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How to Dig Opals in Nevada

The discovery of opals in northern Nevada's Virgin Valley in the early 1900s attracted numerous gem-hunters and rockhounds to the area in the decades that followed. The colorful stones are formed when an organic material, like wood, is turned into a mineral through a metamorphic process. Miners are still pulling up impressive pieces from the area. In 1993, they uncovered a 220-pound opalized log. Several commercial mines in Nevada allow visitors to search for the brilliantly colored gems.

Instructions

- 1
  Select the mine where you'll dig for opals. Some mines, like Rainbow Ridge, offer tail diggings for visitors to sift through, while others, like Royal Peacock Opal Mines, allow opal enthusiasts to chip away at rock outcroppings.
- 2
  Use your rake to sift through the gravel and debris of the tail diggings or your pick to chisel off pieces of a bank digging.
- 3
  Look for interesting chunks of rock in your gathered materials. Chip away at the outside layer of the rock to reveal an opal. It may take several attempts, but determined effort will eventually reveal some of the colorful stones beneath the surface.
- 4
  Save any chunks of opals in a bucket, which you can take home with you for additional cleaning and cutting.

Rocks & Minerals