New to Victoria, love lapidary, faceting and fossicking.

[jasper_11]

Hello everyone,

I'm relatively new to Victoria and also fairly new with fossicking. I'm originally from Queensland and moved to Melbourne 2 years ago. I've recently bought my equipment including: 2 mesh classifiers, a bucket, pick, shovel, and a gold pan. I also have my Victorian Miner's Rights, and am keen to get started. My mum will be staying in Rutherglen soon, and we're both excited to explore some fossicking spots within an hour or so's drive from there.

My passion for lapidary work began back in high school around 2006/2007, but I only picked it up again about a year and a half ago. More recently, I've ventured into faceting and am currently over 27 hours into my first stone (haha), a quartz standard brilliant (64). Combining this with my newfound interest in fossicking, I'm particularly keen on focusing on gemstones using the classifier concentrating and flipping techniques.

We'd greatly appreciate any tips on good locations, necessary permits, or any general advice about fossicking and lapidary work in the area. Looking forward to connecting with fellow enthusiasts and perhaps even joining up for a fossicking adventure!

Cheers,
Jasper

[Manficat]

Hey mate,
My story is quite similar to yours.
I don't often get that far north of Melbourne, but I've heard of garnets in Barnawatha, and I'm sure you know of gems in Beechworth. Also some quartz in Yackandandah.
Good luck with faceting!
Manficat

[Faceting Frank]

Hi jasper_11 and welcome to the forum.
Can't help with the fossicking in your area. What faceting machine do you have?

[jasper_11]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I only facet at my local lapidary club, their machines seem somewhat custom. They are probably 40+ years old, on wooden bases with 0-90 degree adjustment and a decently high mast that locks in place along two slideways. It has a 1 inch diameter spindle, where could I find plates for this spindle?
As I am currently using the clubs copper laps that I have to re-charge often enough.

I've not made the leap to purchasing my own machine yet, though I've certainly browsed a bit!

Found a copy of Gemstones of Victoria which has some pretty decent info in it, not going to be too fussed if I come up empty handed haha.
Will be an adventure nonetheless.

[Rusted]

Plated laps can be found all over the place, Aussie Sapphire,  Ebay, Aliexpress etc

[RoughCreations]

Yeah, lots of good things for the beginner facetor available at AussieSapphire: https://www.aussiesapphire.com.au/faceting/diamond-laps/

[Bucket]

Welcome to the Forum Jasper 11. While a good book, Gemstone of Victoria is pretty outdated now. I haven't seen a recent copy, but mine still lists Cardinia Creek, which has been under water for 50 odd years. I would suggest checking it there's any local lapidary clubs that you might join. They usually have the best local information on fossicking. A quick check on Google indicates there's one at Albury and one at Wangaratta. You might make some enquiries around Rutherglen. Good luck with fossicking and faceting.

[Bucket]

Scratch the Wangaratta one, there is one at Shepparton though.

[Rusted]

There used to be two at Shepp, the Shepparton club and the Goulburn valley Club.