The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-13
WASHINGTON A

How They We're Discovered by n Small
Boy in II Waste Heap.
Near the eastern boundary OF Washing
ton state and only four or five miles from
Moscow, Idaho, a5e the Hall and Rainey
onal mines, Where Il small stream divides
the hills which slope down gradually to the
narrow valley these two opal-bearing prop
critics were long ago located no III ane
time patented by farmers who little Thought
that at only a few feet from the surface
were hidden away in the innumeraoie cells
Of the lava rock which underllss ell that
country, gems of great value, which womb
enrich the possessot 10 OF the soil to an extent
never even thought OF by those early plo-
neers. In digging wells CONSIDERABLE PIE
water below the lava formation. and
the rock 80 blasted was piled about the
old wells, On one place a small Eov
picked up one of the blasted pieces, and
taking it to Moscow sold 1t to a Jeweler for
= paltry sum. The jeweler, suspeoting the
nature of the beautiful little gems which
were embedded in this mstri., sent the rock
to experts in San Francisco. and they
soon determined the nature of the stones.
Repairine to the locality these San Fran
Disco experts soon learned where these gems
came from, and found several others IN the
rock pile near the old we'll. They at once
DIOC8Su0u ~ oS0sV "A
pared to open it up, but were soon shown
that the title of the farmer was perfected
by patent, and so lost all. Had they acted
honestly and purchased the farm or bought
an interest they might have been enriched
with its owner.
hillside adjoining another SO acres. nearly
all Of which lay in the bottom. 1t was
readily seen that this so acres, together
with $50 acres adjoining and lying on three
sides of it, was the best situated for future
operations, and being prospected proved
exceedingly valuable.
George F. Kuntz, expert in precious
stones, speaking of the Washington opal.
saws: During the year., near Whalen.
southwest of Colfax, WASH, between the
Coeur d'Alene and Nez Perce Indian reser-
walton, almost on the Washington and
Idaho line. a brilliant fire opal and noble
opal were found in the form of grains about
the size of a pea. filing the cavities in an
amygdaloid basalt rock. The quality of il
is good and this may be a promis-
ing locality. Some of il ia very tine, TIT
value depending on the quantity found. 1
occurred more or loss plentiful, as the las
four feet of rock contained cavities fllet
with precious opals. This opal occurs in
basalt in which most, if not all. of tn
feldspar and pyroxene, as we'll as the greer
mass, appears to be altered" Since Nil
Kunz's investigation further investigation
exceeded all calculation anu MS stateEeht
are very much below actual results. which
az has been shown, is but the beginning c
the work, and the new ground added MAJ
indeed promises. to be even richer than tina
already prospected.
There is a wide difference between th
Washington and Oregon opals. The Wash
ington opal varies in size from n very min
ute stone to half an inch or more in diam
eter, is almost or quite round, and whel
loosened from it's lava matrix is only thin
ly coated by an earthly covering which i
quite easily removed, requiring no expen
sive machinery to put it into marketnbl
shape. These mines produce the real Sire
or precious opal and sell at the highes
market prices.
The Oregon opals are found under til
lava in the volcanic ash, incased IN an ez
tremely hard she'll, which cannot be broke
without SCATTERING the opal inside. Ties
opals range in size from very small, marble
like balls to those of irregular proportion
nearly a foot through; ranging in valu
from the unmarketable variety to the mos
precious gem. Both of these deposits ar
of recent discovery and are of the hiRhe:
value of any in the United States.