Lexi Webster
Chrysoprase is a green-coloured variety of quartz (chalcedony) with a nickel content of 1 to 3% that is found and mined in several locations. Australia is the only significant producer of the gemstone, with notable deposits in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gemstone colour | Monochromatic green |
| Composition | Cryptocrystalline variety of quartz (chalcedony) with nickel content of 1-3% |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Australian States | Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia |
| Cities/Towns | Rockhampton, Marlborough, Kookynie, Kalgoorlie, Perth, Sydney |
| Mines/Deposits | Gumagil mines, Mount Davies deposits, Wingelinna deposits, Yerilla, Marshall Pool, Yundamindra, Jamieson |
| Industry | Jewellery |
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What You'll Learn
Chrysoprase: Western Australia's 'unique' gemstone
Chrysoprase is a green-coloured, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz (chalcedony) coloured by a 1 to 3% concentration of nickel. It is one of the rarest and most highly prized varieties of chalcedony and is used in jewellery projects. The gemstone is found in several locations in Western Australia, including Yerilla, Marshall Pool, Yundamindra, Jamieson, and Wingellina. However, the majority of chrysoprase on the market today comes from Queensland, specifically from mines owned by GUMAGIL at Marlborough, which have been in continuous production for 35 years.
The name "chrysoprase" comes from the Greek, translating as "golden greenstone". In some cultures, the stone is believed to possess magical powers and is considered a symbol of love, luck, and peace. The best quality chrysoprase is a rich, translucent "apple" green colour, resembling jade. In Asian markets, it is often traded as "Australian Jade" and is highly sought-after for jewellery, sometimes commanding prices of up to $500 per kilogram.
Mining chrysoprase in Western Australia typically involves using a bulldozer to rip up the ultramafic rocks in which the gemstone is found. The rocks are then broken into chunks, and miners collect the pieces of chrysoprase by hand using hammers and buckets. This method of mining is possible because the surrounding rock is mostly soft iron oxide goethite, which does not require explosives to break through.
Chrysoprase was first discovered in the Middle Ages in what is now Poland, and it has been mined intermittently in Western Australia and South Australia since the early 1960s. The Mount Davies deposits in the far northwest of South Australia and the Wingelinna deposits in Western Australia are located near the western end of the Mesoproterozoic Musgrave Block.
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Occurrence in Australia's 'geologically diverse' Queensland
Queensland is a state in Australia's northeast, known for its diverse landscape, from tropical rainforests to sandy beaches and rugged outback. It is also home to significant deposits of chrysoprase, a rare and valuable gemstone.
Chrysoprase is a green variety of chalcedony, a type of quartz. It is prized for its rich, homogeneous colour, which can range from apple green to golden green. The gemstone is coloured by a nickel content of 1 to 3%. Queensland is known for its high-quality chrysoprase deposits, which are sought after by jewellers and collectors worldwide.
The gemstone is found in the central and northwestern regions of Queensland. The famous Marlborough deposits near Rockhampton in Central Queensland are particularly well-known for their high-quality chrysoprase. These deposits have been in continuous production for over 35 years and are currently the only source of Queensland's chrysoprase production. The mines are owned and operated by GUMAGIL, a leading miner and supplier of Australian gemstones.
The chrysoprase in Queensland is found in ultramafic rocks associated with nickel laterites. The hot, percolating groundwater in this region is rich in silica, which leaches nickel from the laterite, giving the chrysoprase its distinctive green colour. Mining chrysoprase in Queensland is relatively simple due to the soft nature of the surrounding rock, which mainly comprises iron oxide goethite.
Queensland's chrysoprase deposits have been mined for decades, with reports of bulldozer operations in the area as early as the 1970s. The gemstone has also been mined intermittently in Western Australia and South Australia, with deposits found near Kookynie, Kalgoorlie, and the Mount Davies area in the far northwest of South Australia. However, Queensland remains the primary source of chrysoprase production in Australia, solidifying the state's reputation as a significant gemological destination.
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Chrysoprase deposits in New South Wales
Chrysoprase is a green variety of quartz (chalcedony) with a nickel content of 1 to 3%. It is a highly prized gemstone, often used in jewellery and art. Australia is the only significant producer of chrysoprase in the world, with deposits in the states of Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales.
Chrysoprase is formed in the thick veins of rock that make up entire hills. The mining process involves using a D-8 Caterpillar bulldozer with a ripping hook to traverse the hill and expose the rocks veined with green chalcedony chrysoprase. Miners then follow behind the dozer with hammers and buckets to collect the loose chunks of the gemstone.
Chrysoprase has been used as jewellery and objects d'art for millennia. It is often traded as 'Australian Jade' in Asian markets and is in great demand.
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Mining history and techniques
Chrysoprase is a variety of quartz, or chalcedony, coloured green by a 1 to 3% concentration of nickel. It is a highly prized gemstone, used in jewellery and as a simulant for Imperial Green Jadeite. Australia is the only significant producer of chrysoprase in the world, with deposits in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia.
Mining of chrysoprase in Australia has been ongoing since the 1960s, with 2.5 tons produced between 1967 and 1969. The gemstone is formed in the thick veins of rock that make up entire hills. Mining operations involve using a D-8 Caterpillar bulldozer with a ripping hook to traverse the hills and tear up the chrysoprase-veined rock. Miners then follow behind with hammers, chipping off chunks of the gemstone, and collecting them in buckets. The buckets of gemstone are then hauled off to another area for sorting according to colour and quality.
In Queensland, chrysoprase is produced by mines owned by GUMAGIL at Marlborough, which have been in continuous production for 35 years and currently produce around 80 tons per year. Queensland deposits are considered to be the best in the country.
In Western Australia, chrysoprase has been mined at the Wingelinna deposits, located near the western end of the Mesoproterozoic Musgrave Block. However, mining operations in this state have been intermittent, with the last reports of production coming from 1975 to 1978, and small amounts being scraped from the surface since.
In South Australia, chrysoprase has been mined at the Mount Davies deposits in the Northwest Province. Reports suggest that around 10 tons of chrysoprase have been mined from these deposits, with small amounts also collected from the surface. The reserves at Mount Davies are unknown, but drill holes suggest that the gemstone may be present at depth.
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The gemstone's 'ancient origins'
Chrysoprase is a green gemstone that has been prized since ancient times. The name, which derives from the Greek, translates as "golden greenstone". It is a variety of quartz, coloured by a small percentage of nickel content. The best quality chrysoprase is a rich, translucent "apple" green. In some countries, the stone is believed to have magical powers and is a symbol of love, luck and peace.
Chrysoprase has been used in jewellery since at least the Middle Ages, when it was mined in what is now Poland. Today, Australia is the only significant producer of the gemstone, with the best deposits found in Queensland, specifically near Rockhampton in Central Queensland. It is also mined in Kookynie near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, and has previously been mined in South Australia.
The Marlborough deposits in Queensland are owned by GUMAGIL and have been in continuous production for 35 years, currently producing around 80 tonnes per year. The Queensland mines are located in the Outback, about 100 kilometres east of Perth. The chrysoprase is mined using a bulldozer, which tears up the rocks containing the gemstone, and miners then follow behind with hammers and buckets to collect the chunks of chrysoprase.
Chrysoprase is often sold as "Australian Jade" and is in great demand in Asian markets, where it can fetch up to $500 per kilogram. It is also sometimes passed off as jade in other markets, such as China, where it is carved into objects by lapidaries.
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Frequently asked questions
Chrysoprase can be found in Queensland, Kookynie near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and South Australia.
Chrysoprase is a monochromatic green gemstone. It is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz (chalcedony) coloured green by a nickel content of 1 to 3%.
Chrysoprase is mined using a D-8 Caterpillar bulldozer with a huge ripping hook or finger on the back. Miners then follow behind the dozer with a hammer and buckets to gather the loose chunks of the green gem.
Chrysoprase is in great demand in Asian markets, where it is traded as "Australian Jade". Good green translucent material can demand up to $500/kg.
Chrysoprase is used by lapidaries as cabochons and in jewellery projects.
