Damon Mcknight
Australia is a treasure trove of gemstones, with a long geological history and some of the world's oldest rocks and minerals. The country offers a wide variety of gemstones, from sapphires and opals to gold, diamonds, topaz, quartz, turquoise, and jade. Gemstone hunting, or fossicking, as it is commonly called in Australia, has a long history in the country, dating back to the gold rush era. Australia is the world's largest producer of opals and diamonds and is a major supplier of sapphires, rubies, emeralds, garnets, topaz, and jade. The term carat refers to the weight of a gemstone, with one carat equalling 200 milligrams or 1/5 of a gram. The value of a gemstone is determined by its clarity, colour, cut, and carat, with colourless diamonds being the most highly valued.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gemstones found in Australia | Diamonds, sapphires, opals, gold, rubies, emeralds, garnets, topaz, jade, quartz, turquoise, lapis lazuli, peridot, zircon |
| Most famous gemstones | Star sapphires, Toma Hawk Tiger, Stonebridge Green |
| Largest sapphires | Toma Hawk Tiger, Stonebridge Green, Pride of the Willows, TomaHawk, Yellow GlenElva, Eiffel Tower |
| Gemstone-rich locations | Glen Innes, Harts Range, Oberon, Killiecrankie, Gemfields, Anakie gem fields, Mt. Gibson, O'Brien's Creek, Central Queensland, Lightning Ridge, Coober Pedy, Marble Bar, Leonora, Mintabie, Yorke Peninsula, Zeehan, Moina, Tennant Creek, Narwietooma Station, Atherton Tablelands, Tomahawk, Broken Hill |
| Legal requirements | A fossicking license is required in Queensland and Tasmania. Short-term permits and annual licenses are available. |
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What You'll Learn
- Gemfields in Central Queensland is known for its sapphires, including the rare parti sapphire
- Harts Range in the Northern Territory is a good place to find garnets
- Glen Innes in New South Wales is known for its sapphires
- Killiecrankie in Tasmania is a place to find topaz
- Coober Pedy in South Australia is known for its opals
Gemfields in Central Queensland is known for its sapphires, including the rare parti sapphire
Australia is known for its diverse geology and is one of the best places in the world for fossicking, or the recreational practice of searching for precious gems, minerals, and fossils. The country is a major supplier of sapphires, and one of the best places to find them is in Central Queensland.
The Gemfields in Central Queensland is one of the largest sapphire-bearing areas in the world. Covering almost 900 square kilometres, the Gemfields take in the townships of Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie, and Willows. These areas are only a 45-minute drive west of Emerald, Queensland, and are known to yield world-class sapphires, as well as rubies and zircons. Fossicking in these areas requires a licence, which can usually be purchased online or on the spot.
Sapphires are considered precious stones and are valued for their colour, cut, clarity, and carat. Star sapphires, in particular, are valued for their inclusions, or impurities, that distort their appearance. The rare parti sapphire is one such example, prized for its unique colour combinations.
The Gemfields in Central Queensland offer a variety of fossicking experiences, from designated fossicking lands to guided tours. For beginners, fossicking parks are a great starting point, where visitors can simply buy a bag of wash and start searching for sapphires. More experienced fossickers can join tag-along tours, where they can learn how to dig, sieve, wash, and inspect their findings, with all equipment supplied.
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Harts Range in the Northern Territory is a good place to find garnets
Australia is a treasure trove of gemstones, thanks to its diverse geology and long geological history. The country offers a wide array of gemstones, from sapphires and opals to gold, diamonds, topaz, quartz, turquoise, and garnets.
One of the best places to find garnets in Australia is Harts Range in the Northern Territory. Harts Range is located about 190 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs in the Central Desert Region. This area is known for its variety of minerals and gemstones, including garnets. The Spotted Tiger campground, located about 8 kilometres south of the Atitjere indigenous community, is a designated fossicking area and an excellent place to start your search for garnets.
The Harts Range area is known for its large and well-shaped garnets, with some garnet balls the size of golf balls. These garnets tend to be opaque and speckled on the surface, with a perfect crystal structure. While they may not have much monetary value, they are great conversation pieces and look impressive in gemstone cabinets. Many of the creeks in the area are full of "garnet sand", which is a sight worth seeing. In addition to garnets, the Harts Range area also offers a variety of other precious and semi-precious gemstones, such as zircons and rubies.
It is important to note that regulations for fossicking vary from state to state in Australia, so it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the local rules before heading out to Harts Range. A fossicking license may be required, and these are usually affordable and can be purchased online or on-site. With the right preparation and knowledge, Harts Range in the Northern Territory can be a rewarding destination for anyone interested in finding garnets and other gemstones.
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Glen Innes in New South Wales is known for its sapphires
Glen Innes, a town in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, is known for its sapphires. It is part of the most prolific sapphire region in the state, which also happens to be one of the world's richest mineral diversity belts. The town is internationally famous for its deep, rich, royal blue sapphires.
The Glen Innes district has been a producer of wool, sheep, and beef cattle since it was first settled. Sapphires are mined in the creek valleys immediately west of the town. The town is also a stop on the Fossickers Way touring route, which includes other New England towns that were prominent during the gold and gem rushes of the 1800s.
In Glen Innes, fossicking, or the recreational practice of searching for precious gems, minerals, and fossils, does not require a license, so visitors can get started as soon as they arrive. The town also has a fossicking map that visitors can use to search for sapphires and other precious and semi-precious stones.
The Minerama Fossicking, Gem, and Jewellery Show, held in March, is the largest of its kind in New South Wales. The show features stalls selling gemstones, fine jewellery, crystals, fossils, and more. Glen Innes is also home to Aussie Sapphire Lapidary Warehouse, an online lapidary business with a large range of supplies.
In addition to sapphires, other gemstones that can be found in Australia include diamonds, opals, rubies, emeralds, garnets, topaz, and jade.
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Killiecrankie in Tasmania is a place to find topaz
Australia is a treasure trove of gemstones, with its diverse geology making it one of the best places globally for fossicking. The country has some of the world's oldest rocks and minerals, offering a wide array of gemstones. While you can find sapphires in New South Wales and opals in South Australia, Killiecrankie in Tasmania is a place to find topaz.
Killiecrankie, located on Flinders Island, the largest island in the Furneaux Group off Tasmania's coast, is known for its topaz gemstones, often referred to as Killiecrankie Diamonds. These "diamonds" are not actually diamonds but a form of brilliant white topaz, ranked 8 on Mohs' scale of hardness, making them ideal for jewellery as they won't scratch or chip easily. The name "Killiecrankie Diamond" comes from their brilliance, resemblance to diamonds, and their origin at Killiecrankie Bay. These topaz gemstones can be found washed up on the wind-swept shores of Killiecrankie Bay and come in hues of blue, pinky-gold, and crystal clear colours.
The Killiecrankie Diamond is considered special not just for its beauty but also for its legendary powers. Legend has it that wearing jewellery made from this topaz can protect the wearer from illness and unfortunate accidents. Additionally, it is believed to radiate gentle power that soothes, heals, stimulates, and recharges, bringing abundance, peace, and joy to the wearer's life.
It is important to note that fossicking, the recreational practice of searching for precious gems, minerals, and fossils, is regulated in Tasmania. A prospecting licence is required for fossicking, and specific areas may have additional restrictions. So, before heading to Killiecrankie Bay to search for topaz, ensure you are familiar with the local regulations to avoid any penalties or legal consequences.
Overall, Killiecrankie in Tasmania is a unique place to find the elusive and beautiful topaz gemstone, offering both a fossicking experience and the chance to acquire a stone believed to possess magical powers.
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Coober Pedy in South Australia is known for its opals
Coober Pedy, a town in northern South Australia, is known as the "opal capital of the world". It is about 846 km (526 mi) north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. Coober Pedy is renowned for its opal mines, supplying most of the world's gem-quality opal. The town has over 70 opal fields, and together with nearby Andamooka and Mintabie, produces 85% of the world's opal supply.
The first opals near Coober Pedy were discovered in 1915 by a 15-year-old boy, William Hutchison, who had been searching for water with his father and a group of gold prospectors. Opal mining in the area expanded rapidly after World War I, employing returning soldiers, and after World War II, many refugees, veterans, and immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. During the 1960s, the industry experienced another boom, attracting European migrants and becoming a multi-million-dollar industry.
Coober Pedy is also famous for its unique underground dwellings, called "dugouts", which were first introduced by early opal miners due to the lack of building materials and the extreme heat. The town has become a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming to see the underground homes and try their luck at opal fossicking.
The opal is a precious stone composed of amorphous silica and water. While 85% of opal is "potch", or common opal without vivid colours, it is the remaining 15% of vividly coloured and opalescent opal that is highly valued. Australia produces 95% of the world's commercial opal, and Coober Pedy remains one of the country's most prolific opal-mining areas, alongside Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs in New South Wales.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has a wide variety of gemstones. Some of the most renowned sites for gemstone fossicking in Australia are Glen Innes in New South Wales, Killiecrankie for topaz, Harts Range for garnet, and the gemfields of Central Queensland for sapphires.
Gemstones are valued based on four criteria: clarity, colour, cut, and carat (weight or size). Colourless diamonds are usually the most highly valued, although diamonds with tints of blue or pink are sometimes more valuable due to their rarity. Other valuable gemstones include emerald, jade, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.
The legal requirements for fossicking vary from state to state in Australia. In Queensland, a Fossicking Permit is required for all types of fossicking activities. In New South Wales, a permit is not required unless fossicking is done in state forests. In Victoria, a Miner's Right permit is necessary, while in Tasmania, a Prospecting License is needed, with additional restrictions in specific areas. Most fossicking licenses are affordable and can be purchased online or on-site.
