Treasure Hunting - serious fun; serious money

Cash to treasures mine searches

The south-central area of Oregon is arid and is comprised of volcanic lava sediment. Within the lava flow is a medium in which the colored sunstones are found. Within this formation, one of the most valued ancient stones, a labradorite, or better known as the sunstone can be found. It is calcium rich. The copper inclusions give it unique colors. The premier United States gem-quality feldspar and most valuable stone is the red labradorite and can only be found in the United States in Oregon. The Shiller stones, the lesser of the pricy gems, have tiny copper inside them. The most common color is straw-yellow. Sunstone can also be found in peach, pink, green, blue-green and a mixture of colors.

Oregon sunstones were declared a legal gemstone by the federal government in the 1970’s. Oregon has adopted the sunstone as the official state gemstone. Many collectors and minors come to Oregon in search of their treasure in a prized sunstone where the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has established a free, public collecting area.

Sunstones have an uncommon composition. Their clarity and colors are brightly colored transparent gems. They are dug from the soil and the underlying lava flows.

One mine that anyone can visit free of charge is in Plush, Oregon. It is called the Spectrum Mine. You get to keep whatever you find. One young couple on their first dig found a sunstone that was valued at $8,000.00. The Plush, Oregon, sunstone mines are near Hart Mountain. It is located about fifty miles N.E. of Lakeview, Oregon and twenty miles north of Plush, Oregon.

Spectrum Sunstone Mine is a twenty acre privately owned mine. It is free to the public from May 15th through October 15^th. You get to keep whatever you find.

The largest redstone found thus far is valued at $10,000.00. Finding good stone is about the layers, the pay layers. Five and one half million dollars worth of gems have already been pulled from the mines. So bring your tools:

Tap Hammer – (caution, do not hit the stone head on)

Bucket

shovels

Pick axes

Screens to sift – (a wood frame table to sift on is helpful)

So come ready to dig. Be sure to bring a tent and other camping equipment for the full experience. If you are visiting in the summer months, be certain to bring plenty to drink, sunscreen and perhaps an awning to give you some shade while you dig. You are certain to see a great many jackrabbits and have a great time while maybe finding a treasure.

 Speaking about treasures. Isn't there a little part of each one of us that would love to spend our time hunting for a buried treasure. Watch the following video to learn of a well known treasure hunter who is spending his time in Utah doing just that.