Minerals from Australia

Australia is a major producer of minerals, both commercially and for the collectors market. It has large deposits of bauxite, iron ore, coal, gold, lithium, and a wide range of base and precious metals.

For collectors, Australia is probably best known for its opal – admittedly, a mineraloid, not a mineral – but does anyone really care?

Lightning Ridge produces the well-known black opal, while Coober Pedy and Andamooka produce white and crystal opal. Boulder opal is found in Queensland, often with colourful seams running through ironstone matrix. Much of this material is cut and polished, but rough specimens do occasionally turn up.

There are also some very good specimens of crocoite from the Adelaide Mine in Tasmania. These bright orange-red crystals are often well-formed, though delicate, and are among the most recognisable Australian minerals. The mine has been closed and reopened multiple times, and specimens from older workings are quite sought after.

Broken Hill, in New South Wales, has produced a range of classic specimens, including rhodonite, pyromorphite, cerussite, anglesite, and native silver. Some of the manganese minerals from this locality are rarely seen elsewhere in good form.

Quartz, agate, and chalcedony are widespread, with agate nodules and thunder eggs being popular among amateur collectors. Australia also produces zircon, cassiterite, and topaz from various pegmatite and alluvial zones.

Specimens are generally well labelled and traceable, especially from established localities. The size of the country and the variety of geological settings mean there’s a surprising amount of diversity in what turns up.

Australia