Turquoise Field Trip to Tonapah, NV

Turquoise Mining Adventure

Dig for Turquoise in Tonopah Nevada

With Elley Knows Rocks and the Lake Havasu Gem and Mineral Society

Check out pictures from this epic adventure:

(a PDF of this info is below) 

You are welcome to come for all the mine digs, or whichever ones you choose. 

Please sign up for the mine digs you want to take so we can get a head count. 

*BRING CASH*

Cost – All 4 mine digs for $400 or $125 per mine dig, Children age 13 and under are free

Keep what you find.

NOTE: all mines are a short drive outside of the city, but all are very well worth it.

MEET UP

Each Morning we will meet at 7:30 AM at the below location for each mine Trip. And leave about 8 Am

The Otteson Mines:

April 18^th

MEET UP: Love’s Travel Stop, Parking Lot 1170 US-95, Tonopah, NV 89049

Broken Arrow Variscite Mine, or other Variscite Mine – 

Emerald Green Variscite, Blue Big Nugget Turquoise, all in the same mine.  Lots of areas of tailings to look through, along with some pit areas to dig in. 

April 19^th

MEET UP: Raley’s parking lot 1201 S Main St, Tonopah, NV 89049

Black Jack Mine – 

Polychrome turquoise in a black matrix. There are large boulders that can be chipped out with a chipper, and a hill with lots of nuggets.

April 20^th

                MEET UP: Love’s Travel Stop, Parking Lot 1170 US-95, Tonopah, NV 89049

Pilot Mountain Mine- 

About 50miles outside of town, Pilot Mountain turquoise forms in hard veins with color ranging from bright blue to dark blue with a greenish cast. The matrix is typically composed of dark brown limonite mottled patterns

April 21^st

                MEET UP: Love’s Travel Stop, Parking Lot 1170 US-95, Tonopah, NV 89049

Easter Blue Mine and Royston Mine – half day each: 

 Easter Blue Mine -Aqua Blue Ribbon, nuggets, Wall Mining, Pit mining along with plenty of surface picking This is at the top of a hill accessed by a very narrow and steep road. Royston Mine- Probably one of the most well-known of the Otteson mines, this mine has some of the highest-grade blue to green and two-toned blue-green turquoise with dark brown to gold colored matrix.  

  We will be invited over to Danny’s house one of the evenings to see the turquoise he has for sale in finished and unfinished cabs.

Gemfield:

April 22^nd

MEET UP: see link, copy and paste link in phone maps. OR you can google Gemfields NV outside of Goldfield NV

Gemfield is $1 per pound for all minerals.

This is one of the BEST Chalcedony claims in the World, according to their website!  Our club has collected here twice. You can find blue greens, to purply oranges, deep reds and blacks, along with white opal-like minerals.  Lots of patterns including banding, bulls’ eye, and spots.  There are 6 plus sites that you can easily drive to along the roads.  You pay at the end, by weighing your rocks at the picnic table, $1 per pound. This is the honor system, You can pay cash in the box or PayPal.

And possible trilobites over the hill.

Directions https://maps.app.goo.gl/qJeVgqCw69sBMCA36 here is a link to google maps from Raley’s to the meet up point. The turn off from the 95 to Gemfields. We will meet here at about 8:30 AM

This area is easy to find and about 3.5 miles off the highway. Go 23 miles from the Raley’s Grocery store to the Gemfield road, turn right, drive on the main road heading West about 3.5 miles stop when you see a tree with a sign and a picnic bench, from here you can grab a flyer about the area and head to the spot you want to dig first. 😊 see picture included

Bring

5 gal bucket for each mine as a minimum, spray bottle with water, rock pick, rock hammer, hand trowel, small power tools, safety glasses, work gloves, hat, water, snacks, sun block, sun umbrella, extra bags for rocks, and whatever will help you have a comfortable stay.

Other things to do on your own:

Goldfield

International Car Forest – Bring your spray paint and make your mark on this eclectic batch of brightly colored vehicles on the outskirts of Goldfield

Several shops to visit featuring antiques, rocks, bottles, jewelry, etc.

The Hidden Treasure Trading Company, 489 Belle Vue is only open on Saturday and Sunday, and features lots of local rocks. They have mining supplies and a saw for slabbing rocks, $1-$2 per slab.

Treasure Trading post  

Enigmata Jewelry and crystals

Goldfield Wild Inspirations – Samples of Gemfield rock for sale, mining equipment and lots of interesting things.  The owner of this store is also the owner of Gemfield.

Tonopah

 The Tonopah Mining Museum and Tour – Book a tour on the Polaris, which seats up to 5, and take an on and off ride and walk tour of the location.  The cost is $9 per person and a great tour with lots of information.  Site of one of the original silver mines.

Old Tonopah Cemetery – You can pick up a brochure and also read the headstones to learn about past and passed residents

Tonopah Brewing Company – House brewed beers and BBQ

Clown Motel – Creepy, but unique. Check out the lobby.

Many local shops

Food

Tonopah has one grocery store, Raleys, and several gas and convenience stores.

If you don’t mind the smoke, there are several restaurants located inside the 3 -4 casinos.

Where to Stay

Tonopah Hospitality & RV 775-482-1700 or TonopahRV@gmail.com. These are mobile homes, 2 bedrooms and a living room or 3 bedrooms with a full kitchen, pots, pans, plates, silverware, microwave, stove, refrigerator, coffee maker with pods available, bathroom, central air and heat. They may be booked for October, but there are 2 ea 2-bedroom units available on Airbnb.com for American Quality Suites. NO PETS in the hotel. Pets ok in the RV park. NOTE – This may be booked up by mining companies doing long term bookings

Nearest Hospital:

photo of map to gemfield