Ruqayyah Snyder
Geodes are hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone and dolomite or in volcanic rocks. In Australia, geodes can be found in various locations, including Queensland and New South Wales. Some specific places to find geodes in Australia include Mt Hay, Eumundi, Agate Creek, and Mt Tamborine in Queensland, as well as Boggabri, Barrington Tops, and Murwillumbah in New South Wales. Geodes can also be found at Thunderbird Park in Mt Tamborine and Opals Down Under on the Bruce Highway. Additionally, Dog Trap Road near Stratford in New South Wales is known for its quartz-lined geodes, some of which contain well-formed fluorite crystals and amethysts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are geodes | Hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone (calcium carbonate) and dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) or in volcanic rocks |
| How to find geodes in Australia | Geodes can be found in Queensland at Mt Hay, Eumundi, Agate Creek, Crystal Hill, Mt Tamborine, and Boggabri. They can also be found in New South Wales at Barrington Tops and Murwillumbah. |
| Do you need a license to find geodes in Australia | Yes, you need to buy a fossicking license from the government |
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What You'll Learn
Geodes in Brisbane
Geodes are hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone and dolomite or in volcanic rocks. In Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, geodes can be found in the southeast region of the state. One place to find geodes in Brisbane is Thunderbird Park at Mt Tamborine. Another place to find geodes is Opals Down Under, which is located on the Bruce Highway just past the Caloundra turn-off. Here, you can pay to dig around in their sandpit.
Geologically, Brisbane is a giant flood plain/river basin, so it is not an ideal area for fossicking (rock collecting). Rock collectors will have better luck in places that are more volcanic in nature. A place with geodes up to 40kg in weight is said to exist outback of Barrington. Another place to find geodes is along Dog Trap Road, 4km east of Stratford, where rhyolites of the Alum Mountain Volcanics contain quartz-lined geodes. These geodes sometimes contain well-formed flourite crystals and are associated with amethyst-lined geodes, agates, and thunder eggs.
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Geodes in Queensland
Geodes are hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone and dolomite or in volcanic rocks. They may also form in pre-existing concretions or in spaces left by the expansion of the rock under internal fluid pressure. Geodes can be found in several places in Queensland, Australia.
One well-known locality for geodes in Queensland is Mt Tamborine, specifically Thunderbird Park, where visitors can dig for geodes. Mt Hay, Eumundi, and Agate Creek are also localities for geodes in Queensland. Agate Creek, Monto, and Murgon, Queensland, have also been reported as locations for geodes.
For those looking for a more adventurous experience, the gemfields of Central Queensland offer 11 local fossicking areas, many of which yield multi-coloured sapphires and zircon. Beginners can hire equipment and ask for advice at Blue Hollow Mine, near the Big Bessie fossicking area.
Additionally, Mount Isa in Queensland has been mentioned as a location for amethyst, although it is said that one must dig deep to find the geodes.
Finally, some sources suggest that Dog Trap Road, 4 km east of Stratford, may be a location for geodes. This area is characterised by rhyolites of the Alum Mountain Volcanics, which are said to contain quartz-lined geodes, some of which contain well-formed fluorite crystals. Geodes as large as 40kg in weight have been reported from this area.
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Geodes in Agate Creek
Geodes are hollow agate nodules that are often lined with crystals of quartz, aragonite, or calcite. Agate Creek in Australia has been producing agates for over fifty years. The agate found in this creek has a concentric banded pattern, but other types such as moss agate, dendritic agate, seam and tube agates, banded onyx, and sardonyx can also be found. Agate Creek is within a valley system bounded by a weathering sandstone escarpment.
To find geodes in Agate Creek, you can forage in the creek beds after heavy rain. Agates and geodes can be found almost everywhere in the country, including the tops of hills, creeks, flats, and old riverbeds. The black soil plains of Agate Creek are where you can find thunder eggs and small agates. Crystal Hill is also a place to visit, as geodes filled with white, clear, or smoky quartz, or occasionally amethyst crystals, are likely to be found there.
To spot agates in the field, look for rocks with round or oval shapes, due to their formation in cavities or cracks in the rocks. They may also have nodular or botryoidal shapes, which resemble grapes or cauliflowers. Agates tend to have a translucent or banded appearance due to their layers of different colors and patterns.
When looking for geodes, you will need some tools and equipment, such as a rock hammer, chisel, and bucket. A rock hammer can help you break open rocks or crack geodes out of the matrix, and a chisel can help you split rocks or pry geodes out of the matrix. You should wear gloves and goggles when using a rock hammer to protect your hands and eyes.
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Geodes in Barrington
Geodes are hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone and dolomite or in certain types of volcanic rock. In Australia, geodes may be found in localities such as Mt Hay, Eumundi, Agate Creek, and Mt Tamborine in Queensland, and Boggabri, Barrington Tops, and Murwillumbah in New South Wales.
The Barrington Tops Plateau is a specific locality in New South Wales where geodes may be found. According to the book "Geology of the Barrington Tops Plateau" by Lin Sutherland and Ian Graham, rhyolites of the Alum Mountain Volcanics contain quartz-lined geodes, some of which contain well-formed fluorite crystals. These geodes can be found along Dog Trap Road, 4 km east of Stratford, and they can reportedly weigh up to 40 kg.
Riolites are a type of basalt, and geodes may be found near them. Volcanic lavas, such as basalts, can have round or almond-shaped gas holes (called amygdales) that are filled with various minerals, including calcite, chalcedony, and agate. Ground waters carrying dissolved silica may seep into the lava while it is cooling, depositing silica minerals in the cavities.
It is important to note that a fossicking license is required in Australia to search for geodes and other rocks.
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Geodes in New South Wales
Geodes are hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone and dolomite or in volcanic rocks. In New South Wales, geodes have been found in the Muswellbrook-Singleton area. These geodes are sedimentary and made of calcite and dolomite.
There are several places in New South Wales where you can go fossicking for gemstones. Glen Innes and its surrounds is the most prolific sapphire region in New South Wales and one of the world's richest mineral diversity belts. In the northern border hills of the Great Dividing Range, you can find one of Australia's most renowned fossicking sites. In the west of Sydney, there is a small town called Oberon, nestled in the shadow of the Blue Mountains, which has five unique fossicking sites designated for the public. Visitors can search for sapphires, zircon, gold and diamond.
For those interested in amethyst-lined geodes, there is a place out back of Barrington that is said to have geodes up to 40kg in weight. Along Dog Trap Road, 4km east of Stratford, rhyolites of the Alum Mountain Volcanics contain quartz-lined geodes, some of which contain well-formed fluorite crystals.
In New South Wales, a fossicking licence is not required, so visitors can get started as soon as they arrive.
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Frequently asked questions
Geodes can be found in various places in Australia, including Agate Creek in Queensland, Crystal Hill, Barrington Tops in New South Wales, and Thunderbird Park in Mt Tamborine.
Geodes are hollow, crystal-lined globular rock cavities found in sedimentary rocks like limestone and dolomite or in volcanic rocks.
Yes, you will need to buy a fossicking licence from the government.
Geodes can be found by digging in creek beds or searching at the top of hills, in creeks, on flats, or on the sides of old riverbeds.
