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Agate is a variety of chalcedony, a mineral group that includes quartz. It is a common stone found worldwide, and in Australia, it can be found in various locations, including Queensland, New South Wales, and Agate Creek in Etheridge Shire, Queensland. Agate is characterised by its fineness of grain and variety of colours, which are determined by the presence of minerals such as iron, copper, chromium, nickel, and manganese. It is often used in jewellery and is believed to offer various properties such as enhancing mental function and improving concentration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Agate Creek, Queensland, Australia |
| Creek Characteristics | Runs through a rectangular-shaped plain of some 45 square kilometers bordered by a rim of hills; dry for most of the year |
| Agate Characteristics | Concentric banded pattern; variety of colours and banding effects; hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale; composed of microcrystalline fibrous silica |
| Agate Uses | Jewellery, decorative items, bowls and vessels |
| Agate Types | Moss, dendritic, seam, tube, banded onyx, sardonyx, Botswana, Brazilian, bull's-eye, white |
| Agate Sources | Volcanic rocks, ancient lavas, geodes |
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What You'll Learn
Agate Creek in Queensland
Agate Creek has been a source of agates for over fifty years. These agates were formed in the early Permian age and are believed to have weathered and eroded from basalts of the Carboniferous age. The agates at Agate Creek are known for their vibrant colours and patterns, with each named site within the creek associated with a particular colour or design. The agates can be found in the creek beds, on the surrounding hills, and in the adjacent riverbanks and old riverbeds.
The Agate Creek fossicking area is within a valley system bounded by a weathering sandstone escarpment. The terrain varies, with some areas being sandy loam that yields easily to pick and shovel, while others are virgin hillside or riverbank silt/clay soil that requires boulder removal to access the agate-bearing layers. Agates can be distinguished from other rocks by their weight, as they are denser and heavier for their size than most other stones.
Due to conflicts between miners and rockhounds, the Department of Minerals and Energy amended regulations to prohibit mining equipment at Agate Creek, allowing only hand tools. This led to the closure of mines and the declaration of the area as a General Permission Area (GPA). The GPA covers a roughly 45-square-kilometre rectangular plain bordered by hills, with Agate Creek running through it. During the winter months (April to September), Agate Creek hosts upwards of 50 people who come to search for agates and process their finds using rock saws and lapidary equipment.
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Agate Creek fossicking area
Agate Creek in Queensland, Australia, has been producing agate for over fifty years. It is a popular rockhounding spot with agates that display a concentric banded pattern. Agate Creek agate is characterised by its concentric banded pattern, but other types of agates such as moss agate, dendritic agate, and seam and tube agates can also be found. Agate is a variety of chalcedony and is composed of microcrystalline fibrous silica. The presence of small amounts of minerals, such as iron, copper, chromium, nickel, and manganese, gives agate its variety of colours.
The Agate Creek fossicking area is within a valley system bounded by a weathering sandstone escarpment. Agates can be found in the dry creek beds, on the surface, or just "laying around". The main areas of interest include Black Soil Creek, Crystal Hill, Bald Hill, Simpsons, Blue Hills, and Flanagans. Agates can be separated from the decomposed lavas by hand digging. Agate Creek is about 70km south of Forsayth by a gravel road, which is suitable for conventional vehicles but may be impassable in the wet season. The road passes by the turn-off to the tourist attraction of Cobbold Gorge, so it is generally well-maintained, but caution is required.
After a particularly heavy rain event, foraging in the creek beds can yield unexpected finds. Agates can also be found at the top of hills, in creeks, on the flats, or on the sides of old riverbeds. Some diggings are a sandy loam, which is easy to pick and shovel through. Other areas, such as virgin hillside or riverbank silt/clay soil, require the removal of boulders to access the paydirt. Rough agates, unless broken, may appear unremarkable to the untrained eye. Agates can sometimes be distinguished by their weight when held in the hand; they are heavier for their size than expected due to their dense mineral composition.
Camping is not permitted in the fossicking area, but the landholder, David Terry, allows camping nearby, adjacent to Agate Creek outside the fossicking area. Camping is not permitted elsewhere on Robin Hood Station or adjoining properties. However, camping at Undara offers a real taste of the outback, with gum trees, kookaburras, lava tubes, craters, and swimming holes. It is located 3.5 hours from Cairns.
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Agates in New South Wales
Agates are a variety of chalcedony, a mineral belonging to a large group that include quartz. They are characterised by their fineness of grain and variety of colours and banding patterns. Agates are found in many locations worldwide, and each area tends to produce its own characteristic colour range and banding effects. Agate is a fairly common stone, but it is highly sought after by collectors due to its beauty and semi-precious stone status.
In New South Wales, Australia, agates can be found in several localities. One notable location is Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia. This area is known for its agate deposits, and collectors can find attractive specimens to add to their collections.
Another area in New South Wales known for its agate localities is Boggabri, about 25km northwest of Gunnedah. Boggabri is well known locally for its agates, chalcedony, and thunder eggs. One specimen from this area, in particular, stands out as it contains hyalite opal and siderite rhombs, making it unique and desirable for collectors.
Additionally, agates can be found in the creek beds of New South Wales after heavy rain events. Collectors can try their luck by foraging in the creeks or exploring the hills, old riverbeds, and flats in the region. Agate Creek, located in Queensland, Australia, is also a popular destination for those seeking agates. This area has been designated as a General Permission Area (GPA), allowing anyone to use hand tools for collecting specimens.
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Geodes and agates
Agate is a variety of chalcedony, a type of mineral composed of microcrystalline fibrous silica. It is characterised by its fineness of grain and variety of colours and patterns. Agate is a fairly common stone found in many locations worldwide, and each area tends to produce its own characteristic colour range and banding effects. Agate has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it suitable for most jewellery applications. It can be carved into bowls and vessels, sculpted into decorative items, and sliced thinly and dyed to create jewellery.
In Australia, agate can be found in several locations, including Queensland and New South Wales. The Agate Creek fossicking area in Etheridge Shire, Queensland, is a popular location for rockhounds to search for agate. Agate Creek runs through a roughly rectangular-shaped plain of some 45 square kilometres bordered by a rim of hills. The area is accessible via a gravel road that heads south from the town of Forsayth and is known for its agate fields. Agate Creek agate is characterised by its concentric banded pattern.
Besides Agate Creek, agates can be found in various places in Australia, including at the top of hills, in creeks, on the flats, and on the sides of old riverbeds. Agates are often found in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas, where successive layers of siliceous minerals have been deposited within the amygdales or voids.
Geodes are hollow agate nodules often lined with crystals of quartz, aragonite, or calcite. They are formed when hot, percolating silica-rich waters deposit layers of minerals within the voids in lava. Like agates, geodes can be found in various locations in Australia, including Queensland and New South Wales. Geodes are sought after by agate enthusiasts due to their unique patterns and colour structures, with each nodule being distinct.
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Agate colours and patterns
Agate is a variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of quartz. It is characterised by its banded or layered appearance, with alternating colours and patterns. Agate is found in a wide range of colours, including blue, green, red, yellow, and white. Each area tends to produce its own characteristic colour range and banding effects. Agate gets its variety of colours and patterns from the gradual layering of chalcedony and the formation of voids, which over time are filled with other minerals such as rock crystal, hematite, and others. The presence of small amounts of minerals, such as iron, copper, chromium, nickel, and manganese, is responsible for the variety of colours in agate.
Moss agate is a semi-precious gemstone formed from silicon dioxide. It is a form of chalcedony which includes minerals of a green colour embedded in the stone, forming filaments and other patterns suggestive of moss. The field is a clear or milky-white quartz, and the included minerals are mainly oxides of manganese or iron. It is not a true form of agate, as it lacks agate's defining feature of concentric banding. Moss agate is of the white variety with green inclusions that resemble moss.
Condor agate is primarily found in the mountains of northern Argentina and often exhibits a range of colours, including reds, oranges, yellows, blues, purples, and greens, creating vibrant and eye-catching patterns within the stone. One of the distinctive features of Condor agate is its intricate banding, which can resemble landscapes, abstract art, or even scenes from nature.
Fortification agate is characterised by its distinctive banding pattern. The bands are typically sharp-angled and often resemble the outlines of fortifications, such as a castle or a fort. Fortification agates can be found in a variety of colours, including white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black.
Botswana agate typically has one main hue, complemented by other shades that harmonise so well that it's challenging to define the colour. It often occurs in shades of pink, peach, lilac, white, milky, and beige. Black agate has a matte, streak-free surface. White agate symbolises spirituality, purity, and elevated feelings.
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Frequently asked questions
Agate can be found in many places in Australia, including the Agate Creek fossicking area in Etheridge Shire, Queensland, and New South Wales.
Agate is used to make jewellery and decorative items such as bowls and vessels.
Agate can be found in creeks, on hills, and in old riverbeds. Agate is heavier than it looks, so it can be distinguished by its weight when held in the hand.
