ALFers trip to Powelltown Jan 9, 2016

[Jamo]

Rusted, saw some faceted pieces of Powelltown tourmaline today. It looked just like spinel. I talked to the owner who said if you pick your rough carefully you can get a good result

[Rusted]

I started to do one yesterday but ground into a flaw and it was only a small stone so flicked that into the garden. (When I move from here the new owners are going to wonder about all the interesting stones they dig up)


Paul

[wallie]

Hello. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Powelltown and putting a few faces to names. I managed to get a few nice stones as well. Thanks Jamo for organizing this trip.

[Jamo]

Hello. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Powelltown and putting a few faces to names. I managed to get a few nice stones as well. Thanks Jamo for organizing this trip.

Glad you enjoyed it Wallie, it was great to have you & Rob there. Trust you got home safely.


Rusted, how have your efforts gone after the 'flick'er?

[Rusted]

Jamo
Nah, the Tourmaline was a bit too unstable to cut such an intricate thin shape from, every time I tried getting it thin it would break, I gave up for now, I will cut a cab from it though.


Paul
 

[Jamo]

Jamo
Nah, the Tourmaline was a bit too unstable to cut such an intricate thin shape from, every time I tried getting it thin it would break, I gave up for now, I will cut a cab from it though.


Paul

  Happy cabbing!

[tinker]

Talking of stones in the garden a good place in Victoria to find a gem garden is at Buchan, we spent a week at a Farm Stay in that area and the owners of the farms grandfather was a rockhound, there is even a Mineral Museum at the spot and there are gemstones everywhere in the garden.  A feature of the garden are huge Japanese Maple Stump(Petrified) that were dug up by the farmers Grandfather, when he was ploughing a paddock.  Interesting place.

[Jamo]

Talking of stones in the garden a good place in Victoria to find a gem garden is at Buchan, we spent a week at a Farm Stay in that area and the owners of the farms grandfather was a rockhound, there is even a Mineral Museum at the spot and there are gemstones everywhere in the garden.  A feature of the garden are huge Japanese Maple Stump(Petrified) that were dug up by the farmers Grandfather, when he was ploughing a paddock.  Interesting place.

The place is called 'Stone Henge Caravan Park'. A great starting place for fossicking. Camp fires are allowed.

[dughug]

Stone Henge Caravan Park at South Buchan is a great place to stay. A good base for a fossicking weekend or longer. They used to supply mud maps and a sample box of what you look for. Their museum is an eye opener especially for the material that is available in the local area. The only problem we had when we were there was a cow on heat calling all night to the boys in the paddock next door to come and pay her a visit. Bloody thing kept us awake all night!

[havarim]

any alfsers been to flinders island .   we are going for a week  this month and have never been there.    any tips or comments good or bad experiences shared would be helpful.  of course the main thing is i want to find some topaz.   thankyou

[Jamo]

any alfsers been to flinders island .   we are going for a week  this month and have never been there.    any tips or comments good or bad experiences shared would be helpful.  of course the main thing is i want to find some topaz.   thankyou

Tip 1 - Dig like mad!
Tip 2 - Make John dig as well
Tip 3 - Keep doing tips 1 & 2
 

[alleycat]

Haveram  I have been to Flinders' island twice and both times have stayed at "Palana Retreat" . Palana Retreat is at the north of the island and very quiet. My wife and I love the place. You can find out everything about the place on the internet. I am assuming though that you have possibly arranged accommodation already though.
 Fossicking wise Killiecrankie bay is the main fossicking area in the sands and at each end of the bay.
 I was given a few tips as to where to look by an island friend of mine.She suggested that on driving down to the beach set out along the rocky shore to the left. We discovered two very narrow inlets with rocks and sand. the first and smallest produced a couple of nice topaz, but the second and slightly bigger sandy inlet produced some magnificent topaz crystals, one with it's full crystal shape and almost in pristine condition.
 We sieved up twenty crystals in this inlet and nearly all had natural facets still intact. My theory was that the crystals were shed out of the dirt at the back of the inlet and a couple of our friends worked in this dirt and every crystal was almost in pristine condition. No blues though. They are rather rare. I can give you some more info if you PM me and give me a few clues as to how you are getting there and where you are staying
 With 120 beaches ,national parks and fossicking the place is paradise.  Lots of luck and hope you let us all know about your trip.  PS. How about lots of photos and send a story to G.G.&T

[havarim]

big thankyou Alleycat.   your post made me feel excited about the trip and hopeful of finding topaz.   i will pm you with soon

[starsapphire78]

 LOL Snowman that woul be a site NOT to see