Finding Gold - Part 7

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Source:	YouTube
Added:	4 years ago
Tags:	opal, gold, prospecting
Categories:	Library
Description:	Tracing opals to their source location. Opals occur most commonly around basalt deposits, though they can be a mineralized gel replacement for wood (petrified wood is one process, opal is another). To look for opal: go to the basalt (lava) areas (use a USGS mineral map), then look for depressions (old springs) or flat areas on hillsides where you see the ground pictured in the film. Opals have a specific gravity lighter than sand so pieces (float opal) will come to the surface. Start looking for pieces (the tops will be sun-baked white). If you are finding obsidian (volcanic glass) walk up to a lower temp. mineralization and look for opal. Opal can be black opal, white opal, red (fire) opal, clear opal, or solid opal, and precious opal can be found right along with common opal. Precious opal can (in some cases) be found with ultraviolet light. Some opal can be up to 20% water, and be subject to cracking and crazing if not dried over a period of years. What I personally like a
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