CHARLES SHELDON NWR
The Charles Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is the home of Virgin Valley Opal. The discovery was before 1905. Black Precious Opal is the Nevada State Gemstone. The Nevada State Semi-precious Gemstone is Turquoise which is mined elsewhere. The Nevada State Rock is Sandstone represented here by the named variety "Owyhee Pink" from our Heart of Virgin Valley Claims over the Quarry here.
Virgin Valley was the location a CCC camp in the 1930's and was the first park declared in Humboldt Co. The Charles Sheldon Wildlife Refuge was created from the Charles Sheldon Antelope Range. The opal mining district and the ranches were grandfathered into the new management units retaining their existing rights to live, ranch, and mine.
In June 2003 a new shower house roof was installed by volunteers.
Leah & John lend a hand up on the 45 degree slope of the shower house roof. We're experienced at clinging to the side of slippery slopes over bad falls.
Most everyone who mines opal in the Virgin Valley, along with lots of other folks who love the area, are members and supporters of our local Friends of the Refuge group. They keep the shower house in good repair, installed the fire pits and picnic benches working hand in hand with the Fish & Wildlife Refuge Management.
The camp has been renovated with new pit toilets. The water is tested regularly for purity and is, in our opinion, some of the finest water on earth.
New trees have been planted and only a couple run over to camp on. The old CCC camp pond may have a Black Bass or two in it now where it used to have just swarms of tropical fish, but someone had to go and put several fish in the bathing pond. It sure feels good after fighting the dirt to wrest gems from the earths iron like grasp. Well, maybe all the kids playing splash a bunch can keep you awake on your toes. Can you go underwater from one side to the other?
Friends of the Refuge (F.O.R.) is a great bunch of local people and visitors; miners, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, birders, archeologists, and rock hounds. Please help us conserve our recreational opportunities on our public lands by being conscientious caretakers and feel welcome to join the Friends of the Refuge. Remember to say "Stanley" as you jump in. (A pet pig in a bar story.)
The Sheldon is managed under Fish and Wildlife Regulations NOT BLM. The weight limit for all rock collected per day, INCLUDING PETRIFIED WOOD, on the Wildlife Refuge is 7 lbs. The private fee dig mines are on deeded ground, or are valid claims that have no limit for the mine owners personal production from their workings. The Opalized wood is the mine run gem rough that we mine here. The mines are dug by hand after removing the overburden from the pay layer. They mines may look deserted but you can bet they're probably not abandoned legally. The new law does not require working the land yearly to retain the title. Precious opal is very rare and expensive and no mine owners appreciate "uninvited guests" trespassing to harm their livelihood.
The information kiosks by the road and campground have a map of the refuge with all the current regulations. If you want put a claim in or read up on it before you do; The State of Nevada approves an inexpensive booklet detailing what you need to know before claiming and who to call for the rest. They are for sale from the Mackey School of Mining at University Nevada Reno for around $18 or the BLM for 8$. There is a copy in every county recorders office in the state. The Fish & Wildlife rangers and wardens are helpful, but you have to know the laws yourself. It is not their job to teach you mining law, and the mine owners are usually good neighbors, but teaching you is not their job either. My job is selling the tour/seminar and opal claims besides just opals.
Bring a map to know where you are as there aren't maps or many signs here. Or the most despised; the back country road signs shot up, defaced, or removed by villains who could care less if you got lost and died or had to backtrack hundreds of miles for shelter. If you ever see these vandals please for all our sakes report their descriptions to federal rangers here or the BLM.
Of the approximately 425,000 acres in the Refuge only the mining district is open to claiming and can't just be freely rock hounded. Elsewhere off the mining district valid claims (less than 45,000 acres in the middle) the public can roam free and collect. A lot of the old off main road driveways to the historic digs outback in the refuge have been closed due for wilderness designations. You can still walk in and get your legally allowed 7 lbs. People who thought they could have a truck load have lost it all in exchange for a citation. It's also $250 a ticket for just driving off the road unless it is your own claim. Our claims aren't your ATV tear it up park either and we will report you. No off road ATV in NWR.
The flora and fauna were rather diverse over the millennium these beds were being laid. The animal species are not well represented by skeletons in the opal beds. Occasionally a tooth or bone fragment is found. I haven't heard of an intact insect fossil in situ yet. The Charles Sheldon Wildlife Refuge has handouts at the kiosk on the various watchable wildlife that lives here.
The hill by Oregon Canyon.
For more good information on the geology and history of the Virgin Valley Mining District don't forget to check the links we have provided for the other area web pages for the mines: Rainbow Ridge, Opal Queen, and Royal Peacock.
CHINESE DISCOVERY ?
Black Precious Opal was described by Chinese Explorer Zheng He in early 1400s on an exploratory trip from Mexico north into what is now America during a period from 1406 to 1407 with thousands of sailors and diplomats with all support personnel in an awesome feat.
An adventure map of the treasure voyages is on 1421 web site map page This will take you away. The National Geographic July 2005 has a nice article on the early treasure voyages recently. There was not a smoking gun fact the chinese were here.
The first "recorded" expedition to America describing opals was by the Chinese Admiral Zheng He. These voyages were in the century before Columbus. Unfortunately most of the records were ordered destroyed later. Maybe fortunately for our culture.
The royal Chinese expedition came down the west coast of America on one of his exploratory voyages. They influenced the native peoples and left artifacts of their passing. They strangers from the sea are loosely documented in the native American oral history. Other evidence is over 170 pages now.
Land parties surveyed the country they had found and described precious black opals from the lands north of the Joshua trees. Today the trees end around Tonopah, NV.
BBC NEWS Science-Nature Experts hope to emulate Chinese Columbus.html
Is a review of the new book by Mr. Gavin Menzies "1421: The Year The Chinese Discovered The World"
The Zheng He association data: http://www.1421.tv/pages/evidence/results.asp
D Tormsen has an alternate view of history told here:
Zheng He's Eastern Voyage http://dtormsen.alternatehistory.com/ZHEastVoyage.htm
Please don't mind this vase. It is posted to here for possible identification.
If you have information on this mark or urn please let me know where it was manufactured and by who and hopefully when. An opal reward awaits the definitive / documented reply.
Mystery Mark. Can you help us?
Its about 8" tall
Not smooth glaze transitions.This vase has made every marks book reader we know scratch their heads. My received guesses are "trade pot" and not listed in any of our books. Possible French counterfeit of a chinese original or just made up. All help appreciated.
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