How to Make a Living Digging for Black Opals in Nevada

Digging for black opals in Nevada promises excitement and just possibly the chance to make a living. Nevada is full of valuable opals. Black or fire opals are exceptionally beautiful and get the highest prices. If nothing else, time spent hunting for buried jewels means adventure and fun.

• 1

  Locate opal hot spots. Most of the places where the chances of finding a black opal are high have already been found and you just need to plan your trip. You must pay to dig in the main opal mines, but there are also opal rich areas where you can dig for free. If you are very fortunate, you might discover enough black opals to recover your costs and make a profit.

• 2

  Assemble the necessary supplies. You need suitable clothes for days spent in the hot sun and the appropriate tools. Don't forget sunscreen and plenty of water. You will also need an off-road vehicle and usually a tent. Since the opportunities to get supplies are few and far between in this part of the country, you should remember to take a supply of basic food.

• 3

  Discover your opals. The more experienced you become, the better you'll get at spotting gems in the sand. If you really have no idea what to look for, then book yourself an introductory course first. Then, you need to rake over large areas of ground, looking for the glint of a gemstone. If you are going to be investigating mountain banks, you will need that pick.

• 4

  Preserve your opals. They need to go straight into a bucket of water since opals have a high water content and allowing them to dry out quickly will ruin them. When you get home, you can let them dry out slowly, but opals should always be kept in a relatively humid environment.

• 5

  Get your opals valued by an expert. Black opals are the most valuable opal, but individual stones vary in value according to size, color, and quality.

• 6

  Sell your opals. You will make more profit if you get your opals cut first rather than selling the uncut stones. It is possible to do this yourself to reduce costs, but does require special equipment and practice. Then, you can sell them in a variety of ways including online, in auctions, and through gemstone specialists.