Lexi Webster
Chalcedony is a mineral that has been used for tool-making and jewellery for thousands of years. It is found all over the world, including in Australia. In Australia, chalcedony has been found in the Agate Creek fossicking area of Etheridge Shire, Queensland, and in the Tweed Volcano Group in the Numinbah Valley, Gold Coast City Shire, Queensland. Archaeological studies have also uncovered chalcedony flakes in Central Australia, in sites in the Cleland Hills.
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What You'll Learn
Chalcedony in Queensland, Australia
Chalcedony is a type of mineral that has been used by humans for thousands of years, dating back to the Mesopotamian Bronze Age of 2000 BC. It is a tough material that is excellent for carving and has been used in the evolution of jewellery and decorative arts such as sculptures, ornate bowls, and utensils. In Central Australia, archaeological studies at sites in the Cleland Hills uncovered evidence of chalcedony being used for tool-making as early as 32,000 BP.
In Queensland, Australia, chalcedony can be found in the Agate Agate Creek fossicking area in Etheridge Shire. It is also present in the Tweed Volcano Group in the Powell property, Upper Beechmont, Numinbah Valley, Gold Coast City Shire.
The term chalcedony comes from the Latin word "chalcedonius", which is rumoured to be derived from "Chalcedon", an ancient seaport of Asia Minor, now Kadikoy in Turkey. The name appears in Pliny the Elder's "Naturalis Historia" as a term for a translucent kind of jasper.
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Tweed Volcano Group
The Tweed Volcano Group, also known as the Tweed Volcano Series, is a partially eroded Early Miocene shield volcano located in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. It spans the border of Queensland and New South Wales and formed around 23 million years ago when this region passed over the East Australia hotspot. The Tweed Volcano is not a supervolcano; instead, it is a large volcano with a diameter of over 100 kilometres and a height of 1,156 metres.
The volcanic stratigraphy of the Tweed Volcano is similar to many other hotspot volcanoes worldwide. The oldest recognised units derived from the volcano are the Lismore Basalt and Beechmont Basalt in New South Wales and Queensland, respectively. Following the eruption of the Lismore/Beechmont Basalt, there was a period of rhyolite lava eruptions, known as the Nimbin Rhyolite in New South Wales and the Binna Burra Rhyolite in Queensland. The volcanic stratigraphy also includes the Blue Knob (New South Wales)/Hobwee (Queensland) Basalt.
The erosion of the Tweed Volcano has resulted in the exposure of its central feeders, most evident as Mount Warning and Mount Nullum. The central volcanic area near these mountains is known as the Mount Warning Central Complex and is composed of intrusive rocks such as syenite, peralkaline granite, and volcanic rocks like rhyolite and basalt. The Tweed Volcano's caldera has a diameter of around 30 kilometres and is surrounded by mountains and plateaus, including the Tweed Range, Lamington Plateau, and Springbrook Plateau. The caldera contains rich volcanic soils that support agriculture, particularly sugarcane crops.
The Tweed Volcano Group is home to various lithophytic plants, including Doryanthes palmeri, Hoya australis, and Dendrobium kingianum. The cliffs within the Tweed Volcano area host lithophytic species, and the mountains in the Tweed Caldera rim are covered in various forest types, predominantly subtropical rainforest. The Tweed Volcano has been recognised as a Landscape of National Significance by Australian Tourism and dubbed "Australia's Green Cauldron" under the National Landscape program.
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Agate Creek fossicking area
Agate Creek, located in Queensland, Australia, has been a popular spot for rockhounds and lapidary enthusiasts for over fifty years. The area is known for its abundance of agates, which are a type of chalcedony with a fibrous, banded structure that occurs in a variety of colours and patterns. Agate Creek is part of a valley system bounded by a weathering sandstone escarpment, and the agates can be found in the dry creek beds or just lying on the surface. The area is accessible by a gravel road that heads south from the town of Forsayth, and it offers a range of camping options for visitors.
The Agate Creek fossicking area is known for its colourful and uniquely patterned agates. The main areas of interest within the fossicking area include Black Soil Creek, Crystal Hill, Bald Hill, Simpsons, Blue Hills, and Flanagans. The agates can be easily separated from the decomposed lavas by hand digging, and they are often found in the basin-shaped area of Agate Pocket, which is underlain by volcanic rocks of the Agate Creek Volcanic Group. The area has a rich geological history, with intrusive bodies of rhyolite and the Connie May Dolerite penetrating the volcanics during the early Permian age.
The Agate Creek fossicking area is a great place for families and rock enthusiasts to spend a day exploring and collecting agates. The agates can be found in the dry creek beds or on the surface, and no digging is required. Visitors are advised to bring a bucket to carry their findings and plenty of drinking water, as it can get hot. The nearby Black Rock Waterhole and Banyan Spring offer a place to cool off after a day of fossicking. Camping is not permitted within the fossicking area, but there are nearby camping options, such as at Cobbold Gorge or with the permission of the landholder, David Terry, adjacent to Agate Creek.
The Agate Creek fossicking area is accessible by a gravel road that heads south from the town of Forsayth. The road is generally well-maintained due to the tourist attraction of Cobbold Gorge, but caution is still required when driving on it. From the township of Forsayth, visitors should head south-west towards Gilberton and then turn right after 11 kilometres for a further 15 kilometres to the North Head turn-off. After turning left and continuing south to the Robertson River, visitors will need to cross the river in soft sand and exercise caution at the Cave Creek crossing.
The Agate Creek fossicking area is a great destination for those interested in geology, lapidary arts, or simply looking for a fun outdoor activity. The area offers a unique opportunity to explore and collect agates, with their distinct colours and patterns, in a beautiful natural setting. Visitors are advised to plan their trip in advance and be respectful of the environment and any private properties in the area.
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Chalcedony in NE NSW Australia
Chalcedony is a term that covers a wide variety of cryptocrystalline quartz that presents in a range of colours, forms, and patterns. It is a tough material that is excellent for carving and has been used in jewellery and decorative arts such as sculptures, ornate bowls, and utensils. Chalcedony has been found in several places in Australia, including New South Wales and Queensland.
In New South Wales, chalcedony has been found in the following locations:
- Boggabri, Pottinger Co.
- Unnamed Cu occurrence, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna Co.
- Mount Eliza, Lord Howe Island
In Queensland, chalcedony has been found in the following locations:
- Powell property, Upper Beechmont, Numinbah Valley, Gold Coast City Shire
- Agate Creek fossicking area, Etheridge Shire
Chalcedony has also been found in Central Australia, where it was used in tool-making as early as 32,000 BP. Archaeological studies at sites in the Cleland Hills uncovered flakes from stone brought in from quarries many kilometres away.
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Chalcedony's historical use in Australia
The name 'Chalcedony' is derived from the Latin word 'Chalcedonius', which is rumoured to be derived from 'Chalcedon', an ancient seaport of Asia Minor, now Kadikoy, Turkey. It was used as a term for a translucent kind of jasper in Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia. Chalcedony is a significant mineral that has been steeped in culture, trade, religious expression and the evolution of human civilisation.
Chalcedony has been used in Australia for thousands of years, with archaeological studies uncovering evidence of its use in tool-making as early as 32,000 BP in Central Australia. At sites in the Cleland Hills, flakes of chalcedony were found, indicating that people were bringing stone to the sites from quarries many kilometres away. In addition, chalcedony was used for green and yellow colours in prehistoric cave paintings, such as those found at the Bhimbetka rock shelters. The chalcedony was ground into a powder and mixed with water, animal fat, or tree resin to create the paint.
Chalcedony has also been found in Queensland, Australia, specifically in the Tweed Volcano Group and the Agate Creek fossicking area in the Etheridge Shire. Chalcedony from the Tweed Volcano Group in Queensland, Australia, is mentioned in several sources.
Chalcedony has a wide range of practical uses due to its toughness and excellent carving properties. It has influenced the evolution of jewellery and decorative arts, including sculptures, ornate bowls, and utensils. Chalcedony seals dating back to circa 1800 BC have been recovered from the Palace of Knossos on Minoan Crete, indicating its use in the Mediterranean region during the Bronze Age.
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Frequently asked questions
Chalcedony can be found in the Agate Creek fossicking area, Etheridge Shire, Queensland, Australia. It has also been found in the Numinbah Valley, Gold Coast City Shire, Queensland, Australia. Chalcedony and carnelian have been found in NE NSW, Australia.
Chalcedony is a fibrous variety of cryptocrystalline quartz. It is a very tough material that is excellent for carving and has been used in jewellery and decorative arts.
Chalcedony can be found in a wide range of colours, including white, grey, black, red, orange, green, blue, and brown.
Chalcedony has been used in tool-making, jewellery, decorative arts such as sculptures, bowls, and utensils, and stone carvings.
