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Contact the York Peninsula Gem and Mineral Club - They are based at Moonta and have well equipped clubrooms. The members are very welcoming and willing to share their knowledge...

G'day Lord, there are a few very experienced facetors based in the York's and who are members of the York Peninsula Lapidary Club as well as some that are members of the Australian Facetors Guild. The YP club is based at Moonta and their new Clubrooms are well equipped. The members are very...

Looks like water worn clear quartz. What general location was it found?

"There seems to be a few layers on each piece. I take it the table facet should be horizontal to these layers? I'm not jumping into them just yet, because I'm sure topaz will have it's own difficulties that need to be researched." Badge it sounds like you are describing the cleavage plane. I...

Sounds like you need to get your quill serviced and have one or more bearings replaced. Contact Brian Boyle from Gemcuts in Ballina NSW they are the new owners of GEMMASTA products and they should be able to help. Alternatively you could but a replacement quill from them...

Call into the rangers station they have mud maps that will help. Then mud-maps have been around for years so are a bit dated but a good place to start. Beryl's and tourmaline have been found in the pegmatite.

Media Release For immediate release Date 30th March 2nd April 2018 See the Olympics of Gem cutting, including The International Faceting Challenge at the National Gem and Mineral Show, hosted by South Australia, in the grounds of Willunga Recreation Park over the Easter weekend. A festival...

We are really fortunate here in SA there are many locations that are prolific with fossils. Quite a lot in close proximity to Adelaide. I would strongly suggest you contact your local Gem and Mineral Club as they regularly run field trips for members. The 2018 National GEMBOREE is being held...

I've just spoken to the President of the Horsham Lapidary Club and their annual open day has been moved to the 28th and 29th April.

Hi Adam, not much in the Brim Dimboola area although there are gypsum deposits around Drung but mostly on private farm land. Contact the Horsham Lapidary Club in the Old Police complex Roberts Street Horsham and have a chat with the members there. I've been on several field trips with the Club...

Welcome to the forum and all the best for the pending wedding. Unfortunately there's not much in the area you are looking at- Some Chert, petrified wood and very, very small sapphires can be found at Morrisons in the creek. There's also gold that can be panned there. Not enough to make a...

As a kid in the late 1960's I used to go with my family to Point Leo looking for topaz. Digging & sieving below the low water mark- great on a hot summers day. I've still got a few water worn ones that I'll get around to cutting one day. Probably off limits now. Check out your local Gem Clubs...

Glad you found a copy of Len's book. His mud-maps are fantastic and still relevant today although some of the locations are closed. He bequeathed all his mud maps to the Southern Rockhounds Gem & Mineral Club where we have found them an excellent reference point for our field officers. Take...

Chert, gold, sapphire albeit very small found at Morrisons. The chert is very workable and produces a fine polish. The river is also a great spot for a picnic. Suggest you contact a local Gem Club - members from both the Ballarat Gem & Mineral Club and Geelong Gem Club will be able to help.

One way to protect the culet from breaking in the dop is to place a small bit of blue-tac into the cone of the dop before using the epoxy - this protects the culet and also helps the gem to be removed when finished. Take care to avoid overheating your stone when using heat on the dop this can...

We headed there 8 months ago only to find that the access had been closed due to logging in the area. It might be open again now.

Before you shell out any hard earned $$$$$'s join a local lapidary club and ask their opinion. They will be the 1st place to turn to to learn how to facet. They probably will be able to help you source a machine at a fair price.

How does this cluster rate? Found many years ago at Horsnell Gully Quarry. :)

Baldy's right on the money with his concerns. Take care! I specked with a cheap Ebay UV light which worked OK on opal but was better with zircon. Lord I reckon that after a night out strolling the scrub with a black light you'd be well placed to enjoy a whisky or three when you get back to...

A silicon carbide oil stone that is used for sharpening knives will soon sand a nice face on your "gem". use a little water - can add a drop of dishwashing detergent if you wish. You could also use wet & dry sandpaper starting from around 100 grit through to 1200 to get a matt finish. You don't...