Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1893-05-26
rntion Of the visitors 10 the Aum-

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Der Of what frat seemed to bs large
ash piles, but which en- closer sx
animation ara found to bo heap,
Of dscom posed lava. In thsss
piles are fouad fine opal glass
grousd up by some unknows force
and these are sure signs that there
are opsls near by. Asothsr ssre
sign is what is called opal "tloo~,
a composite rock that powders
easily, ofa blush green hue, which
displays color and slight degree
of heat when touched to the tongue
Wherever this bloom is found
opals ara not far off This has
besn ths experience in Opslino.
The opRls found so far vary in
sizs from that Of pea to 9 email
acOrs, and are worth all the way
from s. to $40 to tho karat. Sever
al of them have bsen sold at $40.
Quite a mum bsr have bssn shipped
to Esw York sad have been exam
insd by experts. who pronounce
them very valuable aud genuine
opals beyond all doubt.
The opals are found in the rock,
imbeddsd there like raisins in this
depths of a hsge cake. They are
scattered srousd in the rock, not
ia any particular way, nor ia ac-
cordanes with any special plas,
bat seemingly at haphazard. They
are obtained by blasting. Care
must be exercised in putting in the
blast lest, by using tos much pow
der, the opal he shattered to places.
Some valuable stones have been
lost IN this way The gems are
snvsloped in rocky she'll that
must he cut away bsfsrs ths beauty
OF the stone can DO disclosed.
Tha an.irs district where opals
are mined is called in 8 general
way Opahas, though there are sew
sral distinct camps One that has
recently attained ssms nots be
cause of the discovery of som,
valuable gems is the Squaw Creek
Camp. 1t is just across the ridge
from Opaline, and is named from
creek that comes as a spriag from
the very hsart OF hill in the viein-
ity. Ths principal mine OF this
camp ls the Pansy, owned by John
Young, enc of Nsmps's prominent
citizens. Mr.. Young is a large
owner in several other claims in
ths camp.
While the writer and one OF TIE
miRsrs were taking stroll about
the Pansy the lattsr noticed soms
bloom which attracted his attea.ion
He sunk in his pick, drilled a hole
in the rock, fred a blast ahd feuad
one of the largest and most yslua
BILE opals that bad been discovered
IN the digsings. An illustration of
this opal wa. taken, and the origi
nal is aow On exhibition ia Boise
City.
50 far only a few minss have
bsen opened to any considerable
depth, the miners being content to
skim over the surface. They ale
beginning to slHk deeper, with very
satisfactory results. The theory
is that when they get dswn below
the water mark of the district the
gams will be OF greater purity, fire
and v4lus.
Capitalists sesm eager to invest
in gosd claims. Oniy few days
ago Chicago capitalist bought a
prospect for $4,000 in which not
aver a spade or pick had as 50
been struck. Hs vas sstistlsd
from the exhibition Of float and
other surface Indications that the
mine was a good one, and invested
accordingly. Othsr deals are be-
ing contaminated, though the par
ties are slow in making disclosures.
The outlook of this district is good,
and the opal mines bid fair ts add
much to the mineral wealth Of
Idaho