Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-21
LEMHI OPAL MINES.
Valuable Property in Idaho Owned by
Utah Parties,

Inc mere mention of an opal harrows
up the lurking shadows Of superstition
winch has been connected with this
peculiar gem since It's ancient discov-
cry in Hungary Until the recent dis.
covery OF opal rock In Lemhi county,
Idaho, few, II any Of these jewels have
ever been found within the boundaries
or the United States. Idaho is noted
Tor sensational discoveries of precious
minerals, and is always prepared to
accept new and big things as a matter
or course II Is probable that no ex-
ploration Of this vast and undeveloped
state has won from nature more
valuable reward than the great opal
beds OF Lemhi county.
Robert n. Bell, inspector Of mines for
the state of Idaho, gives the follow
ing account OF the discovery of the
gems;
THE Lemhi County opals occur in
belt Of light gray trachyte lava, which
Is quite contrast to the dark basic
lava matriX Of other deposits found
an important point In their favor from
the fact that the most precious opals
IN the world have been mined from
dykes OF igneous rock of the trachyte
variety IN the ancient mines of Hun
gary IN Southern Europe,
Inc history VI we Lemnl deposit II
quite interesting, The gems were first
discovered 20 years ago at a point on
Panther Creek In Prairie Basin, about
six miles above Forney Post Office. The
original dlscoverer was the late John
Ramey veteran pioneer miner OF
Central Idaho, after whom Ramey
Creek and Ramey Ridge In the Thun-
der Mountain country were named.
MIR. Ramey, while making short
cut from the Yellow Jacket trail on
Panther Creek diggings to silver Creek
noticed a large boulder Of gray Lava
sticking out of the steep side hill, and
In the boulder was a steak or veinlet
OF opal gem stone a foot long and u
OF an Inch thick, together with num-
erous spots and splotches of the gem
material scattered promiscuousy
through the boulder, Mr., Ramey de-
scribed his find as A blaze Of sunset
hues. caught up and transilxed by
what he took for narrow band OF
Ice running down the face of the boul-
der Investigation soon showed his
mistake. and that the ice was as hard
as glass or transparent quartz that
still retained n most beautiful play Of
oolors when broken. He did not know
what II was, but felt sure that sub.
stance Of such beauty must have some
value, 80 he broke lot Of choice pieces
Of gem stone of the boulder, and took
them to q Brilliant student OF natural
phenomena, then running a mine at
Custer city, who pronounced the stones
volcanic glass, and Of no value unless
they We're found In large quantities,
and near glass works, That was
nearly 20 years ago.
In 1896 while making a trip TO the
True Blue Group of mines nj Singister
owned by Senator Shoup, had TO pass
by Mr., Ramey's cabin on silver Creek
and was courteously invited to stay
over night. While discussing the pile
OF ore specimens and lloat rock lying
on the ground at the corner of the ca
bin | noticed n piece OF common blue
opal, and called Mr.. Ramey's atten-
tion to IT, az the same time inqurng
where Il came from, and II there was
not other varieties displaying different
colors. lie then recited his experience
as given above, and said that | was
the first man that had attached any i'm
portance to the find, and that he would
send his ron with mo, and show me
where an how the gem stone occur
red. " proved that the finest opals
TO be found were In the original ira
chyte boulder discovered by Mr.. RAJ
mey. other boulders were found
scattered along the steep slopes OF
Panther Creek containing the gems but
we were unable to find the ledge, or
dyke, from which they were derived
owing to the fact that the surface OF
the country was covered with deep
accumulation Of glacial boulders and
debris
I'm breaking up the first boulder we
took out 30 carats weight OF the gems,
and had them cut In Denver, and they
produced some very beautiful sets;
some OF the choice ones, together with
pieces OF matriX We're sent 10 Mr.. Geo.
+. Kuntz, the great gem expert form
erly of Tiffany, New York, and his de-
tailed classification OF the gems was
subsequently published by him In the
sixteenth Annual Report OF the United
States Geological Survey. Mr.. Kuntz
stones ms being OF excel
lent quality, contained In matrix OF
trachyte, and equal 10 some OF the
best stones found. worth from Sc TO
$40 per carat When cut and polished
they are semi-traneparent, with
splendid display of rich red, green and
violet fire, forming such bright shiny
blend and ever varying array Of soft.
lustrous oolors as only noble opal
can"
Mr., w, l.. Cook, and Judge Thomas