Virgin Valley Nevada----fire opals

[Dennis]

I know the dig fees are a little pricey if you come up empty but has anyone tried any of the pay to dig places there?  I understand a lot/most of the opals found aren't jewelry grade due to not being dried and stable.  Some prices for large specimen only sizes I have seen mentioned seem to be  somewhat of an incentive to get tired and dirty.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have never tried that area because of the price. I have tried the pay to mine opal mines near Last Chance Canyon it was real cheap like a buck a day. I got some beautiful opals but nothing gem quality. besides there's gold in Last Chance Canyon. instead of the opals in Virgin Valley try the Oregon Sunstones area, about 100 miles north. there are fee areas and free areas. warning in the boonies go prepared. highdesertranger

 

[Dennis]

I wouldn't mind digging some sunstones but do they have much if any value, hdr? Gold is good. Where is Last Chance Canyon....is it a fee dig?

 

[highdesertranger]

Last Chance Canyon is north of Ransburg, west of US 395, east of CA 14, and south of Inyokern. the opals are pay to dig, and for gold there is a prospecting club in Last Chance that has 160 acres in claims, the fee is 40 bucks a year. you can prospect outside of the claims for free. as for the sunstones some do have value as gems I don't think I found any of those but I did find a boat load of them. highdesertranger

 

[Dennis]

Oh, I have read about Randsburg in the past. Going to be pretty warm there for a while. You're a wealth of information, hdr. Maybe before much longer I will have an idea of what kind of plans I can make. Just waiting on Dr.'s