I'm just an amateur mineralogist and mineral collector who is concerned, as I'm sure are many others with the same interests, about the future of field mineral collecting in Australia.

Having been involved with minerals since the mid 1970's, I have observed a gradual errosion of access to collecting sites.
I don't know what the situation is like in other countries, however, after discussions with other collectors in Australia, most concur with my view.

There are a number of reasons for this dwindling access, but below I will cover what I believe to be the most obvious.

1. Restrictions imposed by Mining Companies.

The primary reason for restricting access to their mine is in response to stricter Occupational Health & Safety Regulations in Australia. This has led to a fear of possible litigation and compensation for injuries.
They perceive the potential of being sued by collectors in the event of an accident if they were allowed onto the mine site.
The whole issue of allowing non employees on site is placed into the "too hard basket" by mining companies and it is just easier to refuse access. I'm actually not aware of any incidents in Australia where a collector had been injured whilst on a mine site, let alone legal action being taken. I would be eager to hear from anyone with evidence to the contrary.

2. Closure of old iconic collecting sites.

This reason can be broken down into 3 sub categories:

a) The mine has closed due to the ore body having run out to the extent that even the dumps have been processed.

b) The mine has closed and the site has been reconstituted by dozing the dumps into the shafts or open cut, termed "site rehabilitation".

c) The collecting site has become National Park.

3. Another significant reason is that the mine is no longer producing collectable material. This could be because mining has ceased in the area where specimens where originally located and/or the part of the deposit where specimens used to be found has been worked out. The lack of collectable material may also be due to the mining method.

4. Let us not forget that in some instances collectors are also to blame for some sites being closed. Typically, not getting prior permission from land owners, not cleaning up the site or backfilling holes after fossicking and not leaving farm gates as they were found.

Below are just a few locations that come to my mind that are now closed or in other ways inaccessible to collectors:

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA:
CONDOBOLIN AREA, MINERAL HILL FIELD
BROKEN HILL, YANCOWINNA CO. BLOCK 14 OPEN CUT
KINTORE OPEN CUT
BLACKWOOD OPEN CUT
GLEN INNES, GOUGH Co., KINGSGATE
NORTHPARKES, NORTHPARKES MINE, ENDEAVOUR E26

NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA
BATCHELOR, RUM JUNGLE, BROWN'S PROSPECT

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA:
CLONCURRY, MOUNT ISA, GREAT AUSTRALIA MINE

SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA:
EYRE PENINSULA, MIDDLEBACK RANGE, IRON MONARCH
FLINDERS RANGE, ARKAROOLA
OLARY PROVINCE, BOOLCOOMATTA, DOME ROCK COPPER MINE
MT LOFTY RANGES, BURRA BURRA MINES (BURRA COPPER MINE)
MT LOFTY RANGES, TOM'S PHOSPHATE QUARRY

TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA:
QUEENSTOWN, MOUNT LYELL MINES
WARATAH, MT BISCHOFF MINE

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA:
BUNDOORA, BORAL LIMITED QUARRY
FLINDERS, FLINDERS AREA
LAKE BOGA, LAKE BOGA GRANIT QUARRY
PHILLIP ISLAND
PORTLAND, CAPE GRANT, PORTLAND HARBOUR TRUST QUARRY

I wish to make clear however that field collecting in Australia is still possible. One should however be prepared to have to put in a lot more effort.
This effort may be in following up with current mining companies, not necessarily hasselling them. Just check your contact how the operations are going and if they have noticed collectable minerals showing up. Check with them if and when there could be a chance to do some collecting.

It may also mean visiting and contacting mines in more remote areas. For example, one hears very little about smaller mines in Western Australia and the Australian Outback in general.

Then there are some of the smaller abandoned historic sites where, if you are able to relocate them, there is always the chance of turning up something, even if it ends up being only very small. So dig out the old mining maps and get going with your GPS.

Collectors need to keep in mind that it may also be easier to get access to collecting localities if they are a member of a formal mineral society or club. So join up. And hopefully there will be positive results.

So in summary, there is still hope for us field collectors. After all, mining will not cease in the foreseeable future in this country and whilst mining continues there is always the chance for some field collecting.

What does the rest of the Australian Mineral community think? For that matter, what's the situation like in other countries?

In the meantime, if there are Australian collectors out there who have inside knowledge that there is still access for collectors to some of the places I listed ealier, or other places in Australia, feel free to respond.