Historic Royal Purple Obsidian Mine and Camp
20 Acre Lode Claim Hoag Mining District
Modoc County, California
Contact Gold Rush Expeditions
Use code JRM1003 for a 10% discount.
www.goldrushexpeditions.com
Ph: 385-218-2138
Email: goldrush@goldrushexpeditions.com
Gold Rush Expeditions, Inc. is proud to present the Historic Royal Purple Obsidian Mining Claim for Sale. This is a 20 acre lode mining claim for sale exclusively through Gold Rush Expeditions, Inc. The closest town with services is Lakeview, Oregon. The claim has been properly staked and marked at all corners. All Gold Rush Expeditions, Inc. claims have been meticulously surveyed, mapped and researched. Field work is completed by our own experienced, well versed Mine Survey Team.
The mine is known for its specific strain of obsidian. Since the early 1960s it has produced rainbow and a particularly deep purple color, for which the mine was named. The obsidian is highly prized for its gem quality and color. The mine is quite old but has been intermittently worked through the 1970s. The surveyors reported more obsidian than you could load in a year. The mine is set in a deeply forested area. The obsidian from this deposit is well known and highly valuable for jewelry. This claim is easy to get to on 2WD roads in excellent condition.
History of the Mines
There is a good history of the deposit and the workings. From Desert Magazine, in 1972:
Over the years, one location, the Royal Purple Mine, has continued to produce top quality obsidian in various shades of purple, blue, green, gold and silver sheen and the coveted rainbow type. Mining began 14 years ago and, though tons of material have been removed, the tremendous deposits have barely been dented. It seems safe to say that future generations of rockhounds will also enjoy collecting and working this fine gem material.
The obsidian is obtained by the open-pit method of mining. A 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pound pick, a shovel and gloves are the tools required. The size of the specimens range from one-quarter pound up to 500 pound boulders. However, the average size runs two to eight pounds. A fee of $3.00 is charged and allows the collector 20 pounds of material. All over this weight is 15 cents a pound.
The Royal Purple Mine consists of eight claims and is owned by Ray and Sue Griffith of Quartzsite, Arizona. Jack and Marie Williams will be managing the mine during the 1972 season.
Fifteen years ago, obsidian hadnt as yet become a popular cutting material. The snowflake type (Utah) was being used but most of the obsidian available was black, smoky-clear or with layered and cloud patterns. Its use was limited.
The Griffiths were long-time and avid rock collectors when in 1957, on a vacation trip through Utah, they were shown a specimen of rainbow obsidian. The beauty of the material intrigued Ray and his efforts to learn more about it boiled down to it comes from Northern California.
As their vacation progressed, Ray kept inquiring about the obsidian wherever they stopped. It was in a most unlikely place, the California Inspection Station north of Alturas, that his inquiries at last bore fruit. He was told the material came from the Warner Mountains northeast of Davis Creek. Ray spent the next six days prospecting the area and located what was to become the Royal Purple Mine.
The spring of 1958 found the Griffiths busy developing their obsidian deposit. It was opened to collectors that year and when outstanding specimens began to appear in displays its popularity rapidly began to rise.
Asking Price: $25,000Contact: Gold Rush Expeditions
Use code JRM1003 for a 10% discount.
www.goldrushexpeditions.com
Ph: 385-218-2138
Email: goldrush@goldrushexpeditions.com
