Where to Find Black Opal in the United States
3 mapped black opal spots across 1 U.S. states. Black Opal is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Learn about black opal: properties & identification →Map showing where to find black opal across the United States, with 3 mapped spots
Top states for black opal
States ranked by number of black opal spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused black opal-in-state list.
Every black opal spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfire Opal MineSagebrush Creek Road | Humboldt County |
| 41.8148, -119.0080 | Public |
| Rainbow Ridge Opal MineSagebrush Creek Road | Humboldt County |
| 41.7975, -119.0152 | Public |
| Royal Peacock Opal MineVirgin Valley Road | Humboldt County |
| 41.7861, -119.1002 | Paid / fee |
Black Opal rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find black opal in the U.S.?+
Nevada have the highest concentrations of black opal in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many black opal rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
3 mapped spots across 1 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect black opal on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like black opal is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify black opal in the field?+
Field identification of black opal comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt black opal on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
