The Discovery of Precious Opal At Whelan, Washington by Daniel E Russell The first significant discovery of precious opal in the United States occurred in 1890, when a deposit was accidentally discovered on a small farm in Whelan, Whitman County, Washington. read more
Washington is well supplied with a large variety of metallic and nonmetallic minerals, and many enthusiasts get a great deal of pleasure out of collecting these materials. The mines and prospects of the state form the hunting ground for those who have this hobby, and many reports by the Division of Mines and Geology are available to them. read more