Opal Oasis! Freda's Log! A close-up look at one of the most beautiful opals ever produced by the Royal Peacock. From our Guestbook Very very beautiful. It was our good fortune to find several opals, one weighing in at 96 grams. I can't wait to return and do it all over again.
We found several opals, and one very nice limb cast. I cant wait to go again. I also wanted to mention just how quiet it is out there. Very relaxing. Everyone was so nice there at the mine. We found a bunch of opals We are very happy and will definitely return. Cathy and David Millen. A few notable specimens Open in-season 8AM to 4PM. Trailer sleeps 2, Cabin 3. Reservations required. Full R. Reservations suggested. Laundry and showers available. Joy and her husband saw it and told us how to treat it.
Visitors These unique and magnificent gems were produced nearly 14 million years ago, when volcanic activity occurred in the region. An ancient lake covered most of the area, which was filled by a tremendous amount of volcanic ash. Perhaps most fascinating, is the lake was previously filled with limbs, twigs and other rotting woods. Heat and pressure then formed a silica gel that percolated through the ash and filled various cavities—like this cache of tree limbs—which over time, eventually hardened into a spectacular variety of opals.
The amount of opals mined in the Virgin Valley is enough to impress, but the size of these opals uncovered in the region is truly extraordinary. More than a quarter million carats of precious fire opals have been extracted from the Royal Peacock mines throughout the last 25 years, and pound opals—the size of actual logs—have been extracted from the mine.
In , a carat black fire opal was discovered at the Royal Peacock Mine and in , a 52 carat opal was extracted. Total, over millions of dollars of opals have been taken from the Virgin Valley, which is comprised of several commercial operations and more than private claims. Virgin Valley opals, black fire variety or not, are found in pockets.
When you uncover one, there are usually others nearby. Fire opal is also found in Virgin Valley. A piece of yellow faceted Nevada fire opal is shown on this page. The most frequently found type of opal in Virgin Valley is common opal.
Common opal does not exhibit the play-of-color seen in precious opal or the translucent to transparent hues of fire opal. In the column at right, we have a photo of some cream and black mossy opal from the Royal Peacock Mine.
Although most opal will exhibit a weak fluorescence under ultraviolet light, some of the common opal from Royal Peacock has a spectacular green fluorescence see accompanying photo. One problem that is frequently seen in Virgin Valley opal is crazing. The material looks sound when it is removed from the ground, but after a few years of exposure, cracks will develop and the opal will break into small pieces. Some cutters "age" their rough for a few years before cutting to be sure that their cutting time is well-spent.
Some of the opal found in Virgin Valley is uraniferous. They found uraniferous opal in discontinuous layers parallel to the bedding of the ash and tuff deposits.
Most of the opal examined contained between trace amounts and 0. One sample containing 0. Staatz and H. Nevada Turquoise: Two cabochons with bright greenish blue turquoise surrounded by black matrix, cut from material mined in Nevada. Nevada became a major producer of turquoise in the s, and until the early s, Nevada was the leading producer of turquoise in the United States. Turquoise has been produced from dozens of small mines. A few small mines continue to be worked today, mostly part-time by a few employees or partners.
Nevada Turquoise: Two cabochons with very light greenish blue turquoise surrounded by black matrix, cut from material mined in Nevada. Nevada turquoise is found in thin veins, seams, and nodules. Some material is hard, solid rough that cuts well and accepts a great polish. Other material must be stabilized with backing or resins to produce a good cabochon. Nevada turquoise occurs in the typical range of blue, blue-green and greenish colors, with iron-rich specimens being on the green end of the color range.
Specimens with and without matrix are found. Variscite and faustite are often found associated with the turquoise and are occasionally produced as gem materials.
Some people report that it is really opalized calcite or howlite. We purchased some "White Buffalo Turquoise" and sent it out for x-ray diffraction, and the result was magnesite with dolomite. A better name for this material is "White Buffalo Stone. There are some reports of "white turquoise" and "white buffalo turquoise" being mined in Nevada, and a lot of material is sold under those names.
Turquoise can be a very light blue or a very light green and sometimes a yellowish green.
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