Gems, garnet, and the famous star garnet can be found of high quality and quantity in the Emerald Creek area. Some rubies have been found in Valley County as well. The rich and complicated geologic history of the area is dominated by the Idaho Batholith a massive igneous intrusion that originated with the rise of the Rocky Mountains. Go to the Dismal Swamp 9, which is miles northwest of Rocky Bar. The Gem County, as its name implies, is abundant in gemstones. Read more. Many opal deposits are located on the south side of Opal Mountain, but some are covered under patented or unpatented mining claims. We invite you to come find your one of a kind. Nevada is the capital of opals in the U.S., and some of the specimens unearthed here are the finest worldwide. However, Nevada is the leading American supplier for opals. Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine (Nevada) Spencer Opal Mine (Idaho) In places like Idaho, you'll find such great Opals as fire, banded, hyalite, and opalized wood. With a bit of research you will have no trouble finding an area to explore. In northeastern Oregon, you can find nodules filled with opals at Buttes, just southeast of Heppner. Its a little place called Spencer, and its home to one of the single most productive opal mines in the United States. This article will dive deeper into the many great rockhounding sites across the state (along with maps), but Id like to highlight a few standouts here. If you head to Setters, you can find common opal specimens that range in color from yellow to brown in the area gravels and surfaces. The famous horse fossil beds near Hagerman, in Gooding, are also abundant in opalized wood, especially in the Clover Creek area. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the United States produces around $90,000 in opal per year. Draws (re-entrant) and washes are also among the best places to find opal specimens. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Its not something you really have to search for. For those following along, however, please note that Idaho doesnt contain any of the more exotic variations of feldspar like moonstone or labradorite. amzn_assoc_linkid = "359c52455222df77f17e51ef07be3bf7"; Here, you can search for it just a few miles southeast of Highway 95 at the Idaho-Oregon state line in the Coal Mine Basin. Opals arent found in all states of the U.S. Value for Common Quartz Varieties. The United States may never contend with Australia for opal production, but as you can see, rare and novelty opal varieties exist from sea to shining sea. Petrified wood is present to some degree across most of North America. The Spencer Opal Mine is probably the most famous. They occur in veins that are around 3 feet / 1 meter in length. For those who need a place to start, the following areas are all highly regarded: Those areas are known to host their own unique varieties, but there are plenty more just waiting to be found on unclaimed land in the state. TIP:Idaho is full of beautiful rocks, crystals, and minerals. Beryl is a hard gemstone, ranging from 7.5 to 8.0 on the Mohs scale. Specifically, almandine garnet is considered the best abrasive for the majority of waterjet cutting where its used to create clean cuts in a variety of materials.