Click here to view [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-95.html][b]Best Minerals Quartz[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?tab=65][b]Best Minerals A to Z[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/mesg-63-159134.html][b]Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles[/b].[/url] Can you help make this a better article? [b]Quartz - Australia SiO[sub]2[/sub] trigonal[/b] Here will go the best quartz pictures that we have from Australia and some general comments about the quartz specimens from Australia.There are localities out there with fine specimens that are not even mentioned on mindat. Also in some instances there are sometimes pictures on mindat, of specimens from a locality, but they were so ratty that I did not include them here, but there may also be really good specimens from there that we should talk about in this article. This article will focus on crystallized quartz; chalcedony and other micro- and crystalline varieties like agate and chrysoprase are also prolific and may be best served with a separate page. Any comments or corrections are also welcome. [pic id=171329 width=800 float=left]Smoky Quartz 7cm tall, Mooralla, Victoria, Australia, [/pic] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Clive Co., Torrington[/b] [pic id=50294 width=400 float=left]Smoky Quartz 7cm tall[/pic] [pic id=194231 width=418 float=center]Japan law Quartz twin 2.2cm longest edge[/pic] This area is an old tin mining area with quartz and cassiterite veins in granites, mostly mined ~100 years ago and long abandoned. Good quartz crystals are peridodically found by fossickers. [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Clive Co., Torrington, Silent Grove Mine[/b] [pic id=194309 width=300 float=left]Smoky Quartz, 1.35cm tall[/pic] [pic id=506400 width=300 float=left]Smoky Quartz, 165mm x 40mm [/pic] These were recovered from an old tin mine known as Silent Grove, the geology is representative of the granite-hosted cassiterite deposits found throughout that area. Large groups and thousands of single crystals, upto 40cm long were collected about a decade ago in a commercal operation to recover Cassiterite specimens for the collector market. Some very impressive Cassiterite clusters to 10cm and single to 4cm were recovered on smokey quartz crystals. Silent Grove was a working tin mine and from what I have been able to ascertain was first worked in the early 20th century." I have a specimen matching this one, labeled Silent Grove Road, Torrington. A good number of these superb crystals were found in about 1998 -1999. As I heard it, contractors were digging a trench for roadworks, when luckily some collectors came by and noticed the crystals, and eventually a big dig ensued. There have been a number of other quartz outcrops producing good specimens in the area exposed following logging and road works. [Jon Mommers 2009] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Clive Co., Torrington, Bismuth Dam[/b] [pic id=484504 width=300 float=left]Citrine overgrowing Smoky Quartz, 17cm x 14cm[/pic] [pic id=484704 width=300 float=left]Citrine overgrowing Smoky Quartz, 6cm x 2cm[/pic] A large collapsed clay-filled vugh was discovered in a granite outcrop in the Bismuth Dam region of the Torrington area in 2012. The pocket was dug over 3 days (and a night, hence the name "Moonlight Pocket" !) and yielded over 2000 crystals. These specimens were mostly single crystals with an average size of about 5cm long and in rare cases up to 18cm long. As there has been some post-growth movement in the pocket, only a few clusters were found intact. These crystals featured an unusual growth structure featuring a central core of black Smoky Quartz and then a secondary out growth of richly coloured Citrine. In places the two quartz layers are separated by a thin layer of sericite mica causing the outer quartz layer on the stems of the crystals to have been weathered away, exposing the dark Smoky Quartz stems. The end result is an almost "Scepter" appearance. This is most noticeable in the single crystals as can be seen below: [Patrick Gundersen 2012] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Drake Co., Drake, Ewingar Creek[/b] [pic id=248647 width=400 float=left]Hematite coated Quartz 2.5cm tall[/pic] Located in Ewingar State Forest, east of Drake NSW, Ewingar Creek alluvials contain large euhedral smoky quartz crystals and occasionally amethyst, many of which are water-worn to some degree. Weathered pegmatite vughs in the surrounding granite have produced well-formed smoky quartz crystals to 40 cm and smaller single crystals with secondary amethyst overgrowths. [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Gough Co., Kingsgate district, Maurers Mine[/b] [pic id=249135 width=400 float=left]Bismuthenite in Quartz 32cm tall[/pic] Numerous good crystals, often with a smoky colour occur in the various mines in this area. We could perhaps list some of the individual mines?, eg: Maurers mine, Kingsgate district Marks & Vickery prospect, Kingsgate, Gough Co., New South Wales, Australia. Yarrow River Molybdenite (Yarrow River), Kingsgate, Gough Co., New South Wales, Australia [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Gough Co., The Gulf, Rumsby's Pipe [/b] [pic id=506398 width=400 float=left]Candlewax Quartz, 160mm x 60mm [/pic] [pic id=487941 width=400 float=left]Japan twin Quartz, 1.5 cm x 1 cm [/pic] I dont know much about this site but some great "candlewax" quartz crystals were found here, with white quartz overgrowing smokey crystals. The story goes that many of the Japan twins were found growing quite thickly on plates of fluorite, the effect looking somewhat like a swarm of butterflies. [D. Sheumack] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Gough Co., Torrington, Torrington district[/b] [pic id=157989 width=400 float=left]Quartz 16.5cm wide[/pic] Torrington township is in Clive county, but part of the tin field is in the neighbouring Gough County, with similar specimens. [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Gowen Co., Tambar Springs[/b] [pic id=171357 width=500 float=left]Quartz on Stellerite 10.5cm wide[/pic] This general area is well known for fine stellerite and heulandite. Early on many specimens were labeled Coonabarrabran or Gunnedah, both towns a long way from the main collecting sites. There are at least three principal sites: Garrawilla Station, Coonabarabran district, Pottinger Co., New South Wales, Australia Glendowda Station, Tambar Springs, Pottinger Co., New South Wales, Australia and Mount Mitchell Station, Tambar Springs, Pottinger Co., New South Wales, Australia. Specimens are found in large cavities in vesicular basalts with pink stellerite and red heulandite, which sometimes have attractive globular clusters of drusy quartz overgrowing them. A large amount of material has been collected by private collectors and dealers, but most landowners present have banned collecting due to some colectors doing the wrong thing by them. [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Hardinge Co., Copeton Dam[/b] [pic id=143726 width=400 float=left]Quartz 8.5cm tall[/pic] Copeton is a popular fossicking area, and an area best know mineralogically for diamonds. [More info needed] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Hardinge Co., Tingha[/b] [pic id=102004 width=400 float=left]Rutilated Quartz 2.5cm Tingha[/pic] Tingha is a popular fossicking area, particularly at Stannifer, 10 km north-west of town along a bitumen road. [More info needed] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Parry Co., Nundle, Hanging Rock[/b] [pic id=50288 width=400 float=left]Quartz 2cm tall[/pic] Hanging Rock is an old gold mining village and also a rock face on the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. This former gold mining town is situated about 10 km south east of Nundle. Nundle is noted as one of the best areas in the State for crystals. Some gold and other precious stones to be found include zircons, green jasper, sapphires and serpentine minerals Nundle was established at the foot of the Great Dividing Range when gold was discovered at “The Hanging Rock” and nearby Swamp Creek in 1852. By June 1852 there were 300 diggers on the fields at Oakenville Creek.[2] . Prospectors from California, Europe and China were also digging along the Peel River and up the mountain slopes. [More info needed] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Robinson Co., Cobar, Kaloogleguy, CSA Mine[/b] [pic id=83289 width=400 float=left]Quartz 3cm wide[/pic] CSA Mine is an underground copper mine located in Cobar, Central Western NSW. The mine initially started in 1871 with an erratic production history until 1964, when Broken Hill South Ltd began large scale production. The mine passed to CRA in 1980 and then to Golden Shamrock Mines in 1992. The mine was closed in 1997/8 following its acquisition by Ashanti Goldfields and was reopened in 1999 by Glencore. Since 1965 the mine has extracted substantial quantities of zinc, lead, silver and copper, but today, CSA Mine focuses on mining copper, with a silver co-product. Good specimens are rarely seen. References: - Chapman, J. R. (2005): A note on some unusual primary minerals from the CSA mine, Cobar. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, 11, 73-74. [More info needed] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Westmoreland Co., Oberon, Blue Hill quarry[/b] [pic id=81074 width=325 float=left]Smoky Quartz & Muscovite 5.5cm[/pic] [pic id=120932 width=440 float=center]Smoky Quartz 3.6cm wide[/pic] [pic id=203053 width=325 float=left]Smoky Quartz 5.5cm tall[/pic] The smoky quartz crystals from Blue Hill are found in north/south striking quartz veins cutting metasediments of Ordovician age. The quartz veins are genetically related to fluids from nearby granitic intrusions of Carboniferous age. Although veins up to one meter wide have been found most are between a few centimeters and thirty centimeters. The crystals are retrieved from clay filled vughs which appear randomly within the veins. Gem clear crystals up to fifteen centimeters have been observed and larger ones most probably exist. Although rarer, groups or clusters of crystals have also been collected. [Mark Rheinberger 2009] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Westmoreland Co., Oberon, Tarana District[/b] [pic id=81076 width=400 float=left]Quartz var. smoky 22.5cm tall[/pic] [pic id=81745 width=400 float=center]Quartz, amethyst scepter 6.5cm wide[/pic] Tarana lies within a narrow section on the eastern side of the Bathurst Batholith. The granites that make up the Bathurst Batholith are mostly barren of mineralization, although Feldspar, Quartz and Clays were mined in the Tarana district. Around Tarana and other areas to the south, Quartz (Amethyst, Smoky) and Feldspar crystals have been found in small gas cavity pegmatite bodies (miarolitic cavities). These cavities are difficult to locate but occur in the granite generally near the margin of the batholith. [Mark Rheinberger 2009]] The Smoky Quartz crystals range in size from tiny to about half a meter long (to date). Crystals often show signs of multiple episodes of growth and sometimes Amethyst forms last covering the smoky with small amethyst crystals. Amethyst scepters also occur occasionally on the smoky quartz. [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Yancowinna Co., Broken Hill[/b] [pic id=221706 width=400 float=left]Quartz FOV ~5cm [/pic] Bipyramidal quartz crystals, to about 10mm diameter. Good crystals to a couple cm occurred in some Ca-Mn carbonate veins in these mines. They were usually quite glassy, but some were amethystine, and other pink (probably mostly due to overgrwing rhodochrosite). [we need a real good image] [b]Australia[/b] [b]New South Wales, Yancowinna Co., Corona station[/b] [pic id=221717 width=380 float=left]Quartz var. amethyst 3cm wide[/pic] [pic id=163036 width=424 float=center]Quartz 13.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=18845 width=380 float=left]Quartz 7cm wide[/pic] This was an important site for collecting amethyst in the 1970’s-1980’s, but I gather the site is nearly worked out now. The actual site was on a neighbouring station, accessed via Corona, but I forget the name now. The collecting focused a on a couple veins with open vughs with generally small crystals to about 1 cm. They range from pale to very deepl coloured. [url=http://www.mindat.org/photo-208968.html] Some samples are quite green [/url], from bleaching from exposure to the sun (these contain fine inclusions of a green micaceous mineral). Other are smoky to near colourless. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Northern Territory, Harts Ranges (Hartz Ranges), Entia Valley[/b] [pic id=224990 width=380 float=left]Quartz var. amethyst 2.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=225911 width=424 float=center]Quartz scepter FOV 2.8cm[/pic] [pic id=455969 width=380 float=left]amethyst reverse sceptre 3.7cm X 1.4 cm.[/pic] [pic id=430539 width=380 float=left]sceptre 23.9 x 13.4 x 13.3 mm[/pic] [pic id=441637 width=380 float=left]Sceptre 20mm tall[/pic] [pic id=424355 width=380 float=left]amethyst sceptre, 40x40mm[/pic] [pic id=441646 width=380 float=left]amethyst sceptre, 65x30mm[/pic] This site was only found in the 1990's I think, but has become a minor classic site for sceptre crystals, though they are usually small. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Northern Territory, Harts Ranges (Hartz Ranges), Harding Springs[/b] [pic id=248653 width=400 float=left]Quartz var. amethyst scepter 2.5cm tall[/pic] Although the Entia Valley in Hart's Range, Northern Territory has already been mentioned for Scepter Quartz, the Quartz crystal bearing veins extend much further south to Harding Springs and probably beyond. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Northern Territory, Victoria-Birrindudu Basin, Wave Hill[/b] [pic id=94046 width=400 float=left]Quartz 15cm wide[/pic] [pic id=171332 width=400 float=center]Quartz var. amethyst 8.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=223448 width=350 float=left]Amethyst 12cm wide[/pic] [pic id=171333 width=454 float=center]Quartz var. amethyst 7cm wide Wave Hill[/pic] Wave Hill Fossicking Area lies within Wave Hill Station (also known as Kalkarindji ). The Designated Fossicking Area is designated as FA8 on the Northern Territory Government Department of Mines and Energy maps. (http://gemfossicking.com.au/wavehill_station.html) Gemstones found in the Wave Hill area of Kalkarindji include Prehnite, Smokey Quartz, Agate, Jasper, Amethyst, Citrine crystal and Calcite. Extensive areas around here are under lain by volcanic rocks; these basalts contain geodes which decompose and weather out over time to form hollow lava encrusted boulders with their inner surfaces encrusted with crystals. These can be found either on the surface or buried in the soil. Where the boulder has been broken or decomposed banded red and white agate or quartz crystal remains. Similar material occurs on nearby Camfield Station. "Theses sites are in the Wyalong Ranges, south west of Katherine and when you get to Top Springs Roadhouse head south west towards Wave Hill you will see the ranges, that have much basalt and is the place to find Quartz, Agate (mostly pink and white banding) and Prehnite. Much of the amethyst has pit marks but very good examples do exist. [Costas Constantinides ] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Biggenden Shire, ]Biggenden Mine (Mount Biggenden Mine; Biggenden Gold And Bismuth Mine; Mount Biggenden Bismuth Mine; Mount Biggenden Magnetite Mine; Biggenden Quarry)[/b] [pic id=47175 width=400 float=left]Quartz & Calcite FOV 2cm[/pic] A magnetite-rich skarn deposit, mined in the 1970s, that produced a great many interesting minerals. Can anyone tell us more? [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Junction View via Gatton, Black Duck Creek[/b] [pic id=51613 width=400 float=left]Quartz stalactites[/pic] Interesting quartz - who can tell us more? [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Cloncurry District, Kuridala[/b] [pic id=209369 width=390 float=left]DT Quartz var amethyst 7cm tall[/pic] [pic id=283038 width=407 float=center]Quartz var amethyst 9cm tall[/pic] [pic id=249148 width=600 float=left]amethyst, 14cm x 13cm[/pic] "This location is about 7km south east of the abandoned township of Kuridala. The road is about the worst in Qld. The amethyst was found by the Tunneys in the early 1990's; they also found the Silver Phantom silver mine and numerous small copper shows in the area." Costas Constantinides [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Cloncurry District, Mt Elliott Mine[/b] [pic id=130542 width=385 float=left]Quartz on Diopisde 6cm wide[/pic] [pic id=145186 width=423 float=center]Drusy Quartz[/pic] This was an old copper mine reopened in the 1990's using open stope methods and ore was hauled out using a decline road, and produced a lot of interesting copper minerals (especially micros) and skarn minerals. The adit/portal is now sealed off to stop the more adventurous fossicker as even today amethyst is still everywhere. "The Mt Elliot mine quartz and amethyst is nearly always found coating diopside crystals.. The Mt Elliot copper mine was of course famous for the large selenites that had native copper inclusions and for diopside, native copper, allanite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, andradite, scapolite, magnetite, calcite etc " Costas Constantinides [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Mary Kathleen District[/b] [pic id=45219 width=400 float=left]Iron stained Quartz 6.6cm wide[/pic] (Costas Constantinides) "re the other red/milky quartz that says Crystal Mountain ,I do'nt think this is so. All the quartz that comes out of Crystal Mt is long prisms ,mostly clearish ,some with chlorite inclusions..ths piece could come from any where within a 20 K radius of Mary Kathleen,,there is a lot of it for the person who is prepared to dig.. (4) the areas north of Mary Kathleen has Toms Mountain for platey red and hematite included quartz the areas south of Mary Kathleen has Crystal Mountain for primatic types Other sites include: Smoky Mountain for prismatic hematite quartz Skeletal Hill for skeletal quartz Windy Hill for hematitic phantom quartz(these are very good) Graves area Ballara mostly stubby hematite and skeletal quartz " [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Mary Kathleen District, Ballara, Graves area[/b] [pic id=25581 width=400 float=left]Quartz[/pic] "This piece comes from a locally named the Graves area near the abandoned town of Ballara. There are numerous sites that produce this type of skeletal growth (some argue that its hoppered and not skeletal). Ballara is about 15K south of Mary Kathleen Mine." [Costas Constantinides ] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Mary Kathleen District, Hightville, Smoky Mountain[/b] [pic id=81846 width=400 float=left]Smoky Quartz 3cm wide[/pic] This hematite included quartz comes from Smoky Mountain (it was thought the quartz was smoky and not heavily included by hematite as is now known. [Costas Constantinides ] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Mary Kathleen District, Hightville, Crystal Mountain[/b] [pictures needed] Crystal Mountain is about 500metres east of Smoky Mountain in the same range of hills. Very popular with locals and visitors. [Costas Constantinides ] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Mary Kathleen District, Toms Mountain[/b] [pic id=107122 width=400 float=left]Hematitic Quartz, doubly terminated 2.5cm[/pic] This site is just west of the old Mary Kathleen open cut. It contains platey red and hematite included quartz. [Costas Constantinides ] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Cloncurry District, Starra (Selwyn), Amethyst castle[/b] [pic id=225008 width=600 float=left]150mm wide[/pic] [more pictures needed] "There is another amethyst site between the Mt Elliot Mine and Selwyn. Its known as Amethyst Castle by everyone locally..Not great specimens but the lapidary people love it for its dark facetting colour and for the chevron banding found there." [Costas Constantinides ] A small hill, next to a castle-like mesa, has produced a lot of large, dark but gemmy amethyst crystals, to several cm across, mostly iron stained and heavily fossicked by local collectors. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Southern Downs Region, Stanthorpe, Severnlea[/b] [pic id=21477 width=400 float=left]11 x 6.5 x 4.5 cm wide[/pic]. Severnlea is approx 8 km south of Stanthorpe, SE Queensland. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Queensland, Southern Downs Region, Stanthorpe, Thulimba[/b] [pic id=506395 width=400 float=left]1190mm x 85mm [/pic]. This find was made when the Queensland Main Roads Dept were building a new highway, just 200 meters from the eastern Queensland / NSW border. Most of the crystals were double terminated, the second termination was usually clear with multiple points. Quite a number were up to 60 cm long, this specimen is just a baby at only 18.5 cm x 6.5.. pix needed [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Adelaide Hills[/b] [pic id=187677 width=400 float=left]Quartz 3.9cm wide[/pic] Quartz veins in late Proterozoic sandstones in operating and abandoned quarries produced some superb crystallised quartz specimens especially in the 1960’s - 1980’s – maybe still? There were a lot of sites, a couple of the best are the Ashton and White Rock Quarries (see below). Crystals were up to 15 cm long, usually glassy to white and sharp but with some clay and/or iron staining needing cleaning. Its not usually easy to pick the exact location of the specimens. [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Adelaide Hills, Ashton Quarry[/b] [pic id=220935 width=385 float=left]Quartz 13.6cm tall Quarry[/pic] [pic id=224963 width=415 float=center]Quartz, doubly terminated 9.5cm long[/pic] [pic id=220288 width=385 float=left]Quartz 12cm wide[/pic]. [pic id=XXXX width=600 float=left][/pic] Quartz collected in the mid 1970's. Displays several generations of growth and unusual termination which is complete. Specimens were cheap and prolific in the 1960's and 70's. [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Adelaide Hills, White Rock Quarry[/b] [pic id=220304 width=400 float=left]Quartz, doubly terminated 3cm wide[/pic] [pic id=220305 width=400 float=center]Quartz, doubly terminated 5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=220306 width=400 float=left]Quartz, doubly terminated 6cm wide[/pic] [pic id=457044 width=300 float=left]85mm x 10mm[/pic] [pic id=506397 width=400 float=left]Quartz, 185mm x 120mm[/pic] The following information is compiled from info by Mark Willoughby, Patrick Gundersen, Tom Kapitany and others. This is one of the best sites in Australia for good crystals. Specimens were cheap and prolific in the 1970's to 90's. The quarry lies in the Stoneyfell Quartzite Group, which is in turn part of the Adelaide Geosyncline. It is believed, to have formed during the late Proterozoic thru to the end of the Cambrian (approx 900-500 million years ago). The quarry itself is a mix of Quartzite and Slates, and the vughs can occur in both rock types. I've hear of "room-sized" open vughs being found there and have seen crystals up to nearly a meter long in personal collections. The vughs I have seen in-situ were all clay filled, and on the night I found all those slender double terminated ones, the kaolin clay in the vugh was dry and powdery, so these crystal would "tinkle" together (don't know how else to describe that sound!) as they came out of the vugh. I think nearly 400 crystals came out of that one pocket! There are a number of fault structures with the quarry faces , these allowed the hydrothermal solutions to deposit (seed) the crystals. The quarry is well known for its large clear crystals of quartz, showing many different forms, from single crystals thru to multiple crystal groups. It is especially well known for its spectacular ‘Japan Law’ twinned specimens. It is also known for producing some of the largest 'totally clear' crystals in Australia. The South Australian Museum has dedicated an entire display case to the specimens of White Rock Quarry. It is quite surprising and somewhat upsetting to see that we only have 5 specimens currently (as of 6th April, 2012), showing here on Mindat! I know many collectors that have numerous specimens from this locality, all of which are great examples of this locality. Some mineral dealers were very fortunate to get access with the quarry operators permission in the 90s. Peter Shelton had made arrangements to commercially collect the qtz crystals . He collected there for about a month or so , with Kevin Davies being the main purchaser . The volkwagen size mud filed vugs were lined with crystal plates and double terminated crystals loose in the mud. You just had to stick your had into the mud feel around and extracted a beatiful 6 inch double terminated crystal. Many were iron coated and need to be acid cleaned , Jap Law Twins were to be found as well. Tom Kapitany sold a wonderful cluster to Warren Sommerville many years ago with spectaular epitaxial growth, now on display in the Bathurst Museum . After an altercation with a quarry staff member and a collector, collecting permission was rescinded and never given again. Security was upgraded due to the illegal night activity as public liabily and safety was and still is a major concern . The quarry is now off limits to all collecting. [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Adelaide Hills, Williamstown[/b] [pic id=225802 width=400 float=left]Hematitic Quartz, 3.5cm tall[/pic] [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Olary district[/b] [pic id=220295 width=405 float=left]Hematitic Quartz 3cm wide[/pic] [pic id=220303 width=395 float=center]Hematitic Quartz 5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=223460 width=405 float=left]Quartz 6cm long[/pic] [pic id=248746 width=400 float=left]crystalised Gold included in a Quartz crystal, 25mm x 25mm[/pic] Excellent crystals have been found in a number of sites in this area, including Weekeroo, Dome Rock and Kings Bluff, and range from colourless to smoky, and up to about 100mm long. Some beautiful lustrous Smoky Quartz from "Baxter Prospect", Olary, SA appear in Albert Chapman's collection in Sydney, and rank as some of the finest smoky Quartz from Australia. Mark Willoughby suggests they were from the Raven Hill South Mine, Old Boolcoomata Station, Olary Province. [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Eyre peninsula, Cowell, Kathleen Patricia Mine[/b] [pic id=81843 width=400 float=left]Smoky Quartz 2.5cm wide[/pic] Approx 26km north-northwest of Cowell, the deposit has formed in a northly trending section of the Warrow Quartzite, from the Hutchison Group, which is believed to be of Lower Proterozoic age (542-2500mya). Crystals as large as 15cm in diameter have been found and plates containling numerous crystals to approx 90cm in diameter. The best crystals appear to have been found in the 30-60cm (depth) zone, with crystals above this depth being faded. Chemical testing shows little difference in the composition of chemistry between the clear and the smoky varietys. With no obvious trace element being responsible for the smoky colourisation. There may, however, appear to be a link between temperature and the changes in colour. Few if any gem quality specimens have been found here, although collector quality specimens are common. Production from 1977-2007 of semi precious stones - Quartz was estimated at 20 tonnes. [Mark Willoughby] [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Flinders Ranges, North Flinders Ranges, Umberatana, Tourmaline Hill granite pegmatites[/b] [pic id=192595 width=400 float=left]Quartz 6.9cm wide[/pic] A morion (smoky quartz) mine. Production from 1977-2007 of semi precious stones - Quartz was estimated at 20 tonnes. [b]Australia[/b] [b]South Australia, Flinders Ranges, North Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola Station, Mt Gee[/b] This site is a highly vuggy deposit riddled with quartz-filled vughs, with some large and fascinating specimens found, usually iron-stained. Amethyst is rare. [pic id=458202 width=600 float=left]amethst, 7x7cm[/pic] [color=#FF0000]More photos and info needed[/color] [b]Tasmania[/b] [b]Philosophers Ridge, Queenstown district, Tasmania, Australia[/b] [pic id=129736 width=400 float=left]Quartz 7.5cm wide[/pic] Quartz veins are well exposed on the rocky surface on Philosophers Ridge and near the Iron Blow mine. Although the veins are highly weathered and decomposed, spectacular quartz crystals to 6 cm can be collected, usually lustrous and colourless or milky. Some exhibit fascinating chlorite and haematite inclusions, colouring them variously green, red or black, or rarely smoky or amethystine. Some of the haematitic quartz crystals are sprinkled with small black to blue anatase crystals. It occurs as lustrous, often spectacular crystals to 50 mm in several varieties: colourless; green (chloritic); red to bluish or black (haematitic); or rarely smoky or amethystine crystals (Day, 2001), as well as a massive, milky gangue mineral. Quartz forms in at least four stages: it is the main matrix and second crystallising phase in vughs in the veins , but it may overgrow later minerals, indicating a spasmodic deposition and forming interesting "phantoms". Some good Japan-law twins and “faden” habits occur. Some exhibit fascinating vermicular chlorite and specular to colloidal haematite inclusions, usually much less than a millimetre in size. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Queenstown district, Prince Lyell mine[/b] [pic id=219701 width=400 float=left]Quartz ~4cm wide[/pic] The Mt Lyell copper-gold mines produce some excellent crystallised specimens of quartz, usually with chalcopyrite, haematite, dolomite-ankerite and other minerals, in late stage veins. The deposits are generally considered to be of Cambrian volcanic origin, but the late stage, mineralised but undeformed veins,may be of Devonian age. The opportunities to collect on the mine leases are infrequent and collecting is discouraged by mine management. However some miners continue to rescue specimens of reasonable quality and these are readily available from some outlets in Queenstown and elsewhere. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Waratah district, Waratah, Mt Bischoff[/b] [pic id=213312 width=400 float=left]Quartz FOV ~2cm[/pic] [pic id=453046 width=400 float=left]~40mm long [/pic] Quartz crystals are common in this mine, usually in quite small crystals (to 1cm) with cassiterite and pyrite, etc, but some excellent large black to smoky crystals up to 5cm have also been found. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Heazlewood district, Luina, Mt Cleveland Sn Mine[/b] [pic id=220298 width=400 float=left]Quartz & Dolomite 10cm long[/pic] Some excellent large crystals were found in this mine, to 150mm long, commonly with dolomite and fluorite, when underground mining was undertaken in the 1960’s-70’s. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Rosebery district, Williamsford, Mt Read[/b] [pic id=179932 width=400 float=left]Hematite stained Quartz 2.5cm wide[/pic] Excellent bright red crystals are sporadically collected in this area. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Rossarden district, Aberfoyle Mine (Aberfoyle Tin Mine; Rossarden Tin Mine)[/b] [pic id=9970 width=400 float=left]Smoky Quartz 5cm tall[/pic] [pic id=211904 width=400 float=center]Quartz var. amethyst & Apatite 4cm wide[/pic] The mine is developed on a number of relatively narrow quartz lodes traversing hornfelsed slates of the Ordovician to Early Devonian Mathinna Beds. The lodes are related to an underlying granite, part of the Ben Lomond pluton, of late Devonian age. These granites are responsible for the tin and tungsten mineralisation throughout Tasmania, and some of the gold, copper, silver and lead mines also. The veins are vuggy and mostly zoned, with a selvage of muscovite-cassiterite-wolframite, overgrown by quartz, topaz, fluorapatite and fluorite, with a central zone of late stage sulphides, haematite, scheelite and carbonates. There may, however, be several generations of some minerals. The wallrocks are hornfelsed, and locally silicified, sericitised and tourmalinised. Quartz makes up the bulk of the veins, and occurs as good crystals in vughs, from colourless to smokey, amethystine or white in colour. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Upper Forth Valley, Oakleigh Creek mine[/b] [pic id=129687 width=400 float=left]Quartz 12.5cm wide[/pic] Some excellent large milky white crystals were found in this abandoned mine, to 150mm long, commonly with cassiterite and wolframite, also fluorite and muscovite, when underground mining was undertaken in the 1960’s-70’s. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Waratah district, Hellyer-Que River Mines[/b] [pic id=164308 width=400 float=left]Quartz 10cm tall[/pic] These two Pb-Zn mines are located close to one another, are probably tectonically displaced parts of the one ore deposit, and were mined almost simultaneously (1974-2000; McArthur and Dronseika, 1990). They are, again like Rosebery, volcanogenic massive Pb-Zn-Fe-Cu sulphide deposits hosted by the Cambrian Mt Read Volcanics. Quartz occurs in lustrous crystals to ~6 centimetres in vughs in both the Que River and Hellyer Mines. Good, small tennantite-tetrahedrite crystals have been found on quartz crystals in the Que River mine (Fig 9). [Good quartz crystals also occur in many of the Zeehan and Heazlewood mines, and the Hercules, Que River and Rosebery mines (Fig. 9).] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Zeehan district, Mt Heemskirk mineral field[/b] [pic id=219700 width=400 float=left]Quartz var. amethyst 3.5cm wide[/pic] [pic id=220144 width=400 float=center]Quartz var. amethyst 2.5cm wide[/pic] Quartz occurs in miarolytic cavities and small pegmatite pods in Devonian granites, where it is mostly smoky to milky in colour, but some colourless quartz, amethyst and citrine crystals also occur. Black tourmaline is a common associate, and some caviries contain cassiterite. Local collectors walk through the granite heathlands looking for residual quartz and excavate pockets where signs of crystals are found. also, Trial Harbour. In the old Mt Heemskirk tin field, north of Trial Harbour and west of Zeehan, some sporadically large miarolitic cavities in Devonian tin-bearing granite contain vughs containing interesting crystal groups of quartz (smoky, milky and green with tourmaline inclusions to about 10 cm (Fig#)) and tourmaline (schorl, black to dark green, to 6 cm), plus sporadic pods of cassiterite. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Zeehan district, Renison mine[/b] [pic id=220302 width=400 float=left]Quartz & Pyrite 6cm wide[/pic] This tin mine has produced some interesting quartz crystals commonly as crystals in vughs with rhodochrosite, ankerite-dolomite, siderite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite fluorite vivianite (Bottrill, unpub. data). [geology, history] [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Gladstone[/b] [pic id=220143 width=400 float=left]Smoky Quartz 15cm wide[/pic] Smoky quartz crystals, mostly gemmy in part, and up to metre in length, occur in decomposed pegmatite pockets and stream gravels at Gladstone. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Tulendeena[/b] [pic id=213500 width=400 float=left]Smoky Quartz & Microcline 9.5cm wide[/pic] At Tulendeena, east of Scottsdale, quartz occurs in miarolytic cavities and small pegmatite pods in Devonian granites, where it is mostly smoky to black in colour, and occurs with some green to white micrcocline crystals. The granite is pretty massive and there has been little collecting, but the area has good potential. [b]Australia[/b] [b]Tasmania, Moina[/b] [Pix] The All Nations mine, Moina [Pix] The All Nations mine, ~1 km to the east of the quarry on Dolcoath Hill, Moina, is an old tin-tungsten-bismuth vein deposit in sandstone, containing some excellent quartz crystals (commonly gemmy, ranging from colourless to smoky or milky(Fig#)) and some small but fine wolframite and orange-brown monazite crystals. The Princess Mine, Moina [Pix] which recently produced excellent crystals of topaz, fluorite and bismuthinite, and is presently being reopened by miners for gems and minerals. Large smoky quartz crystals ( http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,131993#msg-131993 Sun, 19 May 2013 10:44:36 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,282092#msg-282092 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,282092#msg-282092 One of the larger pieces that came out of a pocket in 2010.

©

]]> Patrick Gundersen Best Minerals - Quartz Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:23:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280432#msg-280432 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280432#msg-280432 I added all the photos, with your copyright, but you may want to double check all the site pages and the quartz page: [www.mindat.org]]]> Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Fri, 28 Dec 2012 05:05:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280428#msg-280428 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280428#msg-280428 Nigel Richardson Best Minerals - Quartz Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:40:23 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280426#msg-280426 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280426#msg-280426 Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:52:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280425#msg-280425 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280425#msg-280425 Nigel Richardson Best Minerals - Quartz Fri, 28 Dec 2012 02:54:27 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280424#msg-280424 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280424#msg-280424 Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Fri, 28 Dec 2012 02:52:57 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280368#msg-280368 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280368#msg-280368 Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:15:11 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280366#msg-280366 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280366#msg-280366
Quartz var. Rock Crystal with Phantoms
Silent Grove
N.S.W.
Australia


Dimensions: 165mm x 40mm

In personal Collection. Part of the "Giant Crystal Project"]]> Nigel Richardson Best Minerals - Quartz Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:23:03 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280365#msg-280365 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280365#msg-280365
Candlewax Quartz
Rumsby's Mine
The Gulf, N.S.W.
Australia

Dimensions: 160mm x 60mm

In personal Collection. Part of the "Giant Crystal Project"]]> Nigel Richardson Best Minerals - Quartz Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:16:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280363#msg-280363 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280363#msg-280363
Quartz var. Rock Crystal
White Rock Quarry
Horsnell Gully
Mt. Lofty Ranges
South Australia

Dimensions: 185mm x 120mm

In personal Collection. Part of the "Giant Crystal Project"]]> Nigel Richardson Best Minerals - Quartz Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:10:51 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280361#msg-280361 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,280361#msg-280361
Large Quartz var. Morion
Thulimbah, Stanthorpe
Queensland
Australia

Dimensions: 190mm x 85mm

In personal Collection. Part of the "Giant Crystal Project"]]> Nigel Richardson Best Minerals - Quartz Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:04:50 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,269878#msg-269878 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,269878#msg-269878 Looks like Ill have to put some of them in the best minerals Quartz article.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals - Quartz Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:58:59 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,269862#msg-269862 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,269862#msg-269862

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

]]> Patrick Gundersen Best Minerals - Quartz Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:17:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259069#msg-259069 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259069#msg-259069
That's where the info we have was paragphrased from.]]> Mark Willoughby Best Minerals - Quartz Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:29:45 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259014#msg-259014 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259014#msg-259014
Cheers,

Ben.]]> Ben Grguric (2) Best Minerals - Quartz Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:58:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259003#msg-259003 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259003#msg-259003 A cross of geological and historical, or would you rather lean towards the historical only?]]> Mark Willoughby Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:59:29 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259000#msg-259000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,259000#msg-259000
Kathleen Patrica previously read;

"A morion (smoky quartz) mine.

Production from 1977-2007 of semi precious stones - Quartz was estimated at 20 tonnes."



It now reads;

"A morion (smoky quartz) mine.

Approx 26km north-northwest of Cowell, the deposit has formed in a northly trending section of the Warrow Quartzite, from the Hutchison Group, which is believed to be of Lower Proterozoic age (542-2500mya).
Crystals as large as 15cm in diameter have been found and plates containling numerous crystals to approx 90cm in diameter.
The best crystals appear to have been found in the 30-60cm (depth) zone, with crystals above this depth being faded.
Chemical testing shows little difference in the composition of chemistry between the clear and the smoky varietys. With no obvious trace element being responsible for the smoky colourisation.
There may, however, appear to be a link between temperature and the changes in colour.
Few if any gem quality specimens have been found here, although collector quality specimens are common.

Production from 1977-2007 of semi precious stones - Quartz was estimated at 20 tonnes.

No mine summary card appears to exist for this site.
Although detailed geological data has been produced; as a mine very little information exists."]]> Mark Willoughby Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:37:25 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258999#msg-258999 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258999#msg-258999 Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:32:42 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258997#msg-258997 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258997#msg-258997 Are these all from the Entia valley, or just generic Harts Range?
And can you add a few words about the occurrence(s) sometime please?]]> Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:20:26 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258996#msg-258996 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258996#msg-258996 I don't see what you changed with the Kathleen Patricia, but I'm sure it's good. Do you have any info on this mine? I don't know it.]]> Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:15:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258995#msg-258995 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258995#msg-258995
Not sure how much Mick still has, but I'll check with him. I know several of the minsoc guys have good specimens from there, not to mention all the other localities!
I know one who is reluctant to post photos of some of his specimens, which is a pity, but I respect his privacy, so I'll leave him out.
I have a few decent one too, just need to get the camera going and take some photos. One more thing on the list of things to do I guess!]]> Mark Willoughby Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:54:08 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258992#msg-258992 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258992#msg-258992 Mt Gee had no good photos at the time, it does now, but I think we could use more. Maybe we could ask Mich Vort-Ronald, had had some great ones?]]> Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:45:36 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258980#msg-258980 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,258980#msg-258980
Kathleen Patricia Mine, Cowell, Eyre peninsula, South Australia, Australia - Updated.]]> Mark Willoughby Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:35:43 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257808#msg-257808 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257808#msg-257808

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

[/br]

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

The below specimens were collected from various vughs in 2010:

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

© Patrick Gundersen

]]> Patrick Gundersen Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:40:32 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257765#msg-257765 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257765#msg-257765
Ps. Ralph, no problems to use the White Rock photo if you wish, just send me a PM if you need the hi-res file.

© Patrick Gundersen

]]> Patrick Gundersen Best Minerals - Quartz Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:33:02 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257609#msg-257609 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257609#msg-257609
Mount Gee is already listed on here.]]> Mark Willoughby Best Minerals - Quartz Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:25:22 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257591#msg-257591 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257591#msg-257591
Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Mary Kathleen District, Hightville, Crystal Mountain
Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Cloncurry District, Starra (Selwyn), Amethyst castle
Queensland, Southern Downs Region, Stanthorpe, Thulimba
South Australia, Flinders Ranges, North Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola Station, Mt Gee
Tasmania, Moina
Victoria, Terip Terip
Western Australia, Mitchell Plateau]]> Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Sun, 08 Apr 2012 07:39:46 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257581#msg-257581 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257581#msg-257581 Ralph Bottrill Best Minerals - Quartz Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:35:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257580#msg-257580 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257580#msg-257580 Rock Currier Best Minerals - Quartz Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:05:26 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257562#msg-257562 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,95,131993,257562#msg-257562 Peter Shelton had made arrangements to commercially collect the qtz crystals .
He collected there for about a month or so , with Kevin Davies being the main purchaser .
The volkwagen size mud filed vugs were lined with crystal plates and double terminated crystals loose in the mud
You just had to stick your had into the mud feel around and extracted a beatiful 6 inch double terminated crystal
Many were iron coated and need to be acid cleaned , Jap Law Twins were to be found as well
The Sth Aust Museum appears to have the very best . I sold a wonderful cluster to Warren Sommerville many years ago with spectaular epitaxial growth,
I believe this is on display in the Bathurst Museum .
There are a number of fault structures with the quarry faces , these allowed the hydrothermal solutions to deposit (seed) the crystals
One of Peters staff had an altercation with a quarry staff member and collecting permission was rescinded.
Permission was never given again. Security was upgraded due to the illegal night activity as public liabily and safety
was and still is a major concern .]]> Tom Kapitany Best Minerals - Quartz Sat, 07 Apr 2012 23:05:04 +0000