fossicking around Rockhampton area

[goltzy75]

Hi!
   I live in Rockhampton and when we can't get out to our Sapphire claim, my 9yr old son and i like to fossick around Rockhampton.(not much luck). Does anyone know of any interesting areas round here?
     Thanks,
               Jason

[mehoose]

Jason, join a club, your son would be allowed to go on fossick trips. These guys should know of areas to look. Not sure of age in QLD to be allowed to use the machines but it's priceless seeing their face when they shape something they've found.
I'll have a read in my 'Bible' but if you can find one on ebay, it's worth it.
It's called 'How and where to find gemstones in Australia & New Zealand' by Bill Myatt. Write ups and maps. Just remember a lot has changed over the years so you would have to check whether sites are still accessible or on private land.

[goltzy75]

Yeah! Great book. I have it but as you said, a lot has changed! Most of the roads have been moved and it,s mostly private property now as well.

[Wwoofa]

Hi Jason,
I assume you know about Mt Hay where you get thundereggs.  I'll check my mud maps and see if I can find anything in that area.
Regards, Paul

[Wwoofa]

Marlborough is not too far away ...... you can get Chrysoprase there.

[goltzy75]

Thanks guys fo the info! We've had a go around those areas with little success. I heard there was garnets at The Caves just north of Rocky but am unsure where.

[Fullerton]

Hi,

It's a gloriously rainy Saturday in Cloncurry Qld at the moment ... being on the fringe of cyclone Olga's cloud .... so have been reading Bill Myatt's book.  Under the opal section it mentions 'green opalite, in seams of serpentinite, is found in the Marlborough area' and 'dendritic, brown red opaque and yellow transluscent opalites can be found in the Rolleston region south west of Rockhampton'.

I would assume you are aware of the Mt Hay thunder egg site west of Rockhampton ... but mentioned it just in case.  I'd imagine it would be a good site to take your son.

Cheers,
Fullerton

[mehoose]

I like the info about the rocks and the fact that the maps have old mines marked. Good for those who want to check out the tailings, providing access is allowable.
To have taken his journeys must have been awesome.

[goltzy75]

Cloncurry! I lived in Cloncurry around 1978 when i was really young. My grandparents lived there for a long time. My grandfather was in the railway there. Good fossicking round there?

[Fullerton]

Fossickings great around Cloncurry ... I've mainly chased garnets and amethyst.  However there's also some iolite, smokey quartz, flourite, peridot, moonstone, beryl, tourmaline, opal, ribbon stone, petrified wood and fossils within a half days drive.  Also plenty of minerals samples ... esp copper based minerals.  There's a good half dozen sites I've ear-marked to try this year for the first time.

[Jimnyjerry]

Also gold, rutile and maltese crosses

Check for info at the Mary Kathleen Memorial Park also has a mineral display.

Take care on the tracks as the metamorphic rocks can really rip out the side of your tyres.  Even at less than 5 kph 

[Trickynicky]

Hi, Goltzy75, I am a learner in the Rocky Area also. The Lapidary club in the Walter Reed Buildind is great and has a very good junior program. Unfotunatly they do not go on field trips and have very limited info on this area. Last time I checked it was very difficult to find chrystophase around Marlborough as the mine has closed of all the areas around and do not permit fossickers on their property. I live in Mount Morgan and am haviny fun finding the odd bit of gold by panning.

[mehoose]

Welcome to ALF Trickynicky 
Rocky eh!  Yup, couldn't get the air con cold enough when I was there.

[goltzy75]

Hi Trickynicky!
                  Can you tell me what nights the classes are and how much?

[Trickynicky]

I can find out  I will let you know soon