I return.
Gemstone Wood: all Opals will be more colorful and brighter when in held in hand. No photo shopping has been done to any images. Any cracks or treatments are disclosed if present. Provenance certificates will be issued by me on the strength of my reputation in the district for specimens I see extracted.
Swordfish Speaks WordPress BLOG https://virginvalleyopal.com/talkin/ is irregular, but feel free to subscribe. [This is that & that is gone]
Swordfish Mining PO Box # 124 Denio, NV 89404
Note: All text and photograph copyrights reserved by John Church. Re-publication not for gain is permitted with proper URL credit back to here given.