In southern Arizona are the Sky Opal mines in Santa Cruz County. Here, beautiful soft blue opals surface. Another popular mine is Burro Creek, a mineral-producing region in Wickenburg known to produce rockhound collectibles and American opals.
Where can I dig for opal in Arizona?
- Jay R claim, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, USA.
- State Route 75 opal locality, Duncan, Greenlee County, Arizona, USA.
- State Route 75 opal locality, Duncan, Greenlee County, Arizona, USA.
- Opal-AN, etc. Cochise Mining District, Little Dragoon Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, USA.
Where is the opal in Arizona?
Yavapai county
The Arizona Opal is a copper, gold, and silver mine located in Yavapai county, Arizona at an elevation of 5,801 feet.
Where is opal most likely to be found?
Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world’s precious opal and it is our official national gemstone. (see Google Arts and Culture – Australian opals).
What gemstones can be found in AZ?
Arizona Gems. The best known gems found in Arizona are turquoise, garnet, peridot, chrysocolla, azyr-malachite, malachite, agate, chalcedony, amethystine quartz, diamond (meteoric) dioptose and topaz.
Can diamonds be found in Arizona?
Diamond: The only diamonds found in Arizona are meteoric, and occur in meteoric iron found at Canyon Diablo, near Coon mountain, in the northern part of the state. The crystals are very small, and have no commercial value.
What is blue fire opal?
“Blue Fire Opal”
A popular (but unofficial) way to describe a blue opal crystal with a play of color like fire opal (except ranging from purple to green), is “Blue Fire Opal.” While there may or may not be splashes of red or other warm hues present, it is easy to see how the name blue-fire applies to this type of opal.
Where can you dig for opal?
It’s clear that Nevada is the best place to find opal in the US, thanks to the world-famous Virgin Valley opal, a remote, fruitful mining district supplying some of the world’s finest black opals.
Nevada
- Royal Peacock opal mine.
- Virgin Opal Bonanza mine.
- Rainbow Ridge opal mine.
Where is fire opal found?
ORIGINS. Fire opal is mined in the Mexican states of Queretaro, Hidalgo, Guerrero, Michoacan, Julisio, Chihuahua and San Luis Potosi. The most significant deposits were discovered in Queretaro in 1835, and are still producing today. Small quantities of this gem can also be found in Oregon and British Columbia.
Where is black opal found?
Australia
Black opals are exceptionally rare in that they are known to form in only one place: Australia. In fact, most of the opals found on the continent are from the town of Lightning Ridge.
What rock is opal found in?
Much matrix opal is found in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, limestone, chert, or ironstone. In these rocks precious opal has precipitated within the interstitial spaces between sedimentary particles.
What is the rarest opal color?
Black opal
Black opal is the most rare and highly valued form of opal, and has what is called a black (or dark) body tone. Black opals come in every colour of the rainbow. Their dark body tone makes the colours on the face of the opal appear rich and intense.
How much is an opal worth?
Once categorized, opals are sold in price per carat, or weight. Because there are so many opal fields in Australia, there really is no singular form of opal. This means that opal costs can vary from about $10 per carat to approximately $6,000 per carat.
Are there rubies in Arizona?
Arizona Ruby
These garnets have been given the nickname “Arizona Rubies” because of their deeply saturated color. Even the small size of these gems doesn’t take away the gorgeous hue.
Where can I go gem hunting in Arizona?
The best places to collect rocks in Arizona include the areas around Phoenix and Tucson, as well as smaller towns such as Cave Creek, Clifton, Morristown, and Kingman. These locations offer a diverse array of rock and mineral specimens such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise, and copper.
Where can I find rare gems in Arizona?
Below you’ll find some of the best places in Arizona to find the gems, stones, rocks, and minerals you are looking for:
- Burro Creek BLM Land in Wickenburg, Arizona.
- Santa Cruz County outside of Nogales, Arizona.
- Arizona Amethyst Mines in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
- Petrified Forest National Park in Northeast Arizona.
Where are emeralds found in Arizona?
Emerald Cave is a natural phenomenon that occurs on the Colorado River border between Nevada and Arizona, on the Arizona side. The Emerald Cave sits on the mouth of the Emerald Cove on the Black Canyon portion of the winding 12-mile stretch.
Is there jade in Arizona?
Arizona Gemstones
Agate, amethyst, garnet, jade, jasper, obsidian, onyx, and opal have all been found in Arizona and used to make gems.
What is an Arizona diamond rock?
‘Arizona Diamond’ Quartz Crystals A special gem quality form of doubly terminated quartz crystals found only in the hills east of Payson Arizona, the smaller ones closely resembling natural diamonds.
Why did my opal turn orange?
Hydrophane opals have the ability to absorb water or liquids, similar to a sponge, resulting in a change of color that may turn the opal translucent yellow or brown and the play-of-color to disappear temporarily. Don’t panic though! The color will return once the opal is fully and naturally air-dried.
What is Mexican opal?
Mexican Opal. Opal was known to the Aztecs by the name Vitzitziltecpa, which means hummingbird stone, due to its similarity to the bright iridescent colours of the bird’s plumage. The original mining locations were lost during the Spanish conquest.