[Rockhounds] Virgin Valley Nevada Collecting

[Clyde Phillips]

Hi Dean, Thanks for the info. I will be paying attention to all the details
anyone gives us. I have seen some very expensive rates for some places to
collect in the walls.  Do you feel this is worth it?  I have to look at this
as possibly the only time I will make it, as the distance is long and I am
not retired.  We plan to be there over the Memorial weekend for a couple
days. I am mapping out other places in Nevada also, but probably not too
deep into the wilderness mostly because of lack of experience in desert
areas. I have a four-wheel drive vehicle (renting) and plenty of GPS
gadgets, but am flying in from PA, which limits the tool selection I bring.
The hammer you referred to, is that a geologist-type hammer or a small crack
hammer?

Thanks

Clyde

-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Dean Welder
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 5:11 PM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Virgin Valley Nevada Collecting

Hi Clyde,

My family has visited Virgin Valley a couple of times. Sometimes with
good luck and other times with only a tiny bit of luck. We have mostly
visited the Rainbow Ridge mine (http://www.nevadaopal.com/) and
ocassionally the Royal Peacock (http://www.royalpeacock.com/) mine.
Each mine has different aspects that can be viewed as pluses or
minuses. A couple of samples of material we have collected can be seen
at (http://www.peregrine-rocks.com/rocksmin/vvopal.shtml).

We are planning another visit this spring, early June. We like to camp
in the CCC camp. We are typically walkers and explorers rather than
hard-rock-mining type collectors, which is why we have mostly visited
Rainbow ridge and either done (tractor) buckets or tailings diggings. 

I suggest bringing a long handled garden rake or a "treasure scoop" for
tailings digging. Also a rock hammer to break up "mud balls" that can
actually be surrounding nice pieces. One of my wife's nicest black opal
pieces is about the size of 1/2 a baseball - it started out as a
very-large-grapegruit size that was totally crusted with mud. Also, a
resealable container (heavy duty zip lock bags, plastic peanut butter
jars, or ?) to place your finds into with damp paper towels for a
slow-dry.

Good luck! When are you going?

Dean


--- Clyde Phillips <getclyde at verizon.net> wrote:

> Hi All,   I'm planning an excursion to Nevada (Reno) and would
> appreciate
> any tips, tales, or successful collection stories about either the
> Virgin
> Valley area or the route to it from Reno. I'm not going there for a
> few
> months yet, but am planning ahead.
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks in advance..
> 
>  
> 
> Clyde
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
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