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Aquamarine is a gemstone that is commonly found in Brazil and is known for its distinctive blue-green colour. While it is relatively rare in Australia, there are several locations across the country where it can be found. These include New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian State | New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory |
| Cities/Towns | Torrington, Glen Innes, Mount Surprise, Etheridge Shire, Harding Springs, Ambalindum Station, Harts Range |
| Mining Areas | Stevens Mine, Clive Co., Kingsgate, Gough Co., O'Briens Creek Fossicking Area, Torrington mining district |
| Rivers | N/A |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Mineral Type | Beryl |
| Colour | Blue-green |
| Hardness | 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale |
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What You'll Learn
O'Briens Creek, Queensland
O'Brien Creek is located around 34 kilometres from Mount Surprise in Queensland, Australia. The area is well-known for its gem-quality topaz, attracting visitors from across the country and internationally. However, it is also a great spot to find aquamarine.
The O'Briens Creek Fossicking Area is a popular destination for those interested in gemstone fossicking. The local tourist shop in Mount Surprise offers fossicking tours and provides maps of the area. The gravel road leading to O'Briens Creek can become challenging to navigate in wet weather, so caution is advised when travelling on it.
The creeks in this area are typically dry, and water is not usually available on the diggings. The rocks surrounding O'Briens Creek are identified as the Elizabeth Creek Granite of Carboniferous age. This granite is characterised by its pink medium-grained, slightly porphyritic composition, with minor mafic minerals.
In addition to topaz and aquamarine, other gemstones and minerals that can be found in the vicinity include crystals, smoky quartz, tourmaline, and fragments of cassiterite (tin oxide).
It is always recommended to check with local authorities and follow any guidelines or regulations in place for fossicking or mining in the area.
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Torrington, New South Wales
The quiet village of Torrington, New South Wales, is located 68km south of Tenterfield, on a plateau known as the Mole Tableland. The landscape is defined by rocky outcrops and huge granite boulders, which the Tenterfield region is famous for. The area has a rich history of mining and bushranging.
Torrington is part of the Torrington State Recreation Area, which spans more than 30,000 hectares of wildlife. The area is recognised for its significance in conservation, mining, honey production, recreation, and cultural heritage. The reserve is home to the rare shrub Persoonia terminalis and the endangered plant, Torrington Pea (Almaleea cambagei). The famous Old Mystery Face, Captain Thunderbolt's Lookout, and other spectacular rock formations, streams, and waterfalls can be found here. Visitors can explore the untamed wilderness through various walking trails.
The village of Torrington itself offers a glimpse into the past with old mine sites and historical buildings. In its heyday, the community enjoyed the convenience of five general stores, a butcher shop, cafes, a bakery, billiard rooms, a police station, a post office, churches, a hotel, and sporting facilities. The population of Torrington is approximately 85 people.
Torrington is also known for its aquamarine deposits, with the Torrington mining district being a notable source of this mineral in New South Wales, Australia.
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Stevens Mine, New South Wales
Aquamarine is a mineral that can be found in various locations in Australia, including New South Wales. One notable location for finding aquamarine in New South Wales is the Stevens Mine, located in Clive Co., New South Wales.
The Stevens Mine is situated within the vast mining area of New South Wales, which has a long history of mining activities dating back to the 19th century. The state is administratively divided into 141 counties and further subdivided into 7,459 parishes, with county boundaries remaining unchanged since the 19th century.
The mining region of New South Wales encompasses a diverse range of mines, including those in Broken Hill, Yancowinna Co., and Robinson Co. The state boasts a significant number of gold mines, reflecting its rich gold mining heritage. Examples include the New Cobar Mine in Robinson Co. and the South Wisemans Mine in Westmoreland Co.
Stevens Mine is specifically located in Clive Co., New South Wales, and is known for its aquamarine deposits. Clive Co. is one of the many counties that make up the administrative divisions of New South Wales. While there is limited information specifically about Stevens Mine, it is recognized as a source of aquamarine in the region.
In addition to Stevens Mine, there are other locations in New South Wales where aquamarine can be found. These include the Torrington mining district, near Glen Innes, and Kingsgate in Gough Co. The state of New South Wales offers a range of mining opportunities and is a popular destination for fossicking and prospecting.
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Harding Springs, Northern Territory
Aquamarine is a mineral that can be found in Australia, specifically in the Harding Springs area of the Northern Territory. Harding Springs is located in the Ambalindum Station of the Harts Range, within the Central Desert Region. This area is known for its mineral diversity, including aquamarine, quartz crystals, and chrysoberyl.
The Harding Springs locality is situated in the southern part of the Entia Valley. The Carrara mica mines, which are about 9 kilometres north-west of Harding Springs, have also yielded minerals such as muscovite, beryl, garnet, ilmenite, epidote, microcline, and amazon stone. The mica mines are located in rugged hilly country west of Mount George, and access to them can be challenging due to their remote location.
Harding Springs is a popular destination for fossicking, which is the activity of collecting minerals and gemstones from the ground. It is important to note that Harding Springs is located on a cattle station, and permission should be sought before accessing the area. The Little Sister Mine and the Leprechaun Mica Mine are also located in the Harding Springs area.
In addition to Harding Springs, aquamarine can also be found in other parts of Australia, including New South Wales and Queensland. The Torrington mining district in New South Wales and the O'Briens Creek Fossicking Area in Queensland are known for their aquamarine deposits.
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Harts Range, Northern Territory
Harts Range, officially registered as Hart Range, is a mineral-rich town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located on the Plenty Highway, 215 km (134 mi) by road northeast of Alice Springs. The area is named after the mountain range it is situated in, which has the Plenty River running to its north.
Harts Range is known for its mineral wealth, particularly mica. From the 1880s to 1960, when the Australian mica mining industry came to a close, Harts Range produced nearly all of the country's mica. The Spotted Tiger Mine, one of the mines in the area, is now a tourist attraction. Visitors can camp at the Spotted Tiger campground, which offers easy access to the Mount Palmer area of the Harts Range region. This area is known for its unique discoveries and is rich in rocks that are lower to middle proterozoic in age. However, visitors are warned about the many old and potentially unstable and dangerous mine shafts in the area.
The Central Harts Range and Harts Range West fossicking areas are also popular destinations for prospectors. These areas, nestled among mountains such as Mount Brassey, Mount Palmer, and Mount Mabel, offer scenic grandeur and a variation of colours, as well as strangely-shaped rock outcrops. Well-shaped specimen garnets and small fragments of transparent, dark reddish-brown material suitable for cutting can be found here.
Harts Range is also home to an annual racing meet, the "Harts Range Races", which has been held every year since 1947 on the Picnic Day long weekend. The event has expanded over the years to include rodeo, novelty, and family events, now spanning three days of festivities.
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Frequently asked questions
Aquamarine can be found in the Torrington mining district of New South Wales, Australia.
Yes, aquamarine can also be found in O'Briens Creek, Mount Surprise, Queensland, and in the Harding Springs of the Central Desert Region, Northern Territory.
The colour of aquamarine ranges from pale, crystal blue to deep teal. The specific colour depends on the amount of iron found in the individual structure of the gem.
Aquamarine has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale.
