Rocks

[den]

Uncut topaz Dad fossicked from north Queensland. The coloured one is the size of a large pea.



I'll take them to a jeweller soon to see about cutting them.

Comments

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

There isn't a lot around here, just quartz, but Lightning Ridge is just 5 hours up the road (like black opals?), and there are gem fossicking areas all over Queensland, especially in the north.

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

I like regular rocks too. Whenever we go somewhere which has them, I usually load up the car. Florida has no rocks and I miss them.

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

You do have those incredible "fire opals", right? Any mines within reasonable distance?

[oceansedge.livejournal.com]

Fire opal - if I'm not mistaken is mostly Mexican, with some coming from Brazil.

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

True, but Australia does produce some; just not a lot.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Lightning Ridge is 5 hours north (black opals) Another 5 hours north of there are the Quilpie opal fields (boulder opals (http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/articles/boulder)) and about 20 hours west of here is White Cliffs (mostly white potch with stunning blues and greens, and fossils.)

In South Aus there are Coober Pedy and Andamooka but they're a little further than a day's drive.

Opal Fields (http://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/articles/fields.htm)

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

I'd heard that Australia had some spectacular opals. You confirmed it! *grin*