Our History: Precious opal was first discovered in Virgin Valley, Nevada in 1905. That same year the Bonanza mine was first worked. The Bonanza group of mines were originally located by Matheson and Dow, and location certificates were filed on the Bonanza in 1908.
In 1910, Flora Lockheed was assigned to cover a news story for the San Francisco Chronicle regarding the discovery of Precious Opals in Virgin Valley, Nevada. According to Gem and Mineral magazine, "She not only found the task to her liking, but filed mining claims and for years afterwards, she was regarded as the most celebrated opal miner of that region." Undaunted by the extremes of climate, isolation, and primitive accommodations, Mrs. Lockheed thrived. Flora Lockheed's two sons, Allen and Malcolm later founded Lockheed Aircraft. In 1913 the Lockheed brothers built the "Model G, Flying Boat". In 1916 the brothers moved to Santa Barbara and started Loughead Aircraft. Malcolm left to start his own business called Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company, later, Bendix Brakes. Allen Lockheed died in 1969.
Mrs. Lockheed convinced a wealthy woman from Santa Barbara named Mrs. Hammond - the owner of the Rainbow Mine - to finance her in the mining and the managing of the mine. Even in her eighties, Mrs. Lockheed mined all over the valley and left old newspapers in the mines she worked. That was her "calling card". These newspapers were later found by the present owners in the tunnels that she had dug.
An incredibly spunky lady, Australians called her the "Opal Queen", a name still used to describe her today. Always to be remembered as the woman who took on a man's job and helped make Virgin Valley what it is today, Flora Lockheed passed away in 1948.
In 1954, Glenn and Bea, and Keith and Agnes Hodson purchased the Bonanza Opal Mine from Mrs. Lockheed's grandson and Mr. Mark Foster. One warm morning in 1973, Keith Hodson was scraping the surface of the Bonanza mine in preparation for some fee-digging customers due that day, when the blade flipped up what he originally thought was an empty beer bottle. Climbing down from the bulldozer, he was surprised to find that the "bottle" was actually an Opal weighing more than six pounds! Officially named The Bonanza Opal, it was filled with brilliant flashes of fire. |
