Who wants to go to Australia?
Mar 21, 2017 15:39:15 GMT -5
rockpickerforever, fantastic5, and 1 more like this
Post by pauls on Mar 21, 2017 15:39:15 GMT -5
I've been to that sunstone spot, very remote place in the Harts Ranges 200km or so North East of Alice Springs in Central Australia.
I didn't find anything as good as in the photos, everything I have has the shiny sparkly bits but cloudy and a sort of dirty orange mud colour, Its difficult to cut, not because of its lack of hardness but its fearsome cleavage and to get the best sparkle it needs to be cut at something like 45degrees to the cleavage.
Lots of other gems in the area too, Gem quality Zircons, Garnets, Iolite, Beryl, Quartz sceptres etc etc.
Its a fantastic place, stunningly beautiful and a great place for rockhounds, as long as you remember you are a long long way from assistance, not the sort of place you could do on a short holiday, you need to be self sufficient in everything, willing to camp rough and take your 4WD on some terrible rough tracks.
Forget the Spiders and snakes, you lot have Black Widows and Rattlers etc and don't care too much, we have various snakes and spiders (including the Black Widow which we call a Red Back)and never get into trouble, if you leave them alone they get out of your way. We don't have any animals that eat you either. Well sharks, but everyones got sharks.
I would suggest if you are coming to Aus for a rocking holiday Agate Creek is the place to aim for, it's doable for a shortish holiday, a days drive West of Cairns, again stunningly beautiful and remote but only half a day from supplies, you need to be self sufficient but there's bore water there and you will collect heaps of spectacular Agates, far more than the Airline will be happy with you carrying home.
I am just starting to plan my Agate Creek trip for this year, its a 1300Km round trip for me but well worth it, we will be heading off as soon as the weather cools down, its not a good place to be in summer, its the tropics so all the creeks and rivers are flooded and impassable and the heat and humidity is a killer, so June July August is our winter, dry season in the tropics and the best time to go.
Paul
I didn't find anything as good as in the photos, everything I have has the shiny sparkly bits but cloudy and a sort of dirty orange mud colour, Its difficult to cut, not because of its lack of hardness but its fearsome cleavage and to get the best sparkle it needs to be cut at something like 45degrees to the cleavage.
Lots of other gems in the area too, Gem quality Zircons, Garnets, Iolite, Beryl, Quartz sceptres etc etc.
Its a fantastic place, stunningly beautiful and a great place for rockhounds, as long as you remember you are a long long way from assistance, not the sort of place you could do on a short holiday, you need to be self sufficient in everything, willing to camp rough and take your 4WD on some terrible rough tracks.
Forget the Spiders and snakes, you lot have Black Widows and Rattlers etc and don't care too much, we have various snakes and spiders (including the Black Widow which we call a Red Back)and never get into trouble, if you leave them alone they get out of your way. We don't have any animals that eat you either. Well sharks, but everyones got sharks.
I would suggest if you are coming to Aus for a rocking holiday Agate Creek is the place to aim for, it's doable for a shortish holiday, a days drive West of Cairns, again stunningly beautiful and remote but only half a day from supplies, you need to be self sufficient but there's bore water there and you will collect heaps of spectacular Agates, far more than the Airline will be happy with you carrying home.
I am just starting to plan my Agate Creek trip for this year, its a 1300Km round trip for me but well worth it, we will be heading off as soon as the weather cools down, its not a good place to be in summer, its the tropics so all the creeks and rivers are flooded and impassable and the heat and humidity is a killer, so June July August is our winter, dry season in the tropics and the best time to go.
Paul
