| Opals have been considered a magical precious | | | | when they need to relax after an invigorating day |
| stone for thousands of years. It is said to help | | | | searching. They are allowed to camp in certain |
| the wearer's psychic powers and to have better | | | | places in Bonanza Opal Mines. There are also |
| and more vivid dreams. Modern Witches and | | | | shower facilities and a naturally heated pond. |
| Pagans especially look for black opals, said to | | | | Camping and use of the showers is included in |
| enhance any magic spell. But not are opals rich in | | | | your daily fee. |
| myth and magic, they are also really nice to look | | | | If you like the thrill of the hunt and the beauty of |
| at. In many ways, they are similar to pearls, but | | | | the shifting colors of opals, you may be |
| not nearly so expensive. | | | | interested to know that sometimes opportunities |
| Although you can buy opals from jewelers, | | | | come where you can be a Bonanza Opal Mine |
| geological shows and "nature" stores and their | | | | shareholder. When you become one of only 100 |
| website equivalents, it's far more fun and magical | | | | shareholders, then you are allowed to dig in the |
| to find the opal yourself. This is one of the many | | | | "bank" - the places thought to be richest in opals. |
| reasons why opal treasure hunting is becoming a | | | | If you are interesting in a share, you need to |
| popular activity, especially in Nevada and Oregon, | | | | contact Bonanza Opal Mines by email or phone. |
| where Bonanza Opal Mines and the Juniper Ridge | | | | Juniper Ridge Fire Opal Mine is another mine that |
| Fire Opal Mines are. | | | | allows the general public to search for opals on a |
| Finders Keepers | | | | fee bases. The digging fee is $200 per person per |
| Bonanza Opal Mines have "finders' keepers" days | | | | day which gives you the right to dig for opals at |
| where the general public is allowed to come in, | | | | the mine area and you are allowed to fill a one |
| pay a daily fee of less than $50 and keep any | | | | gallon bucket with raw gemstones. The mine |
| and all opals that they find. You are not allowed to | | | | operators at the Juniper Ridge Fire Opal Mine |
| dig just anywhere in the mines, however. Some | | | | believe that any reasonably health and active adult |
| areas are reserved only for shareholders. But | | | | should be able to fill a one gallon bucked within a |
| hunting for opals is still good in all of the other | | | | single day. If you have more than one gallon |
| places of the mines. | | | | bucket worth of material you can pay an |
| Depending on where you choose to hunt for opal, | | | | additional fee or simply keep only the highest |
| the tools you should bring include Small Hand | | | | grade of opals to take home. |
| Rake, Shovel, Pick Axe, Hammer, Bucket, Gloves | | | | Before booking your opal treasure hunting trip, be |
| and Knee pads. You can use the hard rock mining | | | | sure to contact your local treasure hunting club to |
| technique which entails use of a pick axe, shovels, | | | | find information on what tools to bring. You can |
| and a hammer or your could just rake through | | | | find out the contact information of your local club |
| the tailing which are bulldozed piles of material | | | | through the Federation of Metal Detectors and |
| removed from the mining area. Many of these | | | | Archeologist Clubs, Inc. Often, your local Wal-Mart |
| mines are in extraordinarily remote areas so be | | | | will have a display table or pamphlets from your |
| prepared to camp and bring all necessary food, | | | | local treasure hunting club available. Sometimes, |
| water and mining supplies. | | | | there even will be club members manning the |
| Modern day opal treasure hunters don't need to | | | | table so you can ask questions about opal |
| travel a huge distance to and from the mines | | | | treasure hunting. |