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Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 7:55 pm
by gingerkid
Thanks, John! Sure hope you'll get a chance to continue your studies in the near future.
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 12:59 am
by SwordfishMining
OK Pink this is for you.
- Ammolite pendent back - Morrocan
, Ammolite pendant back
, Stilbite on Apopholite.
Apophylite India,
Stilbite and A again
Quatrz point from Colemans in Arkansas
A couple psilomelaines from E/O the quarry
27 ct slab of the stuff I want 100 a gram for. Actually opalized duff not wood.
The common opal from off the refuge
Blue topazes/whatever I got from the gold buyer.
Ammonite front
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:22 am
by SwordfishMining
And more
- 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
- 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
- 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,
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.
- Virgin Valley precious fire opal tumbles.
Virgin Valley precious fire opal tumbles.
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 2:20 am
by PinkDiamond
That was fun seeing everything, John, and I'm glad you found your wins. What a nice variety you got.
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:14 pm
by SwordfishMining
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:29 pm
by PinkDiamond
Good Lord, those are gorgeous!!
BIG congrats on finding them, John.
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:59 pm
by kjsspot
Amazing find John! Is any of it stable for cutting?
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:20 am
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.
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 3:45 pm
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/
Re: Swordfish Mining in Virgin Valley, NV
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:33 pm
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.
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.
vs the stuff I got from Marlborough miners off the side of the Chrysophrase, Gem Silica, dollar a gram.
BUT summer is here & I'm a popular guy for mining claims or knowledge tours.