🪨 Opals
Precious opals with brilliant play-of-color. Nevada's Virgin Valley produces spectacular fire opals worth thousands.
Best Places to Find Opals
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine
Virgin Valley, Nevada · Fee Dig
Known for spectacular fire opals worth up to $50,000. Serious digging requires tools and buckets. Season runs May through September.
Bonanza Opal Mine
Denio, Nevada · Fee Dig
Excellent fire opal hunting destination. Seasonal operation welcoming visitors May through September in optimal weather conditions for the region.
Spencer Opal Mine
Spencer, Idaho · Fee Dig
The only opal mine in the US open for public digging. Dig through volcanic rhyolite to find fire opals with brilliant red, orange, and green play-of-c...
Black Rock Desert
Gerlach, Nevada · BLM Land
Vast BLM desert known for agate, jasper, thundereggs, and opal deposits. Remote area requiring 4WD and serious preparation.
Royal Peacock Opal Mine
Denio, Nevada · Fee Dig
Well-known Virgin Valley opal mine producing precious fire opals. One of several opal mines in the area open to public digging.
Opal Basin
Wikieup, Arizona · BLM Land
BLM area known for beautiful agate, chalcedony, and common opal. Good beginner-friendly rockhounding in the Arizona desert.
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
Tucson, Arizona · Event
The world's largest gem and mineral show. Every February. Hundreds of dealers, exhibits, and events across the city.