NSW - Tingha Sands

[Wwoofa]

Well here's the inaugural "Location of the Month". I thought I would start with one of my favourite places to find excellent specimens with very little effort

July's location is Tingha Sands.

Tingha Sands is a company that mines sand from the extensive old tin mining sand dumps on their property. I believe this is the same property as "Chathams" which was a well known fossicking location in the past.

Basically they put the sand thru a machine that washes it and removes the "oversize" material. The oversize contains whole quartz crystals and various broken pieces in a wide range of sizes. The quartz can be clear, citrine or smoky. It is very common for the quartz to contain rutile needles - just a few or almost totally filling the quartz. This is known as rutilated quartz or "Grass Stone" and the Tingha area is famous for extremely good examples. Tin and small sapphires can also be found in the sand.

You can either scratch thru the oversize dumps or sit "under" the washing machine waiting for good bits to drop down .... if you choose the latter be very careful not to get hit in the head! Use some water (available in the dams) to check what you find for quality.

The property is located 4.5km from Tingha on the Howell Rd (431 Howell Rd). Coming from Inverell, when you get to the centre of the Tingha township, turn right onto Howell Rd.  The GPS coords are UTM 6683638N 56323648E (WGS84).

It currently costs $10 per person to fossick. I'm not sure if you can go out on any day so maybe give them a call before arriving (02 6723 3549 or 02 6723 3523). It's also worth checking if the sand washer is operating before you go.

Link to Capt Mendoza's very excellent article ...
http://jewellerypirate.com.au/blog/tingha-sands/

Link to original ALF topic ...
http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=144.0

Link to the World of Shiny Stuff ...
http://fossicking.daruthe.com/fossicking.php?type=location&id=64

Link to Whereis ...
http://www.whereis.com/nsw/tingha-2369/yellowId-13646607

Some pictures ...

Sand Processing Plant ...




Oversize Dumps ...




Rutilised Quartz (photo by Xenolith) ...




Rutilised Quartz (photo by Xenolith) ...




Some "Glass Stone" (Holbrooks Hot Sauce I think?) ...

[Lapis Lupinus]

It's a good spot. I got some nice rutilated quartz and terminated smokies there a few years ago (when the machine was running, and no-one else was there to compete with at the machine drop-zone).

[Jimnyjerry]

A good idea to ring before you go to make sure they are not processing the fine sands.  You want them processing the lumpy material. 

[Wwoofa]

I've added a link in the original post to the World of Shiny Stuff

[bjhodgkin]

Hey guys,

Has been a while and unfortunately coming back with some bad news. We rang Tingah Sands and they said 'fossicking' while the trommel is working is no longer an option - Not sure of full story but, like lots of things these days, has been stopped due to safety/license reasons.

Its still open to fossicking and still lots to find on the dumps I'm sure - I'll still be going.

Rob

[bjhodgkin]

ps - its only the catching crystals under the trommel which has been stopped, not the specking and digging on old piles, away from working areas.

[soccermum]

Hi All yes I can confirm that you are no longer allowed to stand under the goodie chute as apparently some people stood too close and were hit on the head...such a shame as I loved the fun of hearing the plop plop plop of the goodies came out. We spent the day there yesterday digging around on the heaps and found some lovely specimens...very sore muscles today but well worth while.

[Gemster]

I heard somebody nearly lost an Eye But at least you can still dig in the piles.....
 Glad you found some Goodies

     Gemster.....

[Jimnyjerry]

Never were allowed to stand under the chute. Just had to have a hard hat on ones head and a long handled shovel to scoop up the dropped crystals.

The terminally stupid have wiped out another easy way to collect crystals.
Only thing we had to worry about used to be keeping up the sunscreen

[Gemster]

Apparently She reached in and a piece of Quartz 'Bounced' off the pile into her Eye.... A Fluke Shot as they say , but it stopped a great pastime....
    Gotta love OH&S...For Overly Hopeless and Stupid People

   Gemster....

[soccermum]

It is such a shame...I love the acronym Gemster...yet another step towards a bubble wrap society. Still, we can be grateful that we have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed the experience!

[RockSpectre]

my husband n i went there last year. spent approx 4 hours there.  chose the wrong heap. note make sure the dirt is easy to dig not Rock hard. trying to dig through cement like sand gets one nowhere. i did leave with some nice smoky quartz. plan to go back there this year. now that i have more proper tools. trying to use a Small hammer n pick dont work. believe me. my fossicking kit comprises a small ball hammer, mallet/pick. two shovels. sieves n gloves. also heaps of Jarrah coffee containers. just the right size for dropping smaller specimens into. if one doesnt mind the coffee smell. 

[Jimnyjerry]

Some of the heaps at Tingha Sands are certainly cemented in.
Still found specking them good. Just had to make sure I dug some footholds so I did not fall of the heaps. 

I tend to use a bucket while collecting and plastic containers for storing the finds. Glass jars have a habit of breaking for me.

[starsapphire78]

 Once again a few bad word idiots have ruined it for those  who have common sense

[Dragonfly]

So sad to hear about Tinga. Some people should not be allowed out on a fossicking site.