I’ve written quite a bit about the claims at this site and also in the May, 2016 issue of Rock&Gem Magazine. Another name for the claims now seems to be “The Rainbow Chalcedony Claims.”
Sharon writes that, “It has been a wonderful couple of years. We are still having fun at Gemfield and always trying to improve it. If you would like I will send you the current brochure.”
Here’s a link below to the current brochure in .pdf, archived at this site. (internal link).
And here’s a postcard photo of the claims. Click here (internal link) or on the image for a much bigger view:
Sharon holding chalcedony in Goldfield at Bryan Smalley’s Hidden Treasure Trading Company. Note her truck’s new personalized plates.
For fluorescent mineral fans, there is some potential here but only with long wave using at least a nine watt lamp, preferably an 18 watt unit. A Super Bright should do nicely.
The slab below is unusually colorless, used chiefly for knapping or perhaps for strikers for flintlock rifles. More colorful pieces should show more. Visible light, long wave, short wave.
My second article for Rock & Gem Magazine was on the Gemfield Gem claims (internal link) outside of Goldfield, Nevada. The claims are a major source of fine chalcedony. Sharon Artlip, one of the two claim owners, now has a website for the property:
A month ago I visited Goldfield. I couldn’t connect with Sharon, who may have been away. Sharon no longer operates Goldfield Art & Business Services out of the store on I-95.
The present owners of the new store at that location, however, will accept your registration and rock fees. Their names are Sherri and Mike. They have a nice store with some maps and some rocks. When I was there they had locally mined pyrite. Stop in and check out a new business:
Also, when in Goldfield, never miss a chance to check in with Bryan Smalley at Hidden Treasures Trading Company. He may be hard to find away from his store, but ask locals where Bryan is. Try the Dinky Diner. He’s well worth tracking down to visit a one-of-a-kind rock shop:
In mid-February 2016 I visited the once roaring town of Goldfield, Nevada. An old set of gem claims had come under new ownership and new direction. I was eager to find out what that meant for rockhounds.
You can read about what I found by getting the May, 2016 issue of Rock&Gem magazine. (external link) It’s available at Barnes&Noble as well as larger bookstores. You can also download the Rock&Gem app for your mobile device to purchase an e-version of the article. Look below for photographs not found in the article.
Here is the beginning of the article:
A venerable Nevada collecting site has changed ownership and is now open under new management. The current operators wish to say you are welcome to visit. Very welcome, indeed.
Sharon Artlip and Nadiah Beekum now own and run the Goldfield Gemfield Gem claims outside of Goldfield, Nevada. The site is about 25 miles south of Tonopah and 190 miles north of Las Vegas. Only four miles from Highway 95, the site is accessible without four-wheel drive or a high clearance vehicle. Collecting is on the honor system, with rocks going for a dollar a pound.
Five non-patented lode claims make up the site. Chalcedony (Cal-said-a-knee) is the main draw, in many forms. Dendritic agate, bulls eye agate, and rainbow agate, all chalcedony variations, have been collected at Gemfield over the years. Many times the chalcedony can’t be broken out into a category. It appears simply as rocks with tints of red, pink, yellow, and lavender, often with bands and swirls of color. . . .
12/28/18: Visited Goldfield last month. Couldn’t connect with Bryan or Sharon. Bryan looks like he is adding onto his business. Sharon no longer operates Goldfield Art & Business Services out of the store on I-95. The present owners of the new store at that location, however, will accept your registration and rock fees. Stop in and check out a new business.
05/13/2017 update: Visited Goldfield again. Possible future article discussed.
10/ 30/2016 update: I visited Goldfield, Sharon Artlip, Byran Smalley, and the claims this week and all are doing well. The road to the claims has had further work and is still passable by most vehicles.
6/7/2015 update: The issue in hardcopy sold out almost immediately.
About 25 miles south of Tonopah, Nevada sits Goldfield in Esmeralda County. The Gemfield Gem claims are a few miles out of town.
Chalcedony is the draw here; agate in many forms. Cut as a slab and then polished, this stone would appear quite dramatic.
A Gully at the site, showing typical terrain.
Chalcedony boulder, a confusion of swirls and bulls eyes.
A Closeup of a typical rock. Imagine a pair of highly polished bookends made from this material.
Hidden Treasures Trading Post in Goldfield. Make sure to stop by Bryan Smalley’s shop. 489 S. Bellevue Ave Goldfield, NV (775) 485-3761. His Facebook page was at this link: https://www.facebook.com/HiddenTreasuresTradingPost/, however, it now appears inactive. Try searching for Bryan Smalley by his name on Facebook.
Look for this storefront right on Highway 95. It’s Sharon Artlip’s store, Goldfield Art & Business Services. She’s one of the claim owners. (775) 485-3789.
My second article for Rock&Gem (external link) has been published. Look for the May issue in larger book stores like Barnes&Noble. At some time soon, the electronic version of the May issue will be viewable as an e-magazine over mobile devices. Also coming soon, I will write another post on the background to my current article, entitled Goldfield’s Gems.
April 27, 2016. The Rock&Gem website has not yet been updated to reflect the current issue. I am sure they are working on it. Check back in a few days.
