DOMES

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="1ca00500dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Swordfish Mining:   Virgin Valley Opal</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Swordfish Mining: Virgin Valley Opal"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="black_precious_opal.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BLACK OPALS">BLACK OPALS</A>   |   <B>DOMES</B>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_precious_opal_mining_claims_from_the_miners_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CLAIMS">CLAIMS</A>   |   <A HREF="opal_from_nevada.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PRECIOUS OPAL">PRECIOUS OPAL</A>   |   <A HREF="what_we_do.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, JEWELRY">WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, & JEWELRY</A>   |   <A HREF="cut_stonestops_gemstones_cut_for_years__these_stones_have_all_been_displayed_in_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GEMSTONES">GEMSTONES</A>   |   <A HREF="opal_twigs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LIMB CASTS">LIMB CASTS</A>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_wood_replacements.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PINE CONES BARK">PINE CONES & BARK</A>   |   <A HREF="precious_opal_snake_head_cast.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE SNAKE HEAD">THE SNAKE HEAD</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GOODS">GOODS</A>   |   <A HREF="zincite_and_vulgarities.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MINERALS">MINERALS</A>   |   <A HREF="quartz_and_other_mineral_crystals_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CRYSTALS">CRYSTALS</A>   |   <A HREF="leah_and_john.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT US">ABOUT US</A>   |   <A HREF="picture_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SWORDFISH PICS">SWORDFISH PICS</A>   |   <A HREF="the_sheldon.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHARLES SHELDON NWR">CHARLES SHELDON NWR</A>   |   <A HREF="numbers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us">Contact Us</A>   |   <A HREF="map_to_virgin_valley_fee_digs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Location">Location</A>   |   <A HREF="qa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="QA">Q&A</A>   |   <A HREF="links_to_friendly_web_pages.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS">LINKS</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="045d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> Solid black crystal "core", These opals fill cavities or spaces in the clay layers.   <IMG SRC="16fca970.jpg" border=0 width="202" height="151" ALT="Black Rootbeer crystal back lit Virgin Valley Opal." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A  1 3/4"x3/4"x1/2" black crystal core with the full play of Virgin Valley color.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="17abd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="Rootbeer core 360 degree color Virgin Valley Opal. " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Looking back up the dome.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="17dbd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT=" Bluish Green plates of color with a prismatic effect." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The colors shift around like rolling bars or tubes of prismatic rainbows. $675 for this jelly specimen.</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> DOMES</div> <div>      Opal fresh from the ground. Unpolished natural pristine gemstones. These exceptional stones each deserve their own display dome. Wet specimens are raw opals freshly washed, but never dried. <IMG SRC="170bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Black Crystal Opal Specimen" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The surface wrinkles are not cracks penetrating the opal and they look waxy. </div> <div> Skin to skin play of color, a true rainbow multicolor. Measures 1 1/2 " x 1 1/2" x 1 " over an ounce. </div> <bR> <div> This opal is one of 4 pieces of a crystal branch that has a ghost, or white inclusion down the center. This has it's own broad flash winking play of color. It is Green multi color showing some harlequin from one angle.<IMG SRC="180bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT=" Barely root beer crystal virgin valley opal with ghost" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> These two remaining sections are priced at $800 each.</div> <bR> <div> There are many domes or parcels of smaller pieces in a wide variety.    <IMG SRC="184bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Nevada black opal rough parcel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sold</div> <div> <IMG SRC="187bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Nevada Black Fire Opal ROUGH PARCEL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A nice parcel of dense dark opal; similar pieces from this same opal have been cut into stable gemstones.  SOLD</div> <div> <IMG SRC="189bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Fossil opalized wood Truely "fossiliferous"" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="18bbc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Black opal in wood closeup detail" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fossiliferous opals from our digging on the Bonanza Mine.  2 pcs   $325</div> <bR> <div>      These next opals are light in body tone and come from any of the valley mines.  A well cast twig with inclusion (a root)  running from one end to the other. Along with an assortment of gem bright pieces representing the state gemstone well.   Bright contra Luz wet chunks with root casts start at $25.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="18dbc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Crystal twig with inclusion with assortment of virgin valley opals Nevada state opals" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="18fbc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Raw opals including gem bright material" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">$336</div> <bR> <div>       This next long (over 3") Specimen was mined at The Royal Peacock Opal Mine  fee dig.  Leah found this Black Precious Opal the same day the Travel Channel filmed "The Best Places in America to Find Cash and Treasure 1." We're in part 2 that aired in 2004. The segment with us shows her picking at the bank as the show starts. Our interviews were edited out along with every mention of Opaholism. I think the producers wanted to downplay the addictive and obsessive nature (like gold fever) of any sort of treasure hunters.</div> <bR> <div>       We went with Scott and Pat Ryals of Opal Negra as diggers for Harry and Joy Wilson (owners of The Royal Peacock) to try and make sure some nice opals were found for the film crew to see dug out. Pat still regrets ever putting the I just found a good one price on it of 50,000. It did not dry out to cut a gemstone worth that,  but you never know when you first find them. The opals seem to shrink each time you look at them they have such an impact. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="191bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Royal Peacock Mine Opal Specimen" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1aabc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Royal Peacock Mine Nevada State Gemstone Specimen." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  (Krol's)$840</div> <div>       Very bright opal on a off green base with some wood structure. The outside has been polished to display the extent of color play. The opal fills an undulating layer around the limbcast.  This came from the mines clay bank with the outside layer crazing off. Most opals that will craze usually start immediately. The core appears more solid so far. Some opals are just that way. The insides and the outsides are of different compositions of opal.  Wet specimens won't change when kept wet. Most will clean up brighter. A dental pick or Dremmel tool is usually used to follow the contours of the fire layers when carving baroques.</div> <bR> <div>        We don't always find something, but we usually do quite well.  But alas, we were edited out in favor of even nicer opals that were found by some folks from Washington on vacation. They also edited out most of Lenny Markey's (owner of The Opal Queen Mine) explanation of the local geology forming opals and the Opalholics as return visitors. </div> <bR> <div>      As a side note no one else has told you...When the Travel Channel was at the Bonanza (second show on Virgin Valley); My friend Steve mined out a nice black and showed it to us all through the TV.  Well, last week he asked me if I'd like to see it again. It looked better than Becky saw. It was DRY and looking real good. </div> <bR> <div>       This little twig could really make a wood collectors day. Great outside surface features reproduction with a gem bright center that faces out well.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="195bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Gemstonefossil; twig replacemnt. " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="197bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="Gemstone Fossil" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>      The Swordfish Mining dome display is always changing. I'll try to delete the old photos as items are bought.</div> <bR> <div>         STOLEN FROM OUR DISPLAY AT QUARTZSITE<IMG SRC="166bc4d0.jpg" border=0 width="444" height="333" ALT="OPAL STOLEN Don't they understand the effects of Karma? It's like not beleiveing in bullets." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Note: all text and photographs copyrights reserved by John Church.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Re-publication not for gain is permitted with proper URL credit given.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div>  <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2" src="http://www.altavista.com/help/free/inc_translate"></script> <noscript><a href="http://www.altavista.com/babelfish/tr"></noscript>  </div> <div>  <img align=bottom src="http://www.thebook.com/cgi-bin/thebook/Counter1/Count.cgi?ft=0|tr=0|prgb=0;255;0|md=7|dd=B|st=333332|sh=1|df=virginvalleyopal_3_own.dat">  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>