|
Hidden
in the isolated northwest corner of Nevada, lies Virgin
Valley. Despite it's arid and desolate location, rockhounds and
miners from all over the world travel here to search for the beautiful
precious opal for which this area is famous. Click
here for tips on Planning Your Trip.
 Virgin
valley is a high desert region (an elevation of 5,000 to 6,000
ft.), located about 30 miles southwest of Denio in Humboldt County.
The area is teeming with wildlife, from wild burros and horses
to antelope and jackrabbits. There are numerous hot springs dotting
the land with their attendant lush vegetation, creating a series
of oasis in the desert. Click here for
Maps.
This
area is famous for the rare and fabulous black opal, known to
occur in only two places on Earth: Virgin Valley, Nevada and New
South Wales, Australia. These wonderful specimens flash
and gleam with a rainbow of brilliant reds, blues, greens and
purples in a jet black matrix. Prime examples can be worth
more per carat than even diamonds.
 Also
found in the area is opal in a variety of colors and types from
the famous black opal to the amber colored honey opal, the clear
jelly or crystal opal, and the pure white matrix of the lechosos
or milk opal, all of which can contain the stunning play of color
which signifies the 'precious opal.' Click
here for more Opal Facts.
Most
of the opal is in the form of replaced wood and limb casts. Sometimes
retaining the characteristics of the ancient wood in incredible
detail. It is theorized that this area was once the location
of a large lake surrounded by lush forests of sequoia, spruce,
hemlock, birch, cedar, larch and chestnut. This prehistoric
forest was devastated by a series of volcanic eruptions which
buried the forests, lakes and accumulated driftwood with layer
upon layer of ash.
 Over
millions of years, the silica-rich water of the areas hot springs
seeped through the layers of ash and slowly replaced the buried
wood with hydrated silica molecules. Under the right conditions,
precious opal may form. Click here
for Area Geology.
Legend
has it that a range rider, perhaps a Pony Express rider, found
the first glistening piece when passing through the area in the
early 1900's. The discovery was widely reported by the press and
within a few years several claims were staked in the area and
commercial mining of Virgin Valley Opal began. Some of these early
mines still exist today. The Bonanza has been producing opal since
1905 and the Rainbow mine since 1911. Click
here for Area History.
 Over
time, Virgin Valley opal developed a reputation of being unstable
and prone to cracking due to it's high water content. (Virgin
Valley opal can be up to 14% water, where Australian opal may
be as little as 5% water). Although many rockhounds keep their
specimens in water to prevent this cracking, much Virgin Valley
opal retains its brilliance and integrity for decades with no
special care.
Do
you have suggestions, tips or other information to share about
this topic? Please sign
my Guest Book and add your .02
Click here to read
my Guest Book
View
My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
|
