Fossicking Areas

in Tasmania

Department of State Growth

Mineral Resources Tasmania
 FOSSICKING AREAS
IN
TASMANIA

Compiled by
R. S. Bottrill & C. A. Bacon

(8th Edition)
August 2022

ISBN 0 7246 4015

Cover: Selina Wu panning for sapphires in the Weld River. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Sykora)

Mineral Resources Tasmania

Department of State Growth

PO Box 56 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018

Ph: (03) 6165 4800
Email: [email protected] Internet: www.mrt.tas.gov.au
 50
40

600000mE
60
KIL L IECRANKIE BAY

TASMANIAN
FOSSICKING AREAS

50 50

WEYMOUTH
GLADSTONE
PENGUIN
WELD RIVER

Launceston "
MAGNET
40 40
LORD
BRASSEY

COLEBROOK HILL

TUNNEL
MARSH

30 30

Hobart "

5200000mN 5200000mN
COAL H ILL
LUNE RIVER
600000mE
40

50

While every care has been taken in the preparation of these guidelines, no warranty is given as to the correctness of the
information and no liability is accepted for any statement or opinion or for any error or omission. No reader should act or fail to
act on the basis of any material contained herein. Readers should consult professional advisers. As a result the Crown in Right of
the State of Tasmania and its employees, contractors and agents expressly disclaim all and any liability (including all liability from or
attributable to any negligent or wrongful act or omission) to any persons whatsoever in respect of anything done or omitted to be
done by any such person in reliance whether in whole or in part upon any of the material in these guidelines.

2
 Contents
Fossicking Areas in Tasmania.......................................................................... 4
Personal Protection ................................................................................. 5
Fossicking and Gem Clubs ..................................................................... 5
Conditions relating to Fossicking Areas ............................................. 6
Lune River .................................................................................................. 8
Coal Hill....................................................................................................12
Penguin......................................................................................................14
Colebrook Hill ........................................................................................16
Lord Brassey Mine .................................................................................20
Magnet Mine ............................................................................................24
Weld River ...............................................................................................30
Killiecrankie Bay...........................................................................................34
Weymouth .....................................................................................................38
Gladstone Hill .........................................................................................40
Tunnel Marsh ...........................................................................................42

3
Fossicking Areas in Tasmania
There are many localities within Tasmania containing interesting collectable
geological material with interest to collectors, or with potential for lapidary
purposes. In recognition of the recreational activity of fossicking, some of the
best of these areas have been set aside for the use of fossickers.
The areas shown in this booklet have been declared official Fossicking Ar-
eas under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995. This means the areas
shown are specially set aside for the use of fossickers and gem and mineral
collectors, and will normally not be included in any exploration licence or
mining lease application.
The areas extend from the ground surface to a depth of two (2) metres.
Below the two metre limit, the ground may be included in an exploration
licence or mining lease. Explorers will be expected to use the same prospect-
ing methods as fossickers, i.e. no costeaning, trenching, large scale pitting or
drilling without the written permission of the Director of Mines, subject to
conditions to protect the integrity of the site.
Conditions apply to the use of Fossicking Areas. Fossickers should avoid caus-
ing undue damage to the land, and should take only a ‘fair share’ of material.
Don’t be greedy! Fossicking areas are set aside for the long-term use of ama-
teur fossickers and cannot sustain any degree of commercial collecting.
Please read the Conditions Relating to Fossicking Areas (page 6) and be sure
to abide by them when in the field.

Panning for sapphires. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Sykora)

4
 Personal Protection
While fossicking can be a fun recreational activity, there are several things to
remember before venturing to one of Tasmania’s collecting sites:
• Wear a broad-rimmed hat whenever working in the sun and use a sun-
block preparation.The Tasmanian sun may feel cool, but it can burn rapidly.
• Always use appropriate clothing — take a warm jumper, raincoat and
wear sturdy footwear.
• Be prepared for snow and rain at any time of year, and very sudden chang-
es in weather, particularly in western Tasmania.
• Wear goggles or safety glasses when smashing rocks.
• Gloves will help protect your hands.
• Take extreme care when fossicking near old mine workings or pits, and
avoid entering shafts, tunnels and trenches.
• Never visit isolated areas alone and always let someone know of your
plans.
• Be alert for snakes and other dangerous wildlife, steep slopes, and slip-
pery water courses.

Fossicking and Gem Clubs

Club contacts change frequently. A list of recent contact addresses can be
obtained by visiting:

Tasmanian Lapidary and Mineral Association (TLMA)

https://tasmanianlapidarymineral.weebly.com

Or by contacting Mineral Resources Tasmania:

Mineral Resources Tasmania

PO Box 56
Rosny Park Tasmania 7018
Telephone: (03) 6165 4800
Email: [email protected]

5
Conditions relating to Fossicking Areas

Fossickers do not need a permit to fossick in the designated Fossicking Areas,

although the conditions on pages 6 and 7 of this booklet must be followed.
Fossicking outside of designated Fossicking Areas is ILLEGAL without a
prospecting permit. Further details are available from the Registrar of Mines
(address on page 5).
1. The areas are to be used by amateur fossickers only. Removal of material
for commercial purposes is prohibited.
2. Fossicking Areas are on land managed by various agencies. Fossickers
should be aware that entry into some areas may be restricted due to
timber harvesting, reseeding, burn-offs and so on.
3. Only hand fossicking for material is allowed.The use of power-operated
equipment, mechanised equipment, or any explosives, is prohibited. All
care is to be taken in the fossicking of materials and any diggings shall be
restored to normal surface level before leaving the area.
4. No fossicker shall remove from any area, in a period of 48 hours, a quan-
tity of gemstones, semi-precious stones or rocks or any combination
thereof exceeding 10 kg.
5. Any material capable of being removed by hand becomes the property
of the fossicker. If the material found is of such weight that it cannot be
carried by hand by a single person it shall remain the property of the
Crown and shall not be removed from the area nor shall it be destroyed.
The presence of such material shall be reported to the Director of
Mines (address on page 5).
6. Fossickers will ensure that run-off or drainage from their diggings is dis-
charged so as not to erode or pollute any land, stream or creek.
7. Fossickers will conduct operations in a manner so as not to cause or
aggravate soil erosion.
8. No major excavation is permitted on any natural stream bank. Creek
and river banks must not be undermined.
9. There will be no fossicking in roadside gutters, or extraction from road
embankments.
10. No track cutting is permitted.

6
11. No trees or shrubs having a trunk diameter of more than 100 mm will
be cleared, ring-barked or cut.
12. Rare or unusual specimens of fossil material found on Crown land re-
main the property of the Crown so as to ensure that opportunity exists
for proper study of the palaeontology of these areas. Discovery of ma-
terial that is not recognised as common should be referred to Mineral
Resources Tasmania (address on page 5) or the Tasmanian Museum and
Art Gallery.
13. Discovery of mineral specimens not recognised as common should be
referred to Mineral Resources Tasmania (address on page 5).
14. No Aboriginal artefacts or sites, or historic relics (including mining rel-
ics) or sites, should be damaged or removed.
15. No speleothems (stalactites etc.) are to be removed from limestone
caves, whether these be previously broken or not. Removal of speleo-
thems is an offence and offenders can be prosecuted.
16. No excavation is to be made in any sinkhole in a karst area or within 10
metres of the entrance of any cave.
17. No fossicking is permitted within any cave, nor in any underground
workings.
18. Vehicles will not be taken off formed tracks.
19. No fires will be lit without the permission of the relevant land manager.

Panning in the Weld River. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Sykora)

7
Lune River
ACCESS
This 5 km2 area is located about 100 km south of Hobart, and is reached via
Huonville on a good sealed road as far as Lune River. The Leprena Track is
located 2.3 km. past the South Lune Road turn-off. The track itself continues
for 1.6 km to a locked gate and a creek crossing which prevent further vehic-
ular traffic.
COLLECTING AREA
The main collecting area is in the vicinity of the junction of the South Cape
Road and Leprena Track, at approximately MGA reference 491 910 mE, 5 187
580 mN. Lapidary material is widespread, occurring on the surface, in buried
gravel layers (digging tools required), or in outcrops, creeks and small pits.
Please note that collecting is not permitted in the Southport Lagoon Conser-
vation Area, which covers most of the area east of the Leprena Track.
Collecting within the proclaimed Lune River Fossil Site is also not
permitted.

MATERIAL
The area yields petrified fern (commonly, but incorrectly, described as man-
fern), agate, petrified wood and jasper.The petrified fern is highly prized, both
scientifically, and in lapidary circles and Lune River is one of the few sources of
this material known within Tasmania. The material is derived from the weath-
ering of some Jurassic lavas and sedimentary rocks and is unique in Tasmania,
and therefore of geological significance.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
• The Southport Lagoon Conservation Area is excluded from the Fossick-
ing Area.
• Any finds of unusual fossils or other geological features should be re-
ferred to either Mineral Resources Tasmania (address on page 5) or the
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
• The Fossicking Area excludes a block of private property, the proclaimed
Fossil Site and the Southport Lagoon Conservation Area, as shown on
the map opposite.
• Open fires are not to be lit and there will be no ‘burning off’ to facilitate
digging without the approval of the District Forest Manager.

8
 Ida !
(
Bay
Ida
Bay

TASMANIAN

Lune

Sugarloaf SOUTHPORT LAGOON

Lune River
WILDERNESS Fossil Site CONSERVATION AREA
Fossicking prohibited

(Fossicking prohibited)

WORLD HERITAGE
F.R. 241344/1

AREA

(Fossicking prohibited)

Catamaran
(approx. 10 km)

0 1 2 km

Lune River Fossicking Area.

9
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Fossickers sometimes journey to Benders Quarry, off South Lune Road, whilst
in the area. Specimens of travertine and calcite crystals have been found in the
quarried limestone. The quarry has been closed and the area is now in a Na-
tional Park within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area managed by
the Parks and Wildlife Service. Collection of specimens from the quarry site is
Illegal without the permission of the Parks and Wildlife Service.
Stilbite, heulandite and other zeolites (crystals and massive forms) have been
collected at another quarry on South Lune Road, operated by Forestry Tas-
mania. Entry into this quarry can only be made with the permission of the
District Forest Manager.

Crystalline agate.

10
Cross-section through a petrified log.

Colourful sample of petrified fern.

11
Coal Hill
ACCESS
This 9 km2 area is about 90 km SSW of Hobart, and is reached via Huonville
on good sealed roads as far as Lune River or Dover, and then on fair unsealed
roads and forestry tracks. The Lune River fossicking area is nearby. Travellers
should watch out for log trucks and forestry operations.
COLLECTING AREA
Over an area around and to the southeast of Coal Hill, approximately four
kilometres northwest of Hastings. Collecting is best in recently clear-felled
areas of forest.
MATERIAL
The area yields fine specimens of agate, jasper, chalcedony and petrified wood.
Some agates may contain geodes with crystalline quartz and rarely amethyst.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
• No fossicking within 200 m of the centreline of the Hastings Caves Road.
• No fossicking to take place in any area of new plantation or regeneration
until the trees are five metres tall or five years old, whichever is the soon-
er, subject to the discretion of the District Forester.
• No fossicking to take place within any area where a forestry operation is
being carried out (e.g. logging, clearing, burning, sowing or planting).
• Fossickers abide by Forestry safety, health and welfare regulations.

Coal Hill jasper. (Photo courtesy of Lunaris Gemstones)

12
 TASMANIAN

WILDERNESS

WORLD

HERITAGE

AREA

(fossicking prohibited) Coal

Hill Z
!

Z
!

Hastings
(
!
Hastings
Thermal Springs
RIVER

Lune (! Gem
River Shop HASTINGS
BAY
LUNE

0 1 2 km Ida Bay !(
Catamaran (approx. 15 km)
Principal fossicking areas (Lune River fossicking area
Z
! is approx. 2 km to the south)

Coal Hill Fossicking Area.

13
Penguin
ACCESS
This 0.5 km2 area is located adjacent to Lonah Road between Ulverstone
and Penguin in northwest Tasmania. The area is about 100 km northwest of
Launceston and 20 km southeast of Burnie, and can be reached via Penguin or
Ulverstone on good sealed roads. Because of the coastal location, tidal charts
may need to be consulted.
MATERIAL
Jasper occurs as small water-worn red pebbles scattered along the foreshore.
Pebbles are found near to, and between large, dark-coloured rocks which are
Cambrian volcanic rocks. These foreshore rocks form part of the Penguin
Geological Monument, recognised by the Geological Society of Australia as
a site of special significance. The rocks near Tea Tree Point are part of the
Motton Spillite, and include good examples of basalt `pillows’. This location is
used by teaching excursions at Secondary and Tertiary level, and fossickers are
requested not to damage the basalt formation.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Fossickers may collect the loose jasper pebbles but must not damage the rock
formations.

Penguin Jasper. (Photo courtesy of Mathew Latham)

14
 B AS S S T R A IT

Tea Tree Point

Penguin
Point

0 1 km

Penguin Fossicking Area.

15
Colebrook Hill
ACCESS
This 0.5 km2 area on the West Coast is about 90 km southwest of Burnie and
200 km northwest of Hobart. It can be reached via Queenstown or Rosebery
on the Murchison Highway, a good sealed road.Access to the site is easiest via
the Williamsford Road. There is a turnoff to the west about 4.3 km from the
Murchison Highway junction, from where a four-wheel drive track is current-
ly navigable for about two kilometres before the track becomes overgrown,
with fallen trees and boggy patches. About 3.5 km along the track is a fork,
and fossickers should take the western fork for another 500 metres until the
mine dump is reached.
Travellers should be prepared for snow and other severe weather conditions
at all times (both on the road and in the bush).
COLLECTING AREA
The collecting area lies near the top of Colebrook Hill, 4.5 km southwest of
Rosebery. A small open cut on the southern side of the hill, close to the sum-
mit (at MGA reference 374 910 mE, 5 371 880 mN) affords a good collecting
location.
MATERIAL
This location has produced Australia’s best ferroaxinite specimens, some of
which are world class.The deposit occurs in an unusual rock type, sometimes
described as a limurite or axinite-hornfels. The rock has formed because bo-
ron-rich solutions from an underlying granite reacted with limestone or other
reactive calcium-rich rock types. The mine was originally worked for copper,
but minor silver, gold, tin, lead, zinc and tungsten minerals are also present.The
deposit is very complex and of great mineralogical interest.
Minerals, many rare, that can be collected and identified in hand specimens
include:
• Calcite CaCO3 — very common as white to colourless massive material,
enclosing other minerals, and less commonly as well-formed rhombohe-
dral crystals.
• Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 — common as massive or granular material with
a bright brassy yellow colour and rough fracture, sometimes tarnished
purplish.
• Danburite CaB2(SiO4)2 — rarely observed as pale yellow to colourless
orthorhombic crystals.

16
 LAKE
Melba

Rosebery
Golf Course

Rosebery
(approx. 3 km)

i
!
Colebrook
Hill Westcott
Hill

4WD tracks only

0 1 2 km

Colebrook Hill Fossicking Area.

17
• Datolite CaBSiO4(OH) — uncommon, as glassy white or very pale blue-
green, short prismatic monoclinic crystals to about 20 millimetres.
• Ferroaxinite Ca2(Fe,Mn)Al2BSiO4O15OH — this is the dominant mineral
in the lodes and occurs as massive or crystalline material of a deep violet
brown colour. Well-formed wedge-shaped triclinic crystals up to 20 mm
in length occur, and may be very lustrous and attractive.
• Arsenopyrite FeAsS - rather abundant as massive material or as excellent
orthorhombic crystals to about 10 mm, with a bright silver-grey colour.
• Quartz SiO2 — this is quite common as massive material and as hexago-
nal crystals, milky white in colour, to about 20 mm in length.
• Tremolite-actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH,F)2 — this occurs as a mas-
sive, coarse-grained fibrous material, and as radiating aggregates and rag-
ged to fibrous monoclinic crystals, up to a centimetre or so in size. The
colour is usually a pale grey-green.
• Scheelite CaWO4 — this mineral has been reported to occur rarely as
small groups of white tetragonal crystals.
Other minerals reportedly found at this locality include pyrite, pyrrhotite, bor-
nite, galena, sphalerite, marcasite, tetrahedrite, azurite, olivenite (var. leucochal-
cite), malachite and cuprite.

Arsenopyrite - orthorhombic crystals about 10 mm, with a bright silver-grey colour.

18
Ferroaxinite occurs as massive or crystalline material of a deep violet brown colour (green mineral
is actinolite).

Fossicking at Colebrook Hill.

19
Lord Brassey Mine
ACCESS
The Lord Brassey mine is located on Brassey Hill, about 17 km west of Wara-
tah in western Tasmania. Access to the 0.6 km2 fossicking area is via a very
rough and steep four-wheel drive track heading north from Waratah Road,
about 300 hundred metres west of the Heazlewood River picnic area. The
mine is reached after travelling approximately 1.5 km along the 4WD track.
COLLECTING AREA
Most fossicking is done on the dump adjacent to the mine (adit) entrance close to
the top of the hill, at approximately MGA reference 359 410 mE, 5 408 680 mN.
THE MINE AND ITS MINERALS
This small mine operated on a nickel sulphide occurrence in ultrabasic rocks
(now mostly serpentinite).The sulphide ores probably formed after deforma-
tion of these rock types, and later weathering converted some of the sulphi-
des into carbonates. Minerals, many rare, that can be collected and identified
in hand specimens include:
• Andradite Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 — ‘chrome’ green veinlets in serpentine.
• Antigorite Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 — apple green serpentine.
• Awaruite (Ni,Fe) — metallic white, rusty.
• Chrysotile Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 — white, asbestiform serpentine.
• Clinochlore Mg6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 — chlorite, dark green.
• Diopside CaMgSi2O6 — white veins in serpentine.
• Dypingite Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2.5H2O — pale blue to white, botryoidal crusts
on serpentine.
• Heazlewoodite Ni3S2 — bronzy yellow metallic patches in serpentine.
• Hellyerite NiCO3.6H2O — pale blue coatings and small crystals, <2 mm.
• Lizardite Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 — black serpentine.
• Magnetite Fe3O4 — small black grains, in serpentine.
• Molybdenite MoS2 — small patches of massive dark grey to occasionally
purple grey.
• Opal SiO2 — glassy veinlets in serpentine.
• Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 — brassy yellow metallic patches in serpentine.

20
 Burgess
Hill

Pursells
Plain

Gabbro
Hill

! Mine
i workings
and dumps
Brassey
Hill

Savage River
(10 km)

Luina

Duffs
Hill

Wrights Heazlewood
Hill
Hill

0 1 km

Lord Brassey Mine Fossicking Area.

21
• Reevesite Ni6Fe 3+(CO )(OH) .4H O — a lemon yellow crust on sulphi-
2 3 16 2
des in serpentine.
• Retgersite NiSO4.6H2O — pale to mid blue, powdery crusts.
• Theophrastite Ni(OH)2 — a green crystalline crust on slickensided ser-
pentine.
• Zaratite Ni3(CO3)(OH)4.4H2O — emerald green, blue green and olive
green coatings and mammillary, stalactitic or amorphous encrustations
along the shear planes and joint surfaces of the serpentine.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Historic mining relics occur in this area. Fossickers are asked to respect these
relics by avoiding disturbance of historic workings and not collecting artefacts
(e.g. bottles, pieces of machinery, etc.) from this area.
Under no circumstances should fossickers enter the disused adit.

Fossickers at Lord Brassey.

22
Zaratite (emerald green) and Hellyerite (pale blue crystals < 2 mm) on a sample from Lord
Brassey.

Zaratite (bright green opaline coating, no crystals).

23
Magnet Mine
ACCESS AND COLLECTING AREA
The old Magnet mine is located six kilometres directly west of Waratah in
western Tasmania, although access is by a somewhat circuitous route. The
mine is reached by traversing an unsealed road (the Magnet Road) leading
off the sealed Waratah Road opposite Whyte Hill (on which a Telstra tower
has been erected).This junction is approximately 12 km west of Waratah.The
track is steep and badly eroded and is best restricted to 4WD vehicles.
The main collecting area is the ferromanganese gossan, which is located above
the ruins of the old mill beside the access road (at MGA reference 370 210 mE,
5 410 830 mN).The collecting point is reached after travelling approximately 3
km along the unsealed road and passing through a gravel pit.The Magnet Road
continues back to Waratah, but is almost impassable due to washouts.
MATERIAL
The site is important as it is one of only a few publicly accessible locations for
crocoite and yellow cerussite.
This mine has been intermittently worked for silver, lead and zinc for many
years, and more recently for specimen minerals. The primary ore consists of
sulphide minerals in a banded carbonate vein in basic and ultrabasic rocks.
There is an extensive oxidised zone developed above this, with many interest-
ing secondary minerals in the gossan.
COLLECTING
Minerals that can be collected on site include:
• Anglesite PbSO4 — occurs uncommonly as attractive white orthorhom-
bic crystals to a few millimetres, with crocoite, pyromorphite and emb-
olite.
• Argentite (acanthite) Ag2S — small patches and scales of this metallic grey
mineral occur in galena.
• Arsenopyrite FeAsS — occurs commonly as small prismatic crystals to a
few millimetres in vughs in siderite and quartz.
• Boulangerite Pb5Sb4S11 — this grey metallic sulphide usually occurs as
fibrous or fine-grained bands with galena.
• Cerussite PbCO3 — this mine is famous for its ‘chrome cerussite’, which
occurs rather abundantly as very attractive crystalline aggregates of
yellow crystals, possibly coloured by traces of chromium. More normal
white to colourless cerussite also commonly occurs at the mine.

24
 Old mill and
township site

Main gossan/
collecting area
Main mine
workings

Quarry
Magnet
Dam

Luina
(approx. 4 km) Philosopher
Falls

0 1 km

Magnet Mine Fossicking Area.

25
• Chalcophanite (Zn,Mn,Fe)Mn2O5.2H2O — this mineral occurs as finely
drusy masses of lustrous purplish black hexagonal crystals on gossan, with
small cerussite crystals. It is also massive and dark brown.

• Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 — this mineral occurs as fine grains in primary ore,

with sphalerite and siderite.
• Chlorargyrite AgCl — this mineral forms waxy masses and crusts, varying
from yellow to green when fresh, darkening to violet brown with expo-
sure to light. It is an important secondary silver ore in the gossans. It has
been called ‘embolite’, the bromian variety.
• Chromite/magnesiochromite (Fe,Mg)Cr2O4 — occurs as small, lustrous,
black crystals to one millimetre in the green country rock.
• Coronadite PbMn8O16 — this mineral is present in the gossans as massive
or stalactitic, hard black material.
• Crocoite PbCrO4 — this mineral occurs rarely as attractive, fine, mono-
clinic prismatic crystals to 50 mm, with a bright orange to red colour.
The crystals occur as entangled masses, as single crystals on gossan, or
intergrown with yellow ‘chrome cerussite’. Terminated crystals, unusual
for this mineral, also occur.
• Dolomite Ca(Fe,Mg)(CO3)2 — common as a gangue mineral in the prima-
ry ore, with a white to brown colour, often described as ankerite. These
banded ores may make attractive specimens.
• Galena PbS — this metallic grey mineral with perfect cubic cleavages was
an important primary ore of lead, and is still common there.
• Goethite FeO(OH) — an important constituent of the gossans. Usually
massive, powdery yellow to brown and black when massive.
• Greenockite/hawleyite CdS — this occurs as a bright yellow powdery
coating on gossan.
• Lepidocrocite FeO(OH) — this mineral occurs as red patches with an-
glesite on goethite.

• Mimetite Pb5(AsO4)3Cl — relatively common in the gossans as small, co-

lourless to yellow, orange, red and brownish-green hexagonal prismatic
crystals, containing a little chromium. Sometimes described incorrectly as
vanadinite, endlichite, pyromorphite or carminite.

• Muscovite KAl3Si3O10(OH)2 — the green, Cr-rich variety ‘fuchsite’ can be

collected in altered wallrock samples on the dumps.

26
• Phosgenite Pb2(CO3)Cl2 — another rare secondary lead mineral record-
ed in the gossans as rather large adamantine, brown to colourless crystals
on galena. Rarely reported, but probably mistaken for anglesite or cerussite.
• Plumbojarosite PbAl6(SO4)4(OH)12 — this powdery yellow-brown miner-
al occurs uncommonly on gossan.
• Proustite Ag3AsS3 — this ‘ruby silver’ mineral was reported as rare pris-
matic hexagonal crystals and thin coatings, sometimes with native silver.
The fresh mineral is an attractive scarlet vermilion, but darkens to black
with exposure to light. It has reportedly been recently collected.
• Pyrargyrite Ag3SbS3 — this ‘ruby silver’ mineral is very similar to proustite
in appearance and occurrence. It was reported here as rare crystals and
in association with galena and native silver.
• Pyrolusite MnO2 — this powdery brown-black mineral occurs in the gos-
san.
• Quartz SiO2 — fine quartz crystals occur in some veins.
• Rhodochrosite MnCO3 — recorded as a primary mineral in the ores,
sometimes termed ‘manganosiderite’, grading into siderite.A pinkish min-
eral with pearly cleavages.
• Siderite FeCO3 — recorded as a primary mineral in the ores, sometimes
termed ‘manganosiderite’, grading into rhodochrosite. A brownish miner-
al with pearly cleavages.
• Silver Ag — ‘native’ silver was an important secondary mineral in this
deposit, where it occurred as hair-like patches in sphalerite. It is a silvery
metal, often tarnished grey or black.
• Sphalerite ZnS — common in the primary ores with galena, siderite, etc.
It is black and coarsely crystalline, with good cleavages.
• Smithsonite ZnCO3 — this mineral is rare in the gossans, but occurs as
translucent grey hexagonal-rhombohedral crystals lining cavities.
Other reported minerals (not all confirmed) include:
ankerite matlockite pyromorphite
symplesite aragonite pharmacosiderite
acanthite (argentite) phoenicochroite tetrahedrite
minium stibnite jamesonite
kottigite

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Historic mining relics occur in this area. Fossickers are asked to respect these
relics by avoiding disturbance of historic workings and not collecting artefacts
(e.g. bottles, pieces of machinery, etc.) from this area.

27
Magnet Mine fossicking.

28
Magnet Mine mimetite.

Magnet Mine cerussite.

29
Weld River
ACCESS
This 2 km2 area is adjacent to the Tasman Highway at Moorina in northeast
Tasmania, and is about 250 km NNE of Hobart and 70 km northeast of Laun-
ceston.The area can be reached by the Tasman Highway, either via Scottsdale
or St Helens.
COLLECTING AREA
The two main collecting areas are shown on the accompanying map. One is
reached from Frome Road, which leaves the Tasman Highway opposite the
Moorina Golf Course, by walking along the banks of the Weld River.The other
is reached via an all-weather track which leaves the Tasman Highway approxi-
mately two kilometres south of Moorina.
MATERIAL
This area has extensive alluvial deposits which were worked for tin for many
years. The alluvial material was derived by weathering and erosion of granite,
basalt and other rock types.
Corundum (‘Sapphire’) Al2O3 — this is one of the most sought after minerals
in the area, and is moderately common as subrounded to well-rounded grains,
usually small but rarely up to a few centimetres in size.The colour is usually a
dark blue, but is sometimes green or parti-coloured. Some dark grains show
chatoyancy from included rutile, and may be termed `star sapphire’. Tabular
fragments of hexagonal crystals are often seen.The mineral is thought to orig-
inate deep in the crust and was brought to the surface in Tertiary basalt. Some
pink stones found in the area have been described as ruby.
Spinel (pleonaste) (Mg,Fe)Al2O4 — this is one of the more common heavy
minerals in the alluvial materials and occurs as subrounded to well-rounded
grains up to about a centimetre in size. The colour is usually opaque black in
hand specimen, but it may be blue, green or brown in transmitted light. Her-
cynite was known as `blackjack’ amongst tin miners. Well-formed octahedral
crystal fragments are often seen. The mineral is thought to originate deep in
the crust and was brought to the surface in Tertiary basalt.
Cassiterite SnO2 — this was the major economic mineral in northeast Tas-
mania, and tin mines were widespread in the area. It is still abundant as a
major constituent of the heavy black alluvial sands, occurring as subrounded
to well-rounded grains up to a few millimetres in size. Cassiterite is usually a
dark brown to black colour, but is sometimes ruby red (`ruby tin’).The mineral
originated in the tin-bearing granites common in the area.

30
 Moorina
Hill
Moorina
!
(

Private
Creek Land Z
!

Z
!

Harridge
Falls

Weld
Hill

0 1 2km
Z
! Main areas for sapphires

Weld River Fossicking Area.

31
Topaz Al2SiO4(OH,F)2 — this occurs as occasional small glassy grains to a few
millimetres in size, usually colourless, pale blue or translucent white. It was
derived from the tin-bearing granite.
Chrysoberyl BeAl2O4 — this rare mineral has been found as small grains in
alluvial materials. It superficially resembles sapphire but is always pale green.
Some grains are red under artificial light, indicating that they are the variety
‘alexandrite’. Some stones exhibit a ‘cats-eye’ chatoyant effect, and are known
as `cymophane’. Their origin is uncertain, but may be in deep-seated rocks,
brought up with sapphires etc., although some other beryllium minerals have
been recorded in some of the tin granites.
Zircon ZrSiO4 — this is one of the more common heavy minerals in the allu-
vial materials, and occurs as angular to well-rounded grains up to a few milli-
metres in size.The colour is usually pale pink to reddish brown, and tetragonal
crystals are often seen. The mineral has a mixed origin; some is derived from
granite, while some of the coarser zircon is thought to originate deep in the
crust, and was brought to the surface in Tertiary basalt. This is shown by Ter-
tiary ages obtained from fission track dating.

Panning in the Weld River. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Beruldsen)

32
Uncut sapphires and topaz, won from river sediments.

Weld River cut sapphires.

33
Killiecrankie Bay
ACCESS
This 1 km2 area is 30 km north of Whitemark on Flinders Island in Bass Strait,
and is reached via air or sea and then on unsealed roads. Because of the coast-
al location tidal charts may need to be consulted.
COLLECTING AREA
The main collecting area is among granite boulders on the foreshore in the
vicinity of Diamond Gully (MGA reference 572 610 mE, 5 592 080 mN).
MATERIAL
The area yields topaz crystals and pieces (known colloquially as ‘Killiecrankie
Diamonds’), along with smoky quartz and rare zircon and beryl. The main
product from this area is the topaz.
Topaz Al2SiO4(OH,F)2 — this occurs as glassy, well-formed orthorhombic
crystals or waterworn pebbles, usually colourless to pale blue but also trans-
lucent white or in pale shades of pink and yellow. Crystals up to about 20 mm
in size are abundant, and some up to 80 mm have been reported. The topaz
was derived from tin-bearing pegmatite in the local granites, but is rarely seen
in-situ here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Topaz occurs in other locations around Killiecrankie Bay, including another
area of potential interest to fossickers, the old Tanners Bay tinfield nine kilo-
metres to the south of Killiecrankie.

The creek draining Diamond Gully in Killiecrankie Bay. (Photo courtesy of Mike Vicary)

34
 BASS

STRAIT

Old Mans
Head MOUNT
KILLIECRANKIE

Little
Island

Killiecrankie
Bay

Nobbys
Rocks

!
( Killiecrankie

0 1 km

Killiecrankie Bay Fossicking Area.

35
Following a pegmatite vein in granite outcrop; digging off coarse pebbles and panning fine
material below the high tide mark. (Photo courtesy of Emily McPhee)

36
The results of a trip to Killiecrankie Bay.Waterworn “Killiecrankie diamonds” (topaz). (Photo
courtesy of Mathew Latham)

Cut “Killiecrankie diamond” (topaz). (Photo courtesy of Tony Forsyth)

37
Weymouth
ACCESS
This 0.5 km2 area, on the shoreline of Bass Strait at Weymouth, is about 200 km
north of Hobart and 50 km north of Launceston. It can be reached via Pipers
River on sealed roads. Because of the coastal location tidal charts may need
to be consulted.
COLLECTING AREA
The main collecting area is on a beach west of Weymouth at approximately
MGA reference 511 310 mE, 5 460 580 mN.
MATERIAL
The area has yielded fine-grained quartz pebbles, petrified wood and some
agates and chalcedony, all of which are regarded as important sources of tum-
bling material for lapidarists.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
This area is surrounded by private property. Public access to the foreshore
can be obtained from public roads at the eastern end of the fossicking area.

Samples of chalcedony, fine-grained quartz and petrified wood collected at Weymouth. (Photo
courtesy of Kelly Marie Slater)

38
 B AS S S T R A IT

NOLAND
BAY

Weymouth

0 1 km

Weymouth Fossicking Area.

39
Gladstone Hill
ACCESS
This 8 km2 area in northeast Tasmania is about 90 km northeast of Launces-
ton and 250 km NNE of Hobart. It can be reached on good sealed roads via
Scottsdale or St Helens, using the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Road, or via
Bridport using Waterhouse Road.
COLLECTING AREA
The main collecting area is around the old tin workings associated with Ah
Kaw Creek, Mt Cameron Creek and Alhambra Creek (MGA reference 583
510 mE, 5 464 180 mN).
MATERIAL
The area has yielded good specimens of smoky quartz, clear quartz, amethyst,
topaz and jasper.The area is particularly renowned for large crystals of smoky
quartz.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Historic mining relics occur in this area. Fossickers are asked to respect these
relics by avoiding disturbance of historic workings and not collecting artefacts
(e.g. bottles, pieces of machinery etc.) from this area.

Gladstone Hill smoky quartz. (Photo courtesy of Mathew Latham)

40
 Scotia Mine
RINGAROOMA (inactive)
i
!

Gladstone

Gravel i Pioneer
pit
! (approx. 15 km)

Mine i
! i
! Mine
Old mine
i
!

i
! Mine
Hibbertia Mine
workings i
!
Hill

First
Sugarloaf

0 1 2 km

Gladstone Hill Fossicking Area.

41
Tunnel Marsh
ACCESS
The area is about 80km NW of Hobart, and is reached on sealed roads via
Bothwell or Ouse, and fair unsealed roads thereon.
COLLECTING AREA
Interesting material occurs over most of Tunnel Marsh (MGA reference 462
410 mE, 5 323 480 mN).
MATERIAL
Agate, jasper and petrified wood are found over most of Tunnel Marsh and are
extracted by shallow digging. The material is generally inferior to that found
at Lune River.

Tunnel Marsh agate. (Photo courtesy of Mathew Latham)

42
 Bradys
Lake

Dee
Bradys
Sugarloaf

0 1 km

Tunnel Marsh Fossicking Area.

43
 Mineral Resources Tasmania
PO Box 56 Rosny Park
Tasmania Australia 7018
Ph: +61 3 6165 4800

info@ mrt .tas.gov.au www.mrt.tas.gov.au