NSW - Hogarth Range

[Wwoofa]

March's location is the Hogarth Range.

You may wish to change your "Next Location of the Month" vote now that this one has been covered ... http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5028.0

The Hogarth Range is located in northern NSW approx. 30 km west of Casino.  High quality Labradorite (a type of Feldspar) can be easily found here weathering out of the basalt soil.  The gemstones are often very clear and range in colour from clear to honey to pale yellow.  The size of the gems are commonly 10-20mm but can be larger.  Fossicking is not hard as the gems are found in the top 15cm of soil.  I recommend using a small hand-pick, some garden tools and a small seive.

The fossicking areas are on private property but access is generally permitted after contacting the owner.  A small fee may be charged.  To get to the area first drive approx. 4.5 km towards Casino from Mummulgum on the Bruxner Hwy or 25km west from Casino.  Turn south onto Bulmers Rd.  After 7.8km turn right - on Google Earth this road is marked as Mummulgum Creek Rd - on topo maps it's marked as a continuation of Bulmers Rd.  Travel about 800m along this road and you will find a house on your left.  The landowner lives here.  I think his name is Steve but the property may have changed owners since I was last there a few years ago.  For many years there was an "honesty box" on the fence where you could leave money for fossicking if no-one was home.  I don't know if it still exists?  If anyone has been there recently then perhaps they can let us know?  (There is some info from 2013 in Frosty's trip report below)

After getting permission and paying your fee, park your car on the side of the road and walk to the paddock suggested by the owner.  Almost any paddock on the opposite side of the road to the owner's house contains Labradorite.  The paddocks are ploughed so people suggest that it's better to dig near the treeline or in the treed area beside the paddocks.  It is possible to find nice specimens without digging as they can sometimes be found amongst the leaves or in gullies.

Here's a link to Frosty's excellent Aussie Adventure to Hogarth Range (great info, pics and a map).
http://www.frostysaussieadventures.com/Trip2013/13dd19.htm#day152

Link to a previous ALF thread (good info and some nice pics from gammyknee).
http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=332.0

A nice specimen of Labradorite ...


A typical "fossicking field" ...

[Gemster]

Looks like Steve has stopped you driving down to the big Gum trees.... You could drive through a gate and head down to the Gums to park, and then over to the left was the Digging area..

From memory I think he charges about $5 now, but well worth it...... 


   Gemster....

[Rej]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I was wondering if this site is still open and if anyone has the landowner's details they could PM me.

I'd like to go down for a crazy day trip from Brisbane one of these weekends but for that I would need to arrange permission/payment ahead of time.

[Gemster]

Yes Rej, Steve is still the Owner I think, it has been a few years ago since I have been

 Here is a map....     http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/Frosty2/Fiver/2013/2013-09-23-LazzaRock/2013-09-23-Hogarth-Range-Labradorite.jpg

Steve has a honesty box at his gate... So all you do is pay a fee ($3 when I went) and off you go... I will see if I still have his number....

  Want to share Petrol costs for the Day Rej?....

  Gemster......

[Gem Ranger]

If you don't mind the company I might join you guys. It just depends if I can fit it in work wise. The 7hr round trip is going to be a pain but I've always wanted to do at least one trip down there.

GR

[Gerda]

Hi,
My husband and I went there about the end of May this year (2017). We followed the directions and distances we found in previous posts but couldnt find the gate. We stopped at the gate of a mango farmer and found that we had come a little too far and on retracing our steps we found the appropriate entrance, wheel tracks through a gate between tall grass. Once inside the paddock was recognisable from the pictures others have posted on this site. We hunted around for a while, I specked and my husband did a small amount of digging and we found a jar full of small labradorite pieces, nothing big. Since returning home I have put them through the tumbler and they have lots of inclusions, not nearly as good as the material we found at Springsure.
The mango farmer told us which house definitely belonged to Steve and that he probably wasnt home. We left, I think it was $3 each, in the box on his fence.
It was an interesting, but not particularly profitable, fossicking day. You should go to the area while the mango session is on, that would make it worth while!


Happy fossicking,
Gerda

[Gemster]

You will never make Money Fossicking Gerda. .. And Guess what... It's MANGO Season..

  Gemster......

[Gerda]

Hi Gemster,
" Profitable", as in meaning productive and successful, not money making! I have never sold a stone in my life, in fact its a costly hobby but it takes us to places that we would otherwise not visit and we meet interesting and wonderful people.
Yes, mangoes should be available right now and it would be a great time to visit.
Regards,
Gerda

[Rej]

Thanks for replies everyone, glad to know it's still an honesty box. That makes it easier to go last minute. Speaking of which, I haven't actually got a date set for my trip but I'll be sure to let you guys know when I do.

[snowman3195]

snip, snip ...

 Here is a map....     http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/Frosty2/Fiver/2013/2013-09-23-LazzaRock/2013-09-23-Hogarth-Range-Labradorite.jpg

Gemster......

Here is my 'clearer' map - Photobucket is causing me dramas.

http://www.frostysaussieadventures.com/Fossicking/Images/Maps/NSW-Hogarth-Range-Labradorite.JPG

Frosty.

[Gemster]

Photobucket is causing Everyone problems. .. Thanks Snowman...


  Gemster....