I like to think of myself as a treasure hunter. In my dreams.
In reality… unfortunately for me… I am about as far from a treasure hunter as one could be.
Back in the 1990s, I had heard people were finding opal in Vernon Parish, south of Toro and a bit northwest of Anacoco. Intrigued and tempted, I searched a bit in the area… a bit being about an hour or less. And with only limited knowledge of exactly where to search, I covered, say, 200 yards in my very cursory search. I thought it would be easy. Not hot, boring, tedious and extremely vague. Well, actually, it was not tedious, for I looked about the way I look for a lost this or that at my house… just glancing around.
And so, like my earlier quests for arrowheads and later for prehistoric shark teeth along the southeastern banks of Toledo Bend, I came up empty handed in my search for precious opal. Also, by the way, I never was able to find any gold bars believed to have been buried or hidden in our area by bandits in the 1800s. In all, I figure I’ve spent a good five hours of my life (seven or so if you add the drive time) searching for treasures of any sort whatsoever in our treasure-rich geographic area.
I concluded I probably would not know an opal if I found one. Nor would I know an arrowhead (I must have retrieved 30 or more things that looked like they could be arrowheads, but I was told by people supposedly more knowledgeable than me… who shall remain nameless due to their cruel buzz-kill thrills’ nature… that I was pretty far off from having actually found an arrowhead and had only collected a few “basic, pointy rocks”).
Furthermore, I’m pretty sure now that I would not have found a shark’s tooth if it was staring me straight in the eye (those things blend in perfectly with the sand, or so I thought).
I would, however, recognize gold bars if I saw them. I’m pretty sure. I think.
Basically, I am impatient and I become bored way too easily… and because of that, I have no opals, no sharks’ teeth, no arrow heads, and no gold bars to call my own. Nothing. Na da.
I’ve digressed a bit before getting to the juicy stuff… The following article was published in The Alexandria Town Talk newspaper in November 1990, written by Town Talk staff reporter Richard Ryman.
Oh, and by the way, just as a buzz kill in case any one wants to set out to go hunt for opal, I have heard that that would be a losing quest… that the land where the opal was discovered is private land (that cool theme park they speak of in this article never materialized, I guess) and is well guarded. I’m just clarifying this so that hopes don’t get unnecessarily elevated only to be cruelly dashed. As mine did once before… and twice and more.
Vernon opal mine could be tourism bonanza
ANACOCO — Deep in the hills of northwest Vernon Parish, at a place called Monks Hammock, four men and a puppy are mining what they say is this country’s best opal supply.
They are digging in a hillside along a creek bottom about a quarter of a mile from the end of a sandy road. Except for the barking of the puppy, the place is peaceful and pleasant, but it is also an economic and tourism bonanza in the making, says Keith Griffin.
Griffin, who leases about 50 acres from Boise Cascade Corp., named it the Hidden Fire Opal Mine. He plans on surrounding it with campgrounds and gem washes, turning it into a mecca for lapidary hobbyists, known to one another as rockhounds.
“There is no opal mine in the United States that can claim they dig up 100 percent cutable material. We can claim that,” he said, showing the site to state Rep. John Smith, D-Leesville, and a delegation from the Vernon Parish Tourism and Recreation Commission.
Griffin held up a penny-sized polished black opal which he said was appraised at $1,000 a carat. He said it weighed about three carats.
Australia is the only other known source of such quality material, he said. In addition to the black opal, Griffin has uncovered myriad other combinations, which he has been naming at his discre-tion.
“No one else has ever found anything like this,” he said, holding up a “Christmas” opal, “so we can call it what we want,”
Tales of mining in the area go back to early French explorations, said Martha Palmer, chairman of the Vernon Parish Tourism and Recreation Commission. She said French Catholic explorers reportedly found silver and lead in the area, and in the early part of the 20th century one man was sending “rainbow rock,” possibly opals, to New York jewelers, receiving $5 gold pieces in return.
Gary Moore mined some opal in the area in the late 1970s and 1980s before his source played out.
Griffin, who has operated emerald and other mines in North Carolina, said he was vacationing in the area, hunting fossils, when an acquaintance showed him the site. Griffin said he immediately knew he was on to something.
“The biggest question about this formation was how was it formed?” Griffin said. “If I don’t know how it was formed, I don’t know where to dig.”
He said some speculated the area was a prehistoric lake bed, but evidence indicates it is instead laced with prehistoric creek beds. It is in those former creek bottoms that he is finding his opal.
Much of his find is quartzite sandstone laced with flecks of blue, green, yellow and red fire opal. The most common is brown opal with green fire.
He said quartzite and opal is the hardest mixture of quality opal in the world. That is good, but he expects better.
“As we follow this back, we will get to the area where the water came out of the ground to form the creek. Then we will get into clay soil and should find the real precious opal,” he said.
Griffin said black rock laced with red fire is called black opal, and is the most valuable. He said rock laced with blue or green fire is called blue opal.
Four pockets have been found so far, each yielding “about a double-handful,” Griffin said.
He said he plans to open a full-service campsite with gem-wash in the spring.
“Arizona is known for its petrified wood, Arkansas for its diamonds and North Carolina for its emeralds. This will put Vernon Parish on the map,” he said.
Lapidary, the cutting, polishing and engraving of precious stones, is one of the largest hobbies in the world. Griffin said lapidary magazines are among the few that have more wanted-to-buy than for sale ads.
He said that by having control over most of the opal supply in the area, he will be able to make the project financially feasible.
“People have tried to market this material for years, but the problem was they had no control over supply,” he said.
Griffin, who lives in Lafayette, said he has been “into rocks and tourism my whole life.”
“The old adage of ‘Son, walk with your head up,’ is not for rockhounds,” he said.
My self and 3 friends spent many many weekends hunting for Louisiana Opal in the early 90s. It was some of the best years of my life. The excitement of not knowing what was in the next shovel full of dirt kept us going week after week year after year. We found lots and lots of interesting things from artifacts, fossils, crystals and yes even the ultimate prize Louisiana Opal. It’s sad that it was never developed. There is thousands of pounds left in the ground where the old mine was. I’ve always hoped the state or someone with the money would follow through with the development of it. It’s truly a remarkable natural resources.
My dad found quite a bit of the opal before the area was ‘closed’. I actually have a sterling silver belt, crafted by California artist Don Lucas, with 8 – 20×30 cabachons made from some of the most beautiful, fiery stone! I also took samples to China to have them ‘tested’. If you would like a piece (in the raw) feel free to contact me.
Teaching four grandkids about gem hunting. Would love to have samples. Thank you
Hi there, I am interested in finding some Vernon parish opal. Rough or polished. I’m a hobbyist jeweler and I would enjoy having some in my collection. I live in Lake Charles and haven’t had any luck finding a dealer. Thank you for your time, Jennifer 337-794-3813
HI Renita,
Interesting to find a recent article on Louisiana Opal. Most I’ve seen are decades old. Disappointing with such a beautiful stone. A bit difficult to work with but still fun. I’ve had a couple pieces to work over the years but haven’t seen much available in also many. Could you contact me with details of rough. My email is jim_kzoo at yahoo.
Thank you!
Jim
Would LOVE to have a piece of Louisiana Opal; much of my family is from Leesville, and my son’s birthstone is Opal. He is just 5 now, and is a rockhound in the making. Please let me know how I can obtain a piece.
Thank you!
Hi Renita,
I would love some Louisiana opal specimen samples if possible. Have no quarrels with paying for them too. Please let me know.
Thank you!
contact me i might have what u looking for i have a tote of rocks fron vernon opel mine and they have rocks ive never before maybe u can tell me what they r my number is 3376546376 my name is keith
I can get opal which is from the fire opal mine.
I would be very interested in getting some rough from that mine.
Hi. Still can get opal?
I’m very interested in some for my girlfriend. I call her my little fire opal, and she has absolutely fallen in love with Louisiana opal since she’s seen it. I would love to get something for her for Christmas
Do you still have pieces of raw stone?
If you still have some of the opal I would love some. Please let me know if you know of any other sources.
Thank you so much
I have 1810 carets in 5 peices. From leesvlle la I dug few years ago I want to sell
Is there anywhere in LA you can go and dig for opal still?
Call or text 6824725016
I am seriously interested
Do you still have any of the rocks you mentioned? I am always looking for opal, I am a vendor and do not have any new sources for it.
hello I would be interested in buying a sample of Louisiana opal for my collection if you have any please let me know thanks corky downer
Hello, I just found out about this and have been into collecting stones since I was a child. I’m native to Louisiana and would love to know how to attain a piece of our Louisiana opal please & Thankyou. 9858708443
I Would LOVE A piece in the raw!
I am reading an article regarding the Louisiana opal. If you still have raw pieces, I would love to have one. Please tell me more.
Thank you,
Janet
i was a native of the area and wish i had a sample to donate to my local nature and science museum
I am a vendor and have Louisiana Opal cabochons for sale. I will be at the (Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Society) show in August. Just check out our clubs facebook page for information. There will also be other vendors there. For ruff, it’s a little harder to get your hands on.
I am teaching kids and grandkids about gemstones. I would like to have some. How much are you asking?
Anywhere to go and search not on private land?
Yes but not in Vernon Parish .There is even a free campsite nearby.
Awesome. Do you know driving (and hiking dir?
Can you give me driving directions to the campsite? I am trying to put something together for my Gem and Mineral Society to have a Rockhound Roundup.
Hey Everyone, I see a lot of posts about wanting some Louisiana Opal.
I’ve got a medium sized tub of rough, and a half dozen cabochons I’ve polished up. I get my LA opal from a local jeweler who I cut and polish it for him, in exchange for some rough that I keep.
If interested let me know.
Tim
My Facebook page is O’Bryan’s Minerals
https://www.facebook.com/obryansminerals/
PLEASE CONTACT ME I AM INTERESTED
Heyyyy tim, yes, I would like some more.
Do you still have pieces of raw stone?
I am interested if there’s any left 😃. I’m just getting started with the Opal hobby, I am from South Louisiana .
“He said he plans to open a full-service campsite with gem-wash in the spring.”
Are they planing on opening the mine again? What’s going on now? I’m dying of boredom here & this would be right up my ally! What’s the word on this campsite & gem wash?!
I think you misread. The latter half of the page is a 1990 article about the site. It never got developed and is no longer a functioning mine. It’s been almost 30 years since the campsite was planned to open it seems.
Does anyone have any information of rareties of flash color or ways to grade Louisiana opal specifically? I’m searching and unable to locate anything aside from this article.
Hey guys I can actually get Louisiana fire opal. You guys just hit me up. My phone number is 337-207-9215
Joseph Scarce do you have a facebook page or other way to see your Opal?