Very cool history there Ron. I myself never have worked the mines, but have spent my fair share of time in them anyway. I've always steered clear of uranium & coal mines though. My lungs are in bad enough shape without breathing coal dust or radiation laden dust.

My father lives in Montana. One of these days I'm going to take my other half & son up there to visit. Then go panning for sapphires & perhaps stop in Idaho to look for star garnets on the way back.

If the X-Marks get together in Vegas happens next spring. We plan to spend a couple days there, then shoot up north to mine for black opal at the Royal Peacock mine.