Lexi Webster
Emeralds are a rare gemstone worldwide, and Australian emeralds are even rarer as all commercial mining has ceased. Australian emeralds are known for their classic 'emerald greens', with a desirable medium to medium-light saturation and tone. They are usually found in granite pegmatites and metamorphosed rocks called schists, and are associated with altered limestones. Emeralds have been commercially mined in Australia in three main deposits: Poona and Menzies in Western Australia, and Emmaville in New South Wales. The Curlew mine in the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia is another source of Australian emeralds, but they are incredibly scarce and were not unearthed in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commercial mining status | All commercial mining has ceased |
| Geological environment | Pale pegmatite intrusion and ultramafic greenish rock |
| Matrix minerals | Mica |
| Trace elements | Iron, chromium, vanadium |
| Beryllium source | Yes |
| Mining locations | Curlew Mine in the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia, Poona and Menzies in Western Australia, Emmaville, New England area of New South Wales |
| Mining period | Mining at the Curlew Mine is restricted to winter (June–August) |
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What You'll Learn
- Emeralds in Australia are associated with granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks
- The largest emerald deposit in Australia is in New South Wales
- The Curlew Mine in Western Australia is a source of emeralds
- Australian emeralds are known for their classic 'emerald greens' and medium saturation
- Emeralds are usually found in rocks among layers of other minerals
Emeralds in Australia are associated with granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks
In Australia, emeralds are associated with granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks called schists. They are also found in association with altered limestones or embedded in calcite or quartz. A pegmatite forms when magma cools, leaving some elements behind in the remaining fluid. Emerald crystals may grow when this solution cools, provided that the necessary elements, including beryllium, are present. They can also form in veins in the crust from hot liquids that escape from deeper magma.
Emeralds from the Curlew Mine in Western Australia, which resumed mining operations in 2023, are an example of emeralds found in these rock types. They are high-iron, schist-hosted emeralds, similar to those found in Zambia, Brazil, and Russia. The Curlew Mine is located in the East Pilbara's Shaw River District, a remote location that has been worked officially since the mid-1970s. The New England area of New South Wales has also produced most of Australia's gem-quality emeralds, with the largest deposit found near Emmaville.
Metamorphic rocks, such as those associated with emeralds, are rocks that have undergone physical changes due to extreme heat or pressure. This formation environment, combined with trace elements like chromium and vanadium, encourages the formation of inclusions in the emeralds. These inclusions, known as 'jardin' in French, are considered acceptable and even desirable in GIA Clarity Type III gemstones.
Emeralds are generally found among layers of other minerals, such as mica, in rocks. They are often cut to enhance their banding effect and improve their colour and clarity. While emeralds have been prized for thousands of years and are highly valued, Australian emeralds have historically maintained a low profile due to small volumes, low clarity, and desaturated colour.
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The largest emerald deposit in Australia is in New South Wales
Australia has been associated with emeralds for over a century, but these gemstones have not been as popular as their counterparts from other countries. This is due to the local emeralds' small volumes, low clarity, and desaturated colour. The largest emerald deposit in Australia is in New South Wales, specifically in the New England area, which has produced most of the country's gem-quality beryl, emerald, and aquamarine. The largest deposit is found in the Emmaville area, but there are also deposits near Inverell, Dundee, and Glen Innes. In the early 1900s, over 53,000 carats (10 kg) of beryl and emerald were produced in this area over 20 years.
Emeralds are usually found in rocks among layers of other minerals such as mica. In Australia, emeralds are associated with granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks called schists. They are also sometimes associated with altered limestones or can be found embedded in calcite or quartz. A pegmatite forms when magma cools, leaving some elements behind in the remaining fluid. Emerald crystals may grow when the remaining solution cools as long as the necessary elements, including beryllium, are present. Emeralds can also form in veins in the crust from hot liquids that escape from deeper magma.
The New England area of New South Wales is particularly known for its gem-quality emeralds. An attempt at commercial mining took place at Torrington in the early 1990s but was discontinued due to the low quantities of gems produced. Some crystals from Torrington in New South Wales show colour zoning, with bands of emerald in clear beryl. These gems are often cut to enhance the banding effect.
Australia has three main emerald deposits: Poona and Menzies in Western Australia, and Emmaville in New South Wales. Emeralds were discovered near Poona in 1912, and small-scale mining operations and prospecting have been ongoing since then. The Menzies deposit was discovered in 1974, and irregular mining has taken place since. The Curlew mine in the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia is another source of emeralds, with renewed production starting in 2023.
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The Curlew Mine in Western Australia is a source of emeralds
The mine was actively worked from 1976 to 1981 by a group managed by Bill Moriarty, a mineral specimen miner from Kalgoorlie. During this period, the annual production of the mine was about 4.5 kilograms of facetable emeralds and forty kilograms of non-facetable material. In addition, each year, an average of 20 'king' stones were recovered, ranging from 15 to 20 carats in size. All the emeralds were sold to an Indian dealer for the jewellery trade.
After the initial period of mining, the Curlew Mine was largely abandoned until a small-scale mining group took over the mining license in recent years. In 2023, this group successfully produced gem-quality emeralds from the existing pit, with production limited to a few kilograms of gem-quality material. The owners of the mine intend to scale up production in the coming years.
The Curlew Mine's emeralds are extracted directly from their host rock, with small pegmatites and dark mica schists within the quartz veins accessed through a series of diggings. The emeralds from this mine are incredibly scarce and not readily available in the jewellery marketplace. They are characterised by their high-iron content and schist host rock, similar to emeralds from Zambia, Brazil, and Russia.
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Australian emeralds are known for their classic 'emerald greens' and medium saturation
Australian emeralds are known for their classic emerald greens and medium saturation. They are associated with granite pegmatites and metamorphosed rocks called schists. They can also be found embedded in calcite or quartz. The largest deposit of emeralds in Australia is found in the New England area of New South Wales, near Emmaville. Other deposits occur near Inverell, Dundee, and Glen Innes.
The first commercial mining of emeralds in Australia took place in the early 1900s, yielding over 53,000 carats (10 kg) of emeralds and beryl over 20 years. However, most of the crystals were not gem-quality, so mining was primarily focused on extracting beryl as a source of beryllium. Commercial mining attempts resumed in the early 1990s but were ultimately unsuccessful due to low gem quantities.
Emeralds were discovered in Western Australia near Poona in 1912, and small-scale mining has occurred sporadically since then. The Curlew Mine in the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia has been the site of emerald mining since the mid-1970s, with anecdotal evidence suggesting knowledge of emeralds in the area 50 years prior. The mine's production resumed in 2023, and the emeralds from this source are known for their high-iron content and characteristic schist-hosted formation, similar to those found in Zambia, Brazil, and Russia.
Australian emeralds are prized for their classic emerald greens and desirable medium to medium-light saturation, resulting in a beautifully delicate "green fire" brightness. They are ethically and environmentally mined, with exceptional mine-level value afforded by vertical integration. Their scarcity and limited availability make them highly sought-after in the jewellery marketplace.
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Emeralds are usually found in rocks among layers of other minerals
Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl, which is a silicate of beryllium and aluminium. They are characterised by their rich, distinctly green colour, which is caused by trace amounts of chromium or, sometimes, vanadium. Emeralds are considered fine gemstones and are graded based on colour, clarity, cut, and carat weight. They are also one of the rarest gems.
In Australia, emeralds are associated with granite pegmatites and metamorphic rocks called schists. They are also sometimes found with altered limestones or embedded in calcite or quartz. The largest deposit of emeralds in Australia is in the Emmaville area of New South Wales, with smaller deposits near Inverell, Dundee, and Glen Innes. There are also deposits at Poona, Menzies, and in the Pilbara region, south of Port Hedland, in Western Australia.
In addition to Australia, emeralds have been discovered in Africa, Asia, and South America. They have been prized for thousands of years and are often found in myths and legends from various cultures. The largest emerald ever found was in Madagascar, weighing 536 kg.
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Frequently asked questions
Emeralds in Australia are found in the Curlew Mine in the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia. They are also found in Poona, Menzies, and Emmaville in New South Wales.
Mining at the Curlew Mine started in 1976, but there is anecdotal evidence that suggests emeralds were known at least 50 years prior to that.
In 2007, a small mine-to-market collective secured the exclusive mining rights to the Curlew Emerald Mine and has been actively working the deposit since 2011.
Australian emeralds display classic "emerald greens" with a desirable medium to medium-light saturation and tone. They are considered a Clarity Type III gemstone by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America).
Some other locations where emeralds are found globally include Zambia, Brazil, Russia, Ethiopia, and Colombia.
