Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

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gingerkid
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Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:30 pm
Location: LaGrange, GA ~ USA

Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by gingerkid »

Thanks, John! Sure hope you'll get a chance to continue your studies in the near future.
~ Jan ~

"...you gotta know your ABC's...
Always. Be. Cool." 8-)
- Boyd Crowder
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SwordfishMining
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Location: Denio, NV USA
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by SwordfishMining »

OK Pink this is for you.
Ammolite pendent back - Morrocan
Ammolite pendent back - Morrocan
, Ammolite pendant back
P1080014a.jpg
, Stilbite on Apopholite.
P1080011a.jpg
Apophylite India,
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Stilbite and A again
P1080006a.jpg
Quatrz point from Colemans in Arkansas
p1040483a.jpg
A couple psilomelaines from E/O the quarry
p1040471a.jpg
27 ct slab of the stuff I want 100 a gram for. Actually opalized duff not wood.
p1010147a.jpg
The common opal from off the refuge
P1080216a.jpg
Blue topazes/whatever I got from the gold buyer.
P1080196a.jpg
Ammonite front
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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SwordfishMining
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Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:06 pm
Location: Denio, NV USA
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by SwordfishMining »

And more
One of opalized splinters sawed up dry
One of opalized splinters sawed up dry
One of opalized splinters sawed up dry Whoops mark that one sold for 29 dollars https://1982c94537f01b662573-b9e8240987 ... 60x208.jpg
The big druzy fingered apophylite
The big druzy fingered apophylite
The big druzy fingered apophylite
Hart Mtn precious Opal nodule
Hart Mtn precious Opal nodule
Hart Mtn precious Opal nodule
Slab of gem lemon opal from Virgin Valley
Slab of gem lemon opal from Virgin Valley
Slab of gem lemon opal from Virgin Valley
2+ gms of Wolo tumbles at 20 a gram from the carvers
2+ gms of Wolo tumbles at 20 a gram from the carvers
2+ gms of Wolo tumbles at 20 a gram from the carvers
Blue fiber optic bracelet,
Blue fiber optic bracelet,
the second thing I won at the club drawing along with the Ammonite. I donated a copy of Downings Opal Adventures and a 30 dollar Boulder opal chunk bead from Koroit Rod Griffith across from me in AZ.
Broken conk slab showing treatment penetration.
Broken conk slab showing treatment penetration.
Broken conk slab showing treatment penetration.
Virgin Valley precious fire opal tumbles.
Virgin Valley precious fire opal tumbles.
Virgin Valley precious fire opal tumbles.
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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PinkDiamond
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Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:30 pm
Location: Ozark Mountains

Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by PinkDiamond »

That was fun seeing everything, John, and I'm glad you found your wins. What a nice variety you got. :)
PinkDiamond
ISG Registered Gemologist


· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ There are miracles left for you to do .... -:¦:- -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* It all begins inside of you. ;)
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SwordfishMining
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Location: Denio, NV USA
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by SwordfishMining »

Last Fridays haul of wet minus the one I showed. There is also a 18 egg carton full of dry specimens and another handful too big to fit. along with about 22 lbs of "other not opal" for the day. This is the reason I'll pay a hundred dollars to sweat raking in the sun for 8 hours.
crazing little black core
crazing little black core

The good wood and opal from walking in late behind everybody else.....
The good wood and opal from walking in late behind everybody else.....

Bright crystal
Bright crystal

The good black in the jar
The good black in the jar

Green side of flash
Green side of flash

The Red flag in the middle
The Red flag in the middle

Lid of jar
Lid of jar
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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PinkDiamond
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Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:30 pm
Location: Ozark Mountains

Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by PinkDiamond »

Good Lord, those are gorgeous!! :o BIG congrats on finding them, John. :D
PinkDiamond
ISG Registered Gemologist


· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ There are miracles left for you to do .... -:¦:- -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* It all begins inside of you. ;)
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kjsspot
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by kjsspot »

Amazing find John! Is any of it stable for cutting?
~KJ~
Mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies - sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths.
ETSY: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KJOFineArt
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SwordfishMining
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by SwordfishMining »

I can do something with all of it but most has to dry before you can tell and most of the crystalliest one are going to be the crackleist ones. Since I never did a land office business of the tiny chip globes or mosaics. Wet specimens was the usual way to get a fast buck and not worry if they would cut. The value is if they were NEVER allowed to start drying and then put back in water, the water does not hide the fact they were cracked and a lot of them have a cachalon (zeolite?) component that could turn white, lose the color or get a shell changing forever what you see. Cracks withing minutes is the worst case scenario because it confuses the situation without re drying, or being uncracked dry of course. And all ther cutting rough just sits there at the size it is stable without little cracks crazing it. I dont leave the dry rough in water after washing it and it does not photogragh well.
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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SwordfishMining
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Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:06 pm
Location: Denio, NV USA
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by SwordfishMining »

I started a Reddit group for Virgin Valley Opal.
I'm getting close to retirement and will drop new things at some point. Nobody will say I didnt try to help the hobby.
I will admit a new camera would help my case with the time to use it. Later when Im crippled, hopefully before Im dead, there might be more time. But then, who cares anymore as the afterlife has been enacted.
https://www.reddit.com/r/VirginValleyOp ... i_peacock/
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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SwordfishMining
Posts: 4216
Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:06 pm
Location: Denio, NV USA
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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV

Post by SwordfishMining »

I have this copper deposit under claim over here that produces Gem Silica and that has taken up some of the little time i have after opal.
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I sell the ore for 250 a bucket containing some or 100 a pound here, other coppers 100 a bucket or 10 a pound & tailings woods etc, not rocks for 20 or .25 a lb at the tourist stops. Less if you are digging your own out of my mines.
IMG_20161112_203537_240a.jpg

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vs the stuff I got from Marlborough miners off the side of the Chrysophrase, Gem Silica, dollar a gram.
IMG_1484870801746a.jpg

BUT summer is here & I'm a popular guy for mining claims or knowledge tours.
I'll jump over my shadow. https://www.virginvalleyopal.com"
Opals & more at my ESTY store https://swordfishmining.etsy.com"
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