Wyoming Opal Placer Gold Mine Cedar Rim Mining Claim Creek Panning Sluice Gems

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Wyoming Opal Mine
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ANDAMOOK OPAL MINE
20 Acre Unpatented Placer Mining Claim
on Federal Land Fremont County Wyoming
This 20 acre placer claim is located in the precious opal fields up in Cedar Mountain mining district. Opal is rare and when found occurred as secondary vein deposits mixed in common opal.
Opal (SiO2.nH2O) in general is a precious to semi-precious stone classified as an amorphous mineraloid with 6 to 10% water. A mineraloid is a mineral-like substance that does not yield an exact chemical formula; and like volcanic glass, shows no sign of crystallinity. Opal has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 & is fragile to relatively durable semi-precious gemstone. In general, the higher the water content, the less stable the opal.
Three general categories of opal include: (1) common, (2) fire, & (3) precious. Precious opal is the most valuable. Precious black opal is considered to be the most valuable of the precious opals by gemologists because of an internal color play enhanced against the dark matrix. Precious white opal is considered to be less valuable as the internal color play is less distinctive against the white opaline matrix. Even so, this preference is based on taste.
Fire opal, which may or may not have color play, can be translucent to transparent red, orange-red, orange and/or yellow. If transparent to translucent, fire opal may be faceted: Opaque to translucent fire opal is usually cut into cabochons. Translucent to opaque milky white common opal may contain streaks of blue, red, brown, or yellow, & is also cut into cabochons. Hyalite, a colorless to transparent opal found as globules that resemble drops of water, is most often cut into cabochons. All varieties have been observed at Cedar Rim either as massive material or in trace amounts. Cedar Rim is extensive, covering hundreds of acres of land, thus the potential for significant discoveries of high-quality precious opal is high, especially since little surface and no subsurface exploration has occurred.
The Cedar Rim deposit in Wyoming consists of vast amounts of white to light-blue opaque common opal, with lesser amounts of translucent to opaque yellow, yellow-orange to orange fire opal & some clear, transparent hayalite. In that all varieties of opal have been identified in the deposit & much of the field remains unexplored, the potential for discovery of valuable seams of opal must be considered. Large amounts of agate were also identified including the source beds of the popular Sweetwater dendritic agate. In places opal beds are a few feet to >50 feet thick. Since there has been no subsurface exploration, the true thickness remains unknown.
Cedar Rim occurs along Cedar Rim Draw near the NW margin of Beaver Rim. Beaver Rim is a topographic ridge that marks the northwestern edge of the Granite Mountains uplift. The nearest towns are Riverton (25 miles to the northwest), Lander further west, and Jeffrey City to the southeast.
History of Opal in the Area:
Prior to 1975, only jade and a few agates were known in Wyoming. But within a few decades, Wyoming became the gem capital of North America with the most diverse collection of documented gems of any state in the US. A collection that includes agate, jasper; common opal, fire opal, precious opal, onyx, gold nuggets, pyrope garnet, spessartine garnet, chrome diopside, enstatite, kyanite, iolite, ruby, sapphire, peridot, diamond, specularite, apatite, minyulite, amethyst, aquamarine, jade, almandine, chalcedony, silicified banded iron formation, jasperoid, labradorite, grunerite, amber, chrysocolla, heliodor, varisite, specularite & others.
Wyoming is filled with diamonds, gemstones, gold, platinum, coal, oil, gas, rare earths, platinum, palladium and copper. It has the ‘GEMSTONE STATE’.
Over the next few years, more than 40 diamond pipes and dikes were discovered – half in Wyoming and half in Colorado. Several properties were mined for diamonds including George Creek, Sloan, and Kelsey Lake. Over 130,000 diamonds were mined including gemstones larger than 28 carats. A 6.5 carat diamond was found in Wyoming and diamonds of 14 and 28 carats were mined from Colorado.
In 1981, Wyoming was unknown for gold even though all of the surrounding states had considerable gold. Gold had been discovered in Wyoming in 1842, but nothing much was ever done. Significant gold was found in the Seminoe Mountains in 1981 by a geologist from Laramie named Dan Hausel. The Rawlins Times reported a gold rush filled all of the motels in Rawlins, Saratoga, Sinclair and even Laramie with people wanting a piece of the pie. It was Timberline Minerals from Dubois who tied up the property. The company president, John Wells indicated they drilled the discovery site at Bradley Peak and picked up samples of quartz and iron formation with visible gold.
(View of some of the Active Unpatented claims on the way to the claim)
On the way to the mining area you will see the U.S. Geological Survey Bench Mark
Buyer will receive the following with their completed transaction:
Quitclaim deed conveying full unencumbered ownership of the claim. This will be stamped, recorded and verified with the County and the BLM offices.
Welcome packet with all of the rules and regulations as they relate to the State and BLM where the claim is located.
Educational documents to annually renew your mining claim with the BLM.
A CD of all of the documented images of the claim including maps of the site.
Map of claim marked and GPS coordinates.
Multiple maps showing claim location and surrounding areas for access.
***
Samples were pulled from our last visit and are a permanent part of our display in our conference room.
(Below are the microscoped pictures of samples)
Come to Hike, Camp, Ride and Shoot - or come to pull some shiny rock$ out of the ground;-)
ABOUT THE MINING DISTRICT
Fremont County was created in 1884. It is the historical home of the Wind River Indian Reservation, home of the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes of Native Americans. It included Park, Big Horn, and Hot Springs counties until 1890 when they split. It was named for General John Charles Fremont, who was a surveyor and explorer searching for a route to the Pacific Ocean in 1842. His group of 20 men were guided by Kit Carson and Enos, a Shoshone Indian.
South Pass, a break in the continental divide, is also located in Fremont County. Indians had been using the pass for centuries before Robert Stuart and his group were the first whites to cross the pass October 12, 1812. The first horse drawn wagons to cross the pass were led by Captain Benjamin Bonneville in 1832. Gold was discovered here in 1842. The big boom came in 1867 when the Carissa mine (Named for Clarissa Whitney who is thought to be the first white child born in Wyoming), Miner Delight, and Burr mines were discovered, producing millions of dollars in gold. Over 5,000 people came to the area during this time to search for gold.
Fremont County produces more than half of the uranium in Wyoming, which is second in the United States in uranium production. Jade also found in Fremont County which is the Wyoming State gem stone.
Gold was discovered about 25 miles south of Lander in 1842, but mining did not begin seriously until at least the early part of 1870. There are many placers, but lode gold has been the most important. Some authorities credit the area with about 90,000 ounces of gold. It is an area where local inquiry could be very important in finding gold.
CLIMATE
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Fremont County, Wyoming, gets 9 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 42 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 47.
On average, there are 235 sunny days per year in Fremont County, Wyoming. The July high is around 85 degrees. The January low is 10. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 66 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.
TEMPERATURE –
Because of its elevation, Wyoming has a relatively cool climate. Above the 6,000 feet level the temperature rarely exceeds 100° F. The warmest parts of the State are the lower portions of portions of the Big Horn Basin, the lower elevations of the central and northeast portions, and along the east border. The highest recorded temperature was 114° F on July 12, 1900, at Basin in the Big Horn Basin.
The average maximum temperature at Basin in July is 92° F. For most of the State, mean maximum temperatures in July range between 85 and 95° F. With increasing elevation, average values drop rapidly. A few places in the mountains at about the 9,000 foot level have average maximums in July close to 70° F. Summer nights are almost invariably cool, even though daytime readings may be quite high at times. For most places away from the mountains, the mean minimum temperature in July ranges from 50 to 60 ° F.  Of course, the mountains and high valleys are much cooler with average lows in the middle of the summer in the 30s and 40s with occasional drops below freezing.
In the wintertime it is characteristic to have rapid and frequent changes between mild and cold spells. Usually there are less than 10 cold waves during a winter, and frequently less than half that number for most of the State. The majority of cold waves move southward on the east side of the Divide. Sometimes only the northeast part of the State is affected by the cold air as it slides eastward over the plains. Many of the cold waves are not accompanied by enough snow to cause severe conditions. In January, the coldest month generally, man minimum temperatures range mostly from 5 to 10° F. In the western valleys mean values go down to about 5° below zero. The record low for the State is -66° F observed February 9, 1933, at Yellowstone Park. During warm spells in the winter, nighttime temperatures frequently remain above freezing. Chinooks, warm downslope winds, are common along the eastern slopes.
ACCESS
The main route coming out of Lander, and headed towards the claim is US-287 S. This road is a highway and is a pretty easy drive. It is mostly dry is most spots on the way to the claim. There can be strong winds at certain times of the year, so just make sure you check it out before getting on the road. Easy two wheel drive all the way to the claim.
The next main road that will take you all the way to the claim, is the Sand Draw Rd. (WY-135 N) Sand Draw Rd is paved, so it is another easy road to access the claim. Once you reach your destination you can either walk over to the claim, or ride an ATV over, from the road. There are no rough parts of the road to worry about, but in order to reach the claim from the road, there is a bit of rough terrain and hills.
Walking distance from the paved road is only 0.76 miles; so either a four wheel drive vehicle or even an ATV. The mine is situated on the side of small hill, so if you want to park your vehicle next to it, there is a flat surface at the top of the mine, where you can keep your equipment and vehicles.
Nearby Cities:
:
Arapahoe –  23.62 miles
Riverton –  24.12 miles
Camping/RV Parks
:
Sleeping Bear RV Park & Camp – 29.17 miles
Holiday Lodge, Motel & Campground – 29.64 miles
Lander City Park – 30.08 miles
Sinks Canyon Campground – 34.10 miles
Bruce Campground – 35.19 miles
Bear Basin Adventures – 41.63 miles
Nearest Airports
:
Riverton  Regional Airport – 28.78 miles
Hunt Field – 29.59 miles
(Here is a pic of a nearby unpatented ACTIVE claim that you pass by on the way in)
OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST:
•Sightseeing - spectacular views of the surrounding Wyoming landscape are easy to find.
•Hunting - outstanding deer and elk hunting.
•Rock Hounding - jade and agate are found in surrounding areas.
•Wild horses - can be seen in and around the area year-round.
•Fishing - brook trout fishing in the east fork of Cottonwood Creek at Cottonwood Campground.
•Mountain Biking - ride the Green Mountain loop road with a side trip to Wild Horse Point. Begin at U.S. Highway 287 and ride the entire loop road-approximately 31 miles. A trip to Wild Horse Point is eight miles one-way from Cottonwood Campground.
•Fremont County Picnic Area - located on the west loop of Green Mountain Road.
Mining claims are a tangible asset just like any other Real property (real estate) and show a lifetime proof of all interests in minerals in the area specified by the above claim. Once you own this claim and the associated mineral rights, you will own them for life as long as you keep up with the annual fees. This claim can be bought, sold, leased or used as collateral, just like any other piece of real estate.
A mining claim can be willed or passed down to future generations as part of a trust or your estate, or you can trade it, lease it out for a period or time (or indefinitely), gift it to a family member or friend and you can also transfer or sell just an interest in it in part or in its entirety just like any other real property using a quitclaim deed which is a recordable conveyance. In other words, you could sell a 25% or a 50% share in it if you wanted in order to bring on a partner in the future - or you could sell the entire claim in whole.
This Buy It Now is for full/all interest in this 20 acre placer mining claim (unless the acreage indicated in the above mine description is different). This claim covers the entire site, (unless the claim description above describes different measurements), and includes full rights to all minerals, gems and just about whatever else you may find of value on the property (except oil and gas, which are handled separately). You will receive a notarized quitclaim deed to the full claim and all associated documentation showing full ownership of the claim. We pay ALL fees associated with transferring this claim into your name - legal fees, title transfer fees, document fees, notary costs, recording fees and even shipping fees, so all you will pay is the final price of the auction, not a penny more.
In order to hold on to your claim for life, you will need to pay an annual maintenance fee to the Government (BLM, not us) every year.  Currently the maintenance fee is 5 per year per claim that you own, and it is due on September 1st of every year.
NOTE that if you own fewer than 10 claims nationwide, we can assist you in filing the paperwork to waive the maintenance fee every year. That means you will only pay per year for your maintenance fee instead of 5.  We guarantee that all past fees have been paid in full and there are no outstanding debts or amounts owed on the claim prior to the transfer of ownership into your name.
The federal government retains ownership of the land - so this means that you will not have any annual real estate taxes due on your mining claim, and you will not have to maintain liability insurance in case someone gets injured on your claim due to no fault of your own.
How do Transfers of Ownership in Mining Claims work if I decide to sell my claim in the future?
First, we handle all the paperwork and costs associated with transferring this claim into your name should you win this auction. But if you decide to sell this claim at some point in the future, interest in a properly recorded mining claim or site may be transferred (i.e sold) in part or its entirety. A quitclaim deed or recordable conveyance document is required and if you do sell your claim someday and the transfer documents should be filed within 60 days after the transfer.
We can and will help you with the paperwork for no cost should you need a hand selling your claim in the future if you pay all of the County, State and Federal fees (usually less than to ).
But again - with regard to transferring this claim initially into your name, we take care of all the paperwork at our expense. You do not have to worry about anything. we handle the BLM transfer documentation and the county recording.
Can you build / camp on your claim?
Without an approved plan of operations, you have the same rights and restrictions as the public. If the area is open to camping to the public, then it is permissible. However, you need to check with the BLM Field Office or the local District Ranger for areas open to camping. Under Federal law in order to occupy the public lands under the mining laws for more than 14 calendar days in any 90 day period, a claimant must be involved in certain activities that (a) are reasonably incident; (b) constitute substantially regular work; (c) are reasonably calculated to lead to the extraction and beneficiation of minerals; (d) involve observable on-the-ground activity that can be verified; and (e) use appropriate equipment that is presently operable, subject to the need for reasonable assembly, maintenance, repair or fabrication of replacement parts. All five of these requirements must be met for occupancy to be permissible.
Although it is possible to build a permanent structure on a mining claim, it is extremely expensive and you will have to jump through way too many hoops to consider it easy to do. It would have to be in support of a commercial, year-round mining operation for starters, and you would need to post a large reclamation bond to insure that if you ever abandoned your claim, the bond would pay for the removal of the structure and the reclamation or the area. So in short, it is technically possible to build on your mining claim, but just be aware that it is very difficult and expensive to do - however, camping is almost always involved unless your claim is in a wilderness area, which is not very common at all.
In addition to handling all of the paperwork to transfer this claim into your name, as well as paying all of the fees, we also pay all of the costs associated with mailing the paperwork to you as well as to the County and Federal Government for recording and sending you back certified copies.
We will ship you a folder with all paperwork, claim coordinates, maps and information on your claim, including a CD-Rom with all of the pictures of your claim upon your payment in full clearing.  We ship everything to you the same business day (if payment is received by 1:00 PM Pacific Standard Time) - and we will always provide you with the tracking information so you are always informed.
You initial claim packet that we mail has an unrecorded deed so that you can show ownership immediately after payment and be able to visit your claim. A second original deed goes to the County for recording the same day, and a third original deed goes to the BLM for certification as well.  Both of those originals will be returned to you so you will wind up with several original deeds - but the County and BLM deeds can take 3 to 6 weeks to be returned to you, which is why we send you the initial original on day one.
Your payment of this eBay Buy It now item in full gives you 100% ownership of this entire claim, with no other fees and/or other costs for the transfer of ownership required. This is NOT for the down payment, this is NOT a partnership arrangement where someone else will own part of the claim with you, and there are NO other fees or costs for the transfer of this claim in your name.
eBay does not allow checkout on the eBay website for any Real Estate transactions - simply because it is not like selling a widget - the transfer of real estate is complicated and requires notary work, licensed professionals and recording. Note that this is eBay’s rules and not ours and it is the same for any mining claim seller on eBay
We also are not able to accept PayPal payments for mining claims, as claims are real estate and PayPal does not allow payments to be made on any real estate items, including single family homes, condos, mining claim or land purchases. We DO accept just about every other kind of payment method you can think of: Personal Checks, Business Checks, Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, Bank Wires, ACH payments, Direct Bank Deposit at any Bank of America Branch, Gold or Silver Bullion (at the day’s SPOT prices), etc. After the auction close, we will send you a secure link to handle the payment safely online if you prefer, and we can also take care of payment by mail or telephone, as we are a traditional Brick and Mortar business - so whichever method you prefer is perfectly fine with us.
We provide financing plans with no interest or fees. Financing terms are minimum of 0 down with the balance will due within 90-days via three equal monthly payments of the remaining balance after the down payment has been paid.
With all financing plans, we do not transfer the final deed into your name until the claim has been paid in full. In the event of a default on a payment plan, we do not refund your down payment - however, we do allow you to put that down payment towards any other purchase as a store credit in full. If you are financing a climate and there is less than 90 days until September 1st (i.e. from June 1st through September 1st), when the annual fee for mining claims is due to the Federal Government, we will add the 5 maintenance fee to your down payment and pay it to the BLM on your behalf thereby increasing your down payment to 5 instead of 0 - however, the 5 portion of the down payment does not go towards your principle balance since it is used to pay the annual fees to the government, therefore the actual down payment credit will still be 0. Approval for financing is automatic as long as you have a valid eBay account in good standing.