Lyla Lindsey
Australia is known for its abundance of minerals and gemstones, which are often used in decorative items and jewellery. The country's gemstones are unique and are formed from its previous volcanic activity. Some of the most popular Australian gemstones include sapphires, opals, jade, pearls, and diamonds. The Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia is the world's largest diamond producer by volume, and the Kimberley mine in the same state is the largest producer of pink diamonds. Opals are also commonly found in Australia, with 95% of the world's opals originating from the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Gemstones | Opals, Diamonds, Sapphires, Jade, Pearls, Peridot, Emeralds, Agate, Zircon, Chrysoprase, Mookite, Rubies |
| Diamond Source | Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia |
| Opal Source | Queensland, New South Wales, Lightning Ridge, Mintabie in South Australia |
| Pearl Source | Northern Waters, Queensland, Western Australia, Darwin in the Northern Territory |
| Jade Colour | Green |
| Jade Use | Carving knives, weapons, jewellery |
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What You'll Learn
Opals, including boulder opal and matrix opal
Opals are among the most well-known and valuable gemstones found in Australia. They are characterised by their play of luminous colours, flashing and varying as the stone is viewed from different angles. This unique property is due to the minute voids and interior impurities within the opal. Opals are typically found in thin layers or veins within a host rock, which is usually brown in colour.
Boulder opals, a type of precious opal, are discovered inside large ironstone boulders in the ground. They are described as thin layers of valuable opal that are inseparable from their ironstone template, forming a natural doublet. Boulder opals are often cut in freeform, irregular shapes, and are popular with jewellery designers for their modern aesthetic and ability to mimic scenes. They are unique to Australia and mainly found in Queensland.
Matrix opals, on the other hand, are characterised by their infiltration of tiny veins and patches throughout their ironstone atmosphere. They are well-polished along with the surrounding material to create decorative pieces.
Australia produces about 95% of the world's valuable opal, with the majority of it being mined in Queensland and New South Wales, particularly in Lightning Ridge, which is known for its black opal. Fine crystal opal, a type of transparent to semi-transparent opal, is sourced from Mintabie, South Australia.
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Diamonds, including pink diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine
Diamonds are among the crystals found in Australia. The Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia was the world's largest producer of diamonds, yielding more than 865 million carats of rough diamonds during its 37 years of operation. The mine was established using alluvial mining methods and transitioned to an open-pit mine in 1985, later moving underground to access diamonds located over 0.5 kilometres beneath the Earth's surface.
The Argyle Diamond Mine was unique in that it was the only known significant source of pink and red diamonds, producing over 90% of the world's supply. These pink diamonds were extremely rare and valuable, fetching more than $2 million per carat. The diamonds' colour was a result of the distortion of their crystalline structure due to specific heat and pressure conditions during tectonic plate collisions. The Argyle Diamond Mine was also a notable source of other naturally coloured diamonds, including champagne, cognac, violet, white, blue, and yellow diamonds.
The Argyle Diamond Mine was located in a remote region of northeast Western Australia, in the East Kimberley region, 3,040 kilometres from the state's capital, Perth. The mine's closure in November 2020 was due to a dwindling supply and unfavourable economic conditions, including rising operational costs. Despite the low production volume of pink and red diamonds, the Argyle mine was the only reliable source of these stones, making it one of history's most important diamond discoveries.
Diamonds, including those from the Argyle mine, are valued based on the 4Cs: clarity, colour, cut, and carat (weight). While colourless diamonds are typically the most highly valued, the rarity of tinted diamonds, such as pink diamonds, can make them even more valuable. The cut of a gemstone is crucial, as it affects the sparkle and overall quality of the stone.
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Sapphires, including star sapphires
Australia has a rich variety of gemstones, many of which are unique to the country. Australian sapphires are particularly notable, with more commercial-grade sapphires found there than anywhere else in the world. The typical Australian sapphire is dark blue with a strong green dichroism and colour zoning. They are also often heat-treated to lighten and improve their colour and make them more transparent.
Sapphire mining in Australia has a long history, with many jewels of Imperial Russia set with Australian sapphires. While production in Queensland declined after the late 1970s due to new sources in Thailand and Madagascar, there has been a renewed interest in mining in recent years due to the 2004 resolution of the Native Title Agreement. This agreement allows for direct negotiations between indigenous landowners and miners, addressing employment, training, environmental protection, cultural heritage site preservation, and compensation for land use. As a result, mining activity that was previously stalled by court systems has been reopened.
Australian sapphires account for over 70% of the global blue sapphire production, and their demand is only increasing. Global jewellery brands have turned to Australian sapphires to meet their commercial needs. The Australian government and mining industry are working together to enact environmental protection legislation to protect the native land. The sapphires are often sent to Thailand for treatment and cutting.
Star sapphires are a type of sapphire that is valued for their inclusions, or impurities, which can create a unique star-like pattern within the stone. These inclusions can be used to identify if a gemstone is naturally formed or synthetically made. Star sapphires are considered more valuable than other sapphires due to these inclusions.
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Jade, especially the green variety
Jade is a sought-after gemstone due to its rich green colour. While it was originally classified as a semi-precious stone, it is now considered a precious gemstone. Australia is one of the few countries where jade is found, and it is mined in small quantities in Western Australia.
The green variety of jade is the most well-known and prized. Its colour can range from a pale lemon to a dark olive green, with the specific shade depending on its chemical composition and trace elements or impurities. The stones with a bright and intense colour are the most valuable.
Jade is a type of gemstone that is formed from volcanic activity, and Australia's gemstones are largely a product of its volcanic past. The gemstone is often found in igneous rocks, and unusual geological conditions are required for its formation, which is why jade and other gemstones are so rare.
The value of jade, like other gemstones, is determined by four criteria: clarity, colour, cut, and carat (weight or size). Clarity is the quality most prized in jade and other gemstones. A perfect jade gemstone is a flawless, transparent crystal that sparkles as it reflects light internally. Sometimes, jade contains inclusions or impurities that distort its appearance, and these can be used to identify if the gemstone is naturally formed or synthetically made.
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Pearls, including South Sea pearls
Australia is known for its unique gemstones, many of which were formed from the country's previous volcanic activity. Among these gemstones are pearls, including the highly prized South Sea pearls.
The Australian South Sea Pearl is revered and sought after worldwide. It is cultured in the Pinctada maxima oyster, the largest and rarest of all pearl oysters, in the pristine coastal waters of Australia's Northwest, including Broome, the Kimberley Coast, and the state of Kimberley. The perfect marine environment, combined with modern pearling techniques, results in the largest and finest-quality pearls. The Australian South Sea Pearl is known for its exceptional size, ranging from 9mm to 20mm, with pearls over 16mm being rare.
The pearling process involves the oyster coating a spherical nucleus with a substance called 'nacre' over a period of two years. The thickness of this coating gives the Australian South Sea Pearl a natural lustre that is unmatched by any other pearl. The nacre quality, natural colour, and natural lustre of these pearls contribute to their revered status.
The Australian pearling industry is regulated by a government-enforced quota system and has been certified as the most sustainable and environmentally responsible by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This certification ensures that the production of these coveted pearls remains ethical and environmentally conscious.
South Sea pearls come in a variety of colours, including white and golden, nurtured in the warm tropical lagoons and ocean waters of Australia and the Philippine Islands. The White and Golden South Sea pearls feature a bright, glowing lustre and a soft, shimmering iridescence that gives them an entrancing, luxurious appearance. The fine structure, bright saturated colour, and highly reflective lustre of these pearls make them highly desirable.
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Frequently asked questions
Crystals such as opal, jade, zircon, chrysoprase, sapphire, and diamond are found in Australia.
Opals from Australia are known for their play of luminous tones across the noticeable range of red, which is the most treasured.
Many of the diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia are pink or champagne-coloured, increasing their value due to their rarity.
