The 2020 Great Basin Rendezvous is right around the corner and will be held September 11th through 13th this year. Like last year, the 2020 GBR will be hosted by NMEC at the Royal Peacock Opal Mine (see details below). With the Covid 19 pandemic, we have all aged a bit faster this year. After multiple Zoom meetings, computer blue light dizziness and cancellation of all geologic meetings and events, we need some (socially distanced) fellowship at the Royal Peacock Mine! We are anticipating a great turn out with some new faces but must limit registration to 50 people to stay within legal bounds of the state mandate on social gatherings. The meals will be delicious as always, with a Cornish game hen dinner Friday night sponsored by National Gold Mining Corp., and a prime rib dinner on Saturday night sponsored by Envirotech Drilling. Both nights’ dinners with scrumptious side dishes will be prepared by our Royal Peacock camp host. Fabulous breakfasts will be once again sponsored by Falcon Drilling and EM Strategies.
The Royal Peacock Opal Mine has been owned and operated since the 1940s by a single family and offers precious black opal digging for a discounted fee to Rendezvous participants. The mine is in the beautiful Virgin Valley adjacent to the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, south and west of Denio and north of Winnemucca. The campground offers 60 dry camping spaces and RV/trailer spots with 30- or 50‑amp hook-ups. Quality bathroom and shower facilities are available along with a fire ring and large grassy area. This will be a wonderful weekend for explorers, drillers, assayers, environmental/permitting folks and their families!
We have been given a discount rate for digging at the opal mine. Digging in the fresh cut-face will cost $150 and sifting through the mined tailings is $50. Last year, the most beautiful finds came from sifting through the tailings.
Julie Wilson, owner of the mine and campground has reserved the entire camp for our group this year so we will have the mine and campground to ourselves! A registration fee of $20 for members plus $10 for each additional family member (same as last year) will cover the cost of a camp spot for tents or small trailers needing no electrical or water hook-up. As with last year, nonmembers will be charged $120 (which includes a free 2020 NMEC membership) plus $10 for each additional family member. The charge for larger trailer sites requiring 30-amp hook-up is $40.00 per night and 50- amp hook-up is $45.90 per night; this will be over and above the registration fee. If you require a trailer or RV site (there’s plenty available space per Julie), call her directly at 775.941.0374 to make your reservation and payment arrangements.
We are still in need of more sponsorships, including donations toward adult beverages and camp rental fees. Entertainment for Saturday night includes a slide show focusing on the history of the Virgin Valley presented by Jim Hutchings, who has presented to multiple groups in the past at Royal Peacock. If you are planning to attend and have musical talent, we encourage you to bring your instrument and jam! Please contact Warren Thompson at wfthompson@frontiernet.net or Catherine Lee at catherine@emstrats.com if you are interested in helping out with any of these.
We look forward to seeing you in September for what is sure to be a wonderful event! You may register online using the form below, or you may download, complete and mail in the official form by clicking the button below.
Online Registration for 2020 Great Basin Rendezvous
