Description
These are very special pieces for us. Years ago, our friends Mike and Cheri took us to their opal claim on the Arizona, Mexico border. The drive was long, hot, and dusty. The final part of the drive off the gravel road was especially rough. Fortunately we went in their truck as our vehicle would have never made it. These few pieces were the ones that we were allowed to collect and keep for ourselves. We will likely never cut these due to their special sentimental value. We went to the back of the claim were they had recently used dynamite to break up the rock. Even then, it took several hours to get these few small pieces out. It gave us a new appreciation for all the work it takes to collect this beautiful, and rare opal.
“The Blue Opal” in Huachuca City, Arizona, was owned by our friends Mike Anderson and Cheri Saunders. Cheri told us she discovered the opal in 1969 when she found a beautiful blue stone in the Arizona desert north of the Mexico border while resting from the heat sitting under a tree. Initially, she didn’t recognize the stone as opal, but subsequent testing confirmed its composition. Following Mike and Cheri’s passing, and our relocation away from Arizona, we lost track of the shop’s fate. Nonetheless, we remain grateful for the opportunity to have known such remarkable individuals.
