Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Nevada Denio Royal Peacock Black Fire Opal Mine

Royal Peacock Black Fire Opal Mine

Mine your own precious stones.

Denio, Nevada

Added By
Lew Blank
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Black Fire Opal from the Virgin Valley   James St. John / CC BY-SA 2.0
Digging for tailings   Courtesy of Royal Peacock
Bank Digging   Courtesy of Royal Peacock
  hannahstephensprofessional / Atlas Obscura User
  causeiwander / Atlas Obscura User
Opal jewelry from Royal Peacock   Courtesy of Royal Peacock
Walt Wilson and the Gingko Log, one of the largest opals ever found   Courtesy of Royal Peacock
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In a remote region of northwestern Nevada, 100 miles away from the nearest grocery store, there lies an isolated RV park and a sign proclaiming “MINE: Visitors Register At Office.” 

For those wanting to spend a day in the life of an opal prospector from the early 1900s, Royal Peacock Opal Mine in Nevada’s opal-rich desert landscape provides the tools, the guidance, and the vast opal reserves to make it happen. A site of gemstone discovery since 1912, the Royal Peacock Opal Mine is best known for the black fire opal, a dark stone flecked with vivid color that is the official gemstone of Nevada.

These brilliantly-hued opals can be mined by amateurs and experts alike from May 15th to October 15th of every year at Royal Peacock. For those willing to strain and sweat, bank digging is the optimal way to mine opal. While bank diggers have to swing picks and shovel heaps of dirt, the work is more likely to pay off with large gem returns. Those looking for a less backbreaking experience will likely opt for tailing digging, which involves raking through the upturned grounds with a keen eye. 

If you’re lucky enough to find an opal on your mining excursion, you can bring it home—finders keepers! Although some may go home empty-handed, some may strike it big. Royal Peacock has yielded black fire opals of over 130 pounds.

Related Tags

Geology Minerals Mines Gems And Jewels Wild West Prospectors

Community Contributors

Added By

lewblank

Edited By

hana, hannahstephensprofessional, causeiwander

  • hana
  • hannahstephensprofessional
  • causeiwander

Published

February 20, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://royalpeacock.com/fee-digging
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzDOQgyY8BI
  • http://www.latimes.com/travel/california/la-tr-d-nevada-escape-20140727-story.html
  • http://travelnevada.com/discover/26225/royal-peacock-mining-company
Royal Peacock Black Fire Opal Mine
10 Virgin Valley Rd
Denio, Nevada, 89404
United States
41.786053, -119.100232
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Gerlach, Nevada

miles away

Thousand Creek Gorge

Winnemucca, Nevada

miles away

Blue Lake

Denio, Nevada

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Denio

Denio

Nevada

Places 2

Nearby Places

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Gerlach, Nevada

miles away

Thousand Creek Gorge

Winnemucca, Nevada

miles away

Blue Lake

Denio, Nevada

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Denio

Denio

Nevada

Places 2

Related Places

  • The Coleman Mine is part of the region’s extensive “quartz belt,” a 30-40-mile wide and 170-mile-long band of quartz found in the Ouachita Mountains.

    Jessieville, Arkansas

    Coleman Mine

    Crystal hunters can dig for their own stones at this DIY mine in Arkansas’ quartz belt.

  • One of the many kinds of gemstones you’ll find at Gemfield, a wonderland for rockhounders within Nevada’s Esmeralda County.

    Goldfield, Nevada

    Gemfield

    One of the best places to dig—some say on the planet—for six different types of chalcedony.

  • Ruggles Mine

    Grafton, New Hampshire

    Ruggles Mine

    Generations of rockhounds got their start at this beloved, historic mine.

  • Pine Creek Mine, seen from the Pine Creek trail. The prominent drainage behind the mine is Morgan Creek, which was the access to the upper workings.

    Scheelite, California

    Pine Creek Tungsten Mine

    For decades, the largest tungsten producer in the U.S. was located in a spectacular setting in the high Sierra Nevada, with some of the workings over 11,000 feet.

  • Malartic, Québec

    Malartic Mine

    The largest open-pit gold mine in Canada.

  • Remains of old Mill demolished years ago

    Twisp, Washington

    Alder Mine

    Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc were once extracted at this abandoned mine near Lookout Mountain.

  • Pulpí Geode

    Pulpí, Spain

    Geoda de Pulpí (Pulpí Geode)

    Peek into a cave of giant, glimmering crystals.

  • The lake.

    San Bernardino County, California

    Searles Lake

    This sun-scorched lakebed contains samples of half the natural elements known to humankind.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.