LIMB CASTS

<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="1d200500dvldtc.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>   |   <A HREF="cut_stones__tops_gemstones_cut_for_years__these_stones_have_all_been_displayed_i.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GEMSTONES">GEMSTONES</A>   |   <A HREF="what_we_do.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, JEWELRY">WIRE WRAPS, BEADS, & JEWELRY</A>   |   <A HREF="opal_from_nevada.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PRECIOUS OPAL">PRECIOUS OPAL</A>   |   <B>LIMB CASTS</B>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_wood_replacements.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PINE CONES BARK">PINE CONES & BARK</A>   |   <A HREF="virgin_valley_precious_opal_mining_claims_from_the_miners_for_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CLAIMS">CLAIMS</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="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="leah_and_john.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT ME">ABOUT ME</A>   |   <A HREF="numbers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ADDRESS">ADDRESS</A>   |   <A HREF="map_to_virgin_valley_fee_digs.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DIRECTIONS">DIRECTIONS</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> 14 to 16 million year old fossilized Miocene forests resemble the John Day & Rattlesnake Formations. </div> <div> Swordfish Mining untreated Wood and precious opal slabs in stock.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0dcbd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="raw slabs for cutting, unpolished slices with a water saw never oil." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  large and varied assortment.  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0d9bd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="142" ALT="Precious opal limb casts" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> LIMB CASTS</div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >Some twigs will totally replace just the wood. This may or not be solid opal. This limb is solid opal but has the wood structure remaining. Nice outside twig cast solid precious opal. Opal may be any color and pattern within the casts. Many museums have specimens in their collections as these have such a attractive wood look to the gemstones. It is not surprising most Virgin Valley opal is kept as prized specimens and never cut.</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0ba09dc0.png" border=0 width="265" height="220" ALT="Opal limb cast to be sold to Harris when found" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >$350 Bonanza Mine tops limb cast specimen in skin to skin precious opal.</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="15240f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Blue green limbcast from my claim" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >$180 opal on matrix limb cast from my mine, fracture sealed to be a clean case specimen.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >This branch has bright color in big flashes on one face. Usually the color layer crosses at an angle and doesn't face up the widest exposure, but this one did. Nice flat pattern of blues and greens with a little red. Treated.  On display in the Winnemucca Convention Center.  This is a must stop for mineral folks. We're a mining county and the display is some of the best mineral specimens mined locally and provided by the mine owners  themselves. The BLM has ore from every mine and specimens from all the surrounding mountains deposits.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>      Potch and color limb casts make stunning case specimens. Limb casts are one of our most popular display items. Most need facing and preparation to try and determine species. Sold as pound pours or picks from a flat at a gem shows. Our total production of any kind of harder (not splintery soft) opal limb casts is only a box or two a year. These are really nice opal limb replacements. Very uncommon in the retail stores. Most retail wood is just rounded off without all the bark and structures intact.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="23d40f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="1/2 Conk Peacock Limb. Opal usually breaks through the best color." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1/2 conk gem Peacock limb, similar material is one to ten a gram by parcel when available.</div> <bR> <div>      Not all limbs have precious opal centers like this next gem slab. A better rough slab of this outstanding quality conk limb, full color top to bottom, front and back is available.  This particular bead was stolen at Snyder's POW WOW Valley Springs, CA in May 2004. If you see it, call me.</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="0bb25dc0.jpg" border=0 width="293" height="220" ALT="Conk Twig bead stolen in California along with my matching necklace bead. Thieves suck." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Conk bead, back has clay over part of opal, Looked like a fetus for $2,000- STOLEN, if you see it being worn - it was shoplifted from my booth. <IMG SRC="2acecf10.jpg" border=0 width="1004" height="753" ALT="A super bright lil green twig" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> Little green and red limb cast treated cabinet specimen has a Youtube video on my Whatatimewaster channel. $150</div> <bR> <div> SWORDFISH MINING OFFERS  WILLOW AND LARCH LIMB CASTS:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="13540f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Swordfish Willow or Larch branches some have fine fire, but not the majority" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >A Hard Opal coated Opalized wood limb cast. All surface features preserved and distinct growth rings with many twig attachments. Claim has been sold and is being mined for gemstones not specimens. SOLD</FONT></div> <bR> <div>       Extra fine cast with a branch preserved coming off the bottom knot. No precious color in these that can be seen superficially on the surface. None are broken to just see if they are precious by us( most don"'t). Some limbs show flashes of multi-color precious opal. This choice common one is $20 retail and is big for the twigs. Dark brown/black and cream wood centers showing the rings with glowing light blue opal coverings and cavity fillings. Some are made with precious opal through the wood or a multi-color grain fire (pinfire flash) replacement. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="14b40f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Opal Willow and Larch Branches" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Choice Common Opal covered limbcast's. Some have small precious areas. Fee digging by tour arrangements only here.</div> <bR> <div>      Small twigs (over 1/4" x 1") with one end polished to show the perfect preservation of the growth rings cost $2 dollars each or 50 for $75 plus S&H.  One of the claims that they came from has been sold. They were wet to show the dark wood covered by blue and crystal opal. When treated with a sealer they will appear wet even when dry. Sold dry by the piece or by the pound. I've cut several gemstones out of these. </div> <bR> <div>      Common unsearched twig and limb casts and branch rounds cost $5 LB.  These are commercial gem dig by product quality twigs from the Bonanza, Rainbow Ridge, Royal Peacock, Opal Queen and Swordfish fee digs and private claims about the valley. Small branches mix of common woods with emphasis on shape not hardness. Better specimen casts of wood and opal like those shown are $15 a pound.  These are Willow and Larch limb casts. Hundreds of the tiny opal & selenite twigs would go into a pound and not many pounds have been produced so far. So, the size selection is mixed with no just small pieces pounds.  Display pieces with lichen are available. Swordfish Mining's selected medium and large woods that are harder and the agatey woods go for $2 LB or $5 a pound for collectors rounds and too cute pieces. Common wood tailings are .25 a pound.  There might be the occasional precious opal pieces contained in these tailings but I sure don't expect it.</div> <bR> <div>      Petrified (Opalized) wood tailings (and some associated minerals such as gypsum veins and masses) go for $.5 a pound or by the beer box (about 20 LBS not picked) or $3 LB for complete rounds, barks, and knots. Drums of common opal tailings wood are available. Shipping is not included in these low prices and can be arranged for if you can't pick it up.</div> <bR> <div>      Shipping and handling will be the minimum stated but it depends on the nature of your order and will be added to the price of your order. Oak Harbor and Reddaway trucking work out of local cities for large weights.</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.</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_8_own.dat">  </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>