How To Find Opals - Finding Gold VI - Mountains of Opals

[joe18370]

any thing good in pa mnts ne

[Expectation247]

thanks that was a great video, interesting explanation of where to find opals near basalt formations! only thing i missed was a close up of that stack of opals you said was like stuff dreams are made of! it looked like rocks from a distance.

[sfholton]

i was thinking of looking 140 nw of lake kalama heading nw your thoughts

[flagold]

@sfholton : if you see basalt (black lava rock), that is about all you need to start looking for opals. The ground was heated enough to form them, and that could be about anywhere in Eastern Oregon/NW Nevada.

[g2integz]

Only problem with this location (correct me if I'm wrong) is that none of these opals have fire in them. Oregon opal holds very little value when compared to Australian or Ethiopian. Nice thought though. I have heard this location is now claimed as well.

[flagold]

@g2integz : "fire" is what makes an opal precious, this is the color change streaks seen in precious opal (black or very dark usually). Oregon (and Mexican) opal are gem quality fire opal (red like fire - clear enough to cut without milk streaks). Other than the same type of birth, the precious and the fire opals might as well be in different classifications entirely. They'll never claim all the opal fields, just to extensive on both sides of 140 for miles. Good luck in your prospecting!

[SharkKid42]

i do the same with fossils people would be falling over if they knew what i have found realy nice shells

[Donatillo1961]

so, where are you right now? I been watching your work and hope to see you someday ! I am in Marysville Ca

[ptelesco2011]

Serious question = how do you find someone trustworthy to value RAW opal?

[oeaohoe]

Thank you for the videos! I have been searching youtube for quite some time, and I am glad to have run acrossed your videos. Two years ago I lost my job and have been trying to make ends meet with just my wife pay cheack. We got a suprise 10 mounts ago, and now we have a son. My wife works in Black hawk Colorado. I have been thinking of gold hunting in the area and would like to know if you have any advice for that area of the country. Regards-Brian

[flagold]

@oeaohoe :Just downstream from Blackhawk at the hiway 6 and 119 junction to almost Golden is Jefferson county open space and is open to certain forms of prospecting. I'd advise contacting them on the boundaries and regulations. For more info google goddredger forum. and email the admin, Leonard Leeper (he's here visiting and answered your question since he happened to know that area well). The very best of luck to you and that baby boy!

[coldshot5555]

I cut Opal...I almost fell over when you found that black...let me know if you need any cut...I am the best in the intire world, I have cut all types of opal soft and unstable to hard and stable...Thanks for sharing the great vedio...it should be on tv...kim

[flagold]

@coldshot5555 : thanks for the compliments, we do some (limited) cutting as well, mostly sapphires (one cutting video on youtube). Very best of luck to you!

[reev2012]

This is one of my favorite videos on YouTube.

Everytime I pay more than I care to say on 'my new favorite' piece of Oregon Opal I always think of this video.

Can't wait to get up there to hunt.

[modaten]

what is this location would love to go on a trip to this site

[777dingo]

Are opals valuable? I live in Texas and i find alot of petrified wood, are opals always found where petrified wood is? If so, i might find some.

[poisonousrabbit1]

@777dingo

probably not as much as gold is.

or else this guy would have been goin crazy digging the out.

[valfodr10]

I gasped, as I'm sure many others did, at the part where the viewer suddenly realizes you are just standing in an opal field. I graduated from Montana State recently and while I was there every weekend was spent in the canyons looking for opal or agate hunting along the Yellowstone. You are an inspiration to the aspiring rockhound and geologist. Any chance for an apprenticeship? haha. I recently purchased a Garrett GTP 1350. Are they any good for gold prospecting?

[flagold]

@valfodr10 : Thanks, we (Connie and I) appreciate your feedback. The GTP 1350 at 7.5 KHZ is a little low, but can be used if you buy the small 4.5" coil to up the sensitivity to small targets. Cat# 14-2218800 is the number of the coil at KellyCo (I'm not saying that's the best price out there, but the do have a picture and description). I'm not that familiar with the detector, but I would try it in auto ground balance, small coil, and put various sizes of lead shot out to practice. Good luck!

[2JobsStillPoorUSA]

ha ha ha ha... it is pronounced OR- uh-GUN or OR EE GUN. It hasn't GONE anywhere. :o) We teach people to say it by have them say "A knife 'or a Gun"

[GlutenIsEvil36]

Your videos are really informative. I have watched a lot of them, I'm in Michigan and I am really thinking about getting out there and trying my luck panning for placer gold.  I am in Southeastern Michigan and most of the gold in Michigan is in the Upper Peninsula all though they do say there is some in lower Michigan in the Rivers and streams. I think it would be great to get our there in nature and hey if you find a little gold it's a bonus. Thanks for your videos.

[DrSpauldingthe3rd]

bring your finds and we can cross reference our studies

[RANGER31100]

can u give me an idea on were this is at . i am a adved gold miner and rock hound i have been all over that area out there but i havent seen this. can u give me some ensite on were this is located.

[radioactivestd]

Where is this in Oregon?

[jackrodus]

Come to so cal. Lets hunt tourmaline and other nice gems. Gpaa member and local club member.  The abandoned mines still have nice specimens to be found.

[jackrodus]

"Not so much as I landed that Cheppendales dancer for the ladies!" Love ya man. If you're ever in So Cal contact our local GPAA and Temecula Valley prospectors branch. I can show you tons of clad on the local beaches and maybe some garnet and tourmaline spots, that is if you dont already know the best ones lol. Me and a friend just came home from a 12 hour day with some nice specimens. Great vids

[Paperplait]

I live in Bend,oregon! :D If you want to find a very good palce for finding minerals I advise richardsons rock farm by madress or how ever you spell that! they have tons of thunder eggs and they just barely discovered a opal mine. :)

[justsaysmith]

you are awesome

[mmillironjr]

Looks familiar. Is this in the Ochocos near Bend? Or maybe in the Cascades? We do alot of hiking/geocaching around here and would love to learn to find these!

[AMERINPOV]

Love the videos- lmao bout the chipindales part- I was searchin a creek for old artifacts an found a cup with some weird sharp lance -I got to cleaning it- an it shines like gold?? i made a video on my youtube here-askin if anyone knows what it could be--but no one replied--still have know clue- its under chalice- if anyone thinks they could be of some help-

wish i could dig 24 hours a day- i absolutly would!

[flagold]

Hopefully someone will chime in on what it could be. Good luck!

[MoniMeka]

ok you tellin' me the opal was just layin' there on the ground??????? omgggggggggggggg. :D

[Lonewuff]

Matt, Thanks again for another cool video. I've been hunting fossils and artifacts all my life. I've been cutting opals for a couple of years and plan on hitting Alabama for a gold run. Thanks again and keep those videos coming!

[mcl141]

Some information about igneous (volcanic) rock formation. Basalt, pumice, obsidian, granite, and similar others are melted rock (magma) that cooled at different rates.

Opals, petrified wood, agate, and other valuable minerals are the result of solidifying out of hot ground water in and near the cooling magma / lava.

Knowing which rocks formed first and which formed at cooler temperatures, information easily looked up on the Internet or in a library, should make things a bit easier...

[micha3l87]

What do you think about royal peacock mine in nevada? Apprently there is a lot of vaulable opal there

[flagold]

I have looked in the Virgin Valley area last week, but didn't go to the mine. Along 140, on a belt either side for probably 50 miles, and 80-100 miles either side of Lakeview, Oregon, you can find opals and other gems as well (Sunstones). In the Virgin Valley you can keep 7 lbs of fire opals (the wife and I found 2 pounds of cuttable opal in an hours time so it's not that difficult to find on the open ground as well).

[micha3l87]

Hmm might be a nice trip for me going to az soon anyway. Here in alabama theres a creek close by where I can pick up garnets left and right but i've been told they are worthless by some and told by others they are valuable wish i had a vibro tumbler :(

[flagold]

It all depends on faceting, clarity, etc. Good luck on the trip!

[BillyJackets]

Thanks for taking your time to show this , I was always fascinated by Geology and wanted to mine and look for fossils etc. Now that I am older it still sounds fun and as you said , a part of the joy would be taking in the scenery and sounds and being in nature

[journeyquest1]

My grandparents were rock hounds. They cut and polished rocks, made jewelry ect. When they died i aquired much of their hard work. I very much appriciated this. But soon after it was taken by some crooked people. I want to continue their/my passion. Thanks for the help.

[geoatv]

chip n dales!! That's too funny!

[478490]

very interesting. I dreamed about this all the time. where do you find the places to go and how do you sell the opal?

[flagold]

Research and friends. There is a lot of books for the areas of interest on my website and many others. The Opal I cut into gems, so selling is not hard to do with that.

[johnvoe110273]

I watched the hog huntin'video showed it to my 9 year old daughter,we loved it keep em' comin... lol john a. voelker

[Biscuitcase]

WELL DONE! You are ahead of the curve; we are seeing an increase among snowbirds expanding from gold panning, dry washing, to gem & rarity prospecting in southern Arizona right now, the rush intensifies as the economy crashes. Raw materials for disabled veterans working together seems to be the most dedicated team structure with retired couples launching new businesses succeeding often despite otherwise unsupportive economics- Tucson's February Gem Shows reveal a new RUSH is on! Independence!

[johnnecron]

It might be nice up there but that thin air is taking its toll on you

[johnnecron]

I really miss ole Buzzard Massey and his nightly shows on the outdoor channel.

he used to give Bruce Babbot hell

[harryoutdoors]

Another great video! Keep these coming ...spurs me on to get out and get dirty...not dirty dancing!

The information you give in these clips are truly collector's items, better than classroom knowledge alone...when I get stir-crazy I pop onto youtube and go treasure & gem hunting with flagold!

Do you have to check in with the mounties when you're on Federal land looking for these?

Cheers

Harry

[flagold]

No Harry, it is casual collecting - if you took motorized equipment, then it becomes necessary to file a claim, plan of operation, etc. The way to do it is simply wait for the spring rains to do the work of motorized equipment and hunt by eyesight. Best of luck to you! MM

[flagold]

PS: this is actually the same film as I posted earlier, just in high quality as I realized youtube is no longer posting high quality from the DVD codec . . . Under "views" is the HQ button and I finally watched the film and realized without HQ they couldn't see the opals.

[harryoutdoors]

yep! the opals jump out better on this one..much better!

[radicaldan0]

...dancer for the ladies...lol! Another great video! I really enjoy your informative and humourous commentary. I have only recently become aware of this wonderful pastime/hobby/career. Thanks for taking the time to instruct newbies like myself. Peace. Dan Wilson Jr.