How to Find Black Opals in the Nevada BLM

Pack the essential items for sustenance. Roads that lead to the opal mines of northern Nevada are dry and barren. A high-clearance vehicle is necessary to smoothly enter the area. Stock up on water and food. Take a tent if you are planning to spend the night in one of the nearby camping areas. Take along mosquito repellent. Mosquitoes love the area due to the wetlands that are adjacent to the opal mines. A kneeling pad will help to prevent sores and chafing.

Prepare for Nevada's summer heat. Opals are typically hunted from May through September. Temperatures can easily soar above the 100-degree mark. Wear a hat with a sun visor. Be sure to lather on plenty of sunscreen.

Decide upon land-bank digs or tailings digs. Land-bank digs entail carving into the side of the Virgin Mountains. When a section of the bank is pushed out with a hoe by an expert, a miner can examine the tailings. This generally provides a safer location without the possible dangers of a remote bank. Although tailings are considered easier to maneuver, there is no way to be sure which method will produce better gems.

Rake or pick the land, depending upon your chosen digging method. Rakes are better for digging in tailings, while picks must be used when digging into mountain banks.

Dig out the stones you find carefully with a screwdriver. This will prevent breakage. A delicate touch is important in handling the gemstones.

Place the stones into a bucket of water. The Virgin Valley black opals have an unusually high water content, 10 to 13 percent by weight. These black opals in the Nevada mines must be dried before cutting due to the high water content. The drying process should be slow, spread out over a matter of months.