Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Pick an opal mine (see Resources). Although there may be some undiscovered sites where you can find opals, most opal mines are owned, and if you intend to hunt for opals you need to go to one of these. Most opals in the U.S. are found in Nevada, Arizona Oregon and Louisiana. Consider mine accessibility; some mines can only be reached by a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Some mine operators provide transportation for an extra fee.
Gather your equipment for the hunt. Some mines provide tools for rent, while others require that you bring your own.
Check with the mine operator to see how much of your find you will be allowed to keep. You may be able to keep whatever you find, but in most cases there is a limit. Since you will be paying anywhere from $40 to $200 per day (as of 2010) to hunt for opals, you want to be allowed to keep as much as possible.
Find a likely spot at the mine and begin your hunt for opals. The approach you use varies from mine to mine. In some cases you dig into the ground or a hillside to find your opals; other mines have areas covered with loose rock, which you will want to rake together before you begin to sort through it. Wear gloves as you begin to handle the stones in your search for opals.
Hit interesting rocks with your hammer or pick. Chip away the exterior surface to see if an opal is lurking inside. Wear eye protection when chipping stone. When you've chipped away a layer, spray water on the exposed area to rinse off any dirt. Then examine your stone in the sunlight or with a small flashlight. Opals have bits of reflective color inside of them, referred to as fire because of the way it sparkles when viewed under a bright light. If you spot the inner fire, you've found an opal. If not, toss this rock to one side and move on to the next one. Keep all of your opals in your bucket so they don't get mixed back in with the worthless rocks.