Tasmania has an undeserved reputation as a nugget-poor location. In fact many nuggets over one ounce in size have been found historically in our goldfields.
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Who owns the minerals in Tasmania?
“A prospecting licence does not grant any right to a mineral, as an exploration licence or mining lease does, and the holder of a prospecting licence does not have ownership over a mineral found whilst prospecting”. Director of Mines, 14 August 2015.
Continue readingTasmanian agates
Agates have been found in a large number of localities around Tasmania, though only some places, such as Lune River, Little Swanport, Penstock Lagoon, Carrick and Calder are well known for their agates. Have a look at some images of Tasmanian agates.
Continue readingAlluvial gold part 2
In this second post on alluvial gold, I’ll go into other methods used traditionally (and nowadays) by prospectors: the cradle (or rocker box) and the sluice, as well as a modern invention, the highbanker.
Continue readingDrip Beach agates
One of the classic locations to fossick in southern Tasmania is Drip Beach, in Lymington, where you can find pebbles of grey lace agate scattered around the beach. Find out where it is, how to find lace agate, and what you can do with it.
Continue readingSmoky quartz on Mount Cameron
The Gladstone designated Fossicking Area is located on the northern slopes of Mount Cameron, in north-eastern Tasmania. In it you can fossick for gemstones such as topaz, smoky quartz, citrine, amethyst and clear quartz, as well as tin, possibly minor gold and other minerals. The main material that Mount Cameron is known for is its large smoky quartz.
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