The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-26
FINE oPALs IN IDAHO.
Stones Are Found In Large Quantities, and
There IL a High Fever On.

Stones Are Found IN Large Quantities, and
There IL a High Fever On.
Boston Herald
Opals are supposed by some folks to be
the crystalliZed and rOck-imDrisoned tnars
OF some unfortunate nympn whose
name has slipped from memory. Ii
that be the case. she must have done
considerable weepingout IN the region now
commonly known as Idaho. which. not con-
tent with having established q reputation
for rich mines of gold and silver. says the
Recorder has recently entered she market
of precious stones with q really flne output
of diamonds. and finally opsls. those ZACH
TymOse changeliDgs of prophecy.
This new industry has attracted quite q
crowd of prospectors TO the held. and.
though the fever has not yet attained the
height of that which carried 60 many
brave men to California in the late forties.
yet there is a considerable influx of cap
ltal. BRAINS Drawn and pluck. Inc
new Eldorado Is called "OpallDe," u
name applied to the entire gem bearing
region. Small camps scattered throughout
titles. such as CLEAN Hill" "Squaw Creek
Camp" etc. Nampa. on the Union Pacific
line. Is the nearest railway station, and
thence tie fields are reached by stage
Opaiine, which will probably soon be-
come a city. Ia on the foot hills of the Owy-
hes mountains. about twenty miles from
Silver City, Ida. Ali around are numerous
warm springs. the water of which Is so hot
as TO boil an egg. while In sharp contrast
there 10 an almost ice cold spring near there
that supplies the place with water. The
formation of the country In the vtcin-
lty where the 0pals are found indicates
that ct one period In it's history, fer beck
in some remote geologic age, it passed
through All ordeal of fire. Marks of the
Rrest heat are every w here on the rocks.
| and lava abOunds It's in those favored
spots whore the temperature was just
| right that the Opals are fonnd.
The first thing to attract the attention OF
| the visitor is tho number of what at nrst
| seem TO be large ash piles. but whloa on
closer examination are found TO be heaps
| of decomposed lava. In these piles are
| found fine Opal glass. ground up by some
| unknown force, and theee are sure signs
| that there are some opals near by. An
other sure sign 10 what Is called Opal
bloom" composite rock that powders
| easily. of a bluish green hue which dis
plays color and q slight degree of hea.
when touched to the tongue. Wherever
| this bloom Is found opals are not far of.
The Opals fOnnd 80 far vary in size from
| that of pea Go small acorn. and are
| worth all the way from a 10 SO TO the
karat; Several of them have been sold al
| $50. Quite number have been shipped
| to New York and have been examined by
| experts who pronounce rhem very valu.
able and genuine Opals beyond all doubt
| The opals are | found in the rock.
embedded thereal like raisins in the
| scattered around in the rock, and no,
in any particular way. nor IN accordance
with any plan. hut seemingly, AT hap
| hazard. They are obtained by blast
ing. Care must be exercised in putting il
| the blast lest. by using too much powder
| the opals be- shattered to pieces. Some
valuable stones have been lost in this way
The gems are enveloped In a
| rocky shell that must be
cut awav before the beauty of the
| stone is disclosed. So far only few mines
have been opened to any considerable
| depth. the miner being content to skim
| over the surface. They are beginning tl
| sink deeper with very satisfactory results
| The theory is that when they get down be-
| low the water mark of the district ths
gems will be Of greater purity, fire and
/ value