Interactive Journeys
Go underground at Coober Pedy: Umoona Opal Mine & Museum
Discover Online Exhibitions
The Maguire Collection [20:41min]: Queensland and Yowah matrix opal at its best!!
Geoscience Australia: National Mineral and Fossil Collection
Video Tutorials
Down to Earth Opals, Lightning Ridge: State-of-the-art showroom. The Outback Opal Hunters ‘Fire and Ice‘ opal carving by Andrew Kemeny.
Free online opal cutting videos: Everlasting Opals Australia
Black Opal Direct, Lightning Ridge: Opal body tone scale, video of a tailing out, and much more.
Video tutorials on gemstone cutting (by John Dyer)
- How Gem Cutting influences the Value:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bF3zpFDSkw - How Gems are Cut:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJPxVwe4Zlw - How to Distinguish between Good and Bad Gemstone Faceting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG-vX1OFWXo
Lapidary Suppliers
Ashworths, Home Hill: ashworths.com.au
Aussie Sapphire Lapidary Warehouse: aussiesapphire.com.au
Australian Jewellers Supplies, Brisbane & all branches: ajsonline.com
Gemcuts – Lapidary & Jewellery Tools: gemcuts.com.au
Gemworld, Brisbane: cubbyhousekingdom.com.au/products/show/211/Gemworld
Lapidary Slab Supplies – northern Queensland lapidary suppliers [for slabs, polished faces, saw blades, grinding wheels, machinery, crystals, silver work tools, and so much more …], Pleystowe, via Mackay: Facebook
Varenkor Sintered burrs: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/145103627197
Water-based CCS diamond paste (8,000, 50,000, 100,000):
Delivery outside Queensland: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/143236037912
Delivery in Queensland: Flood Gem Australia.
Gemstones & Jewellery
Edge Gem Cutting: Custom bespoke gem cutting – faceting (standard & freeform), cutting opal & semiprecious cabochons, repolishing faceted or cabbed stones. Contact Martin M: 0467 020 629 or E: edgegemcutting@gmail.com
LA Gems (premier QLD suppliers of quality cast settings – pendants, rings, earrings): lagems.net
Mineral Store (quality mineral specimens and calendars featuring gemstones): mineralstore.com.au
Other Clubs & Community Links
Australian Gem Show calendar: mineral.org.au/shows/shows
Australian Lapidary Club Listings: lapidaryworld.com/clubs_australia
Australian Facetors’ Guild Limited: facetorsguild.com.au
AFLACA (listing of rock and gem clubs): aflaca.org.au/members/queensland-lapidary-and-allied-craft-clubs-association-qlacca
Also check out the dates and venue when the next Australian National Gem & Mineral Show (GEMBOREE®) will be held (Easter long weekend).
Home Hobbies: Rock Collecting: https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/rock-collecting
International Gem Society reference library: http://www.gemsociety.org/reference-library/
Mineralogical Societies of Australasia: mineral.org.au
Opportunities to Explore: Montana Learning Centre: https://www.rockngem.com/opportunities-to-explore-montana-learning-center/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=rg_newsletter040220
Rockhounds community on Reddit: /r/rockhounds/
American Geode (Rockhounding in North America): americangeode.com
Fossicking
Queensland Government website: qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/fossicking
Fossicking locations, licences (gold and gemstone fossicking in SE QLD): brisbanekids.com.au
Fossicking in NSW State Forests: forestrycorporation.com.au
Old Reference Material
Google book scan of ‘Practical Geology and Mineralogy: With Instructions for the Qualitative Analysis of Minerals’ Published in 1841: https://archive.org/stream/practicalgeolog01trimgoog#page/n7/mode/2up
More Reading & Interesting Articles
This website is replete with resources and a wonderful starting point for young and old to begin a life-long journey into geology, minerals, crystals, gemstones, fossicking … and much more. Just follow the links and explore. briteco, Rocks, Minerals, and Precious Stones by Dustin Lemick.
This article from Bramlett Residential Real Estate introduces landowners, young and old, to a different way of looking at what might be under the ground at your place: Backyard Geology: A Guide for Homeowners and Families. Here are some tools for discovery.
Looking for a fresh start in a new career? The U.S. Career Institute offers courses through flexible, quality distance education. A Career in Geology has a wealth of information and check out the links.
Gigantic predatory dinosaurs once roamed Toowoomba and Ipswich (18 June 2020):
ABC News
Discoveries in Flinders Ranges, SA indicate that megafauna lived alongside Aboriginal Australians. See ABC Science article dated 3 November 2016: http://tinyurl.com/jlfg3a7
12 Most Expensive Gemstones in the World
http://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2015/11/02/12-most-expensive-gemstones-world/#65c70fba5342
The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum: Home of the Warren Somerville Collection (Bathurst): https://www.somervillecollection.com.au/
February 2016: Check out this recently-discovered 404.2 carat diamond discovery in Angola (27th biggest discovered in the world): http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-15/giant-diamond-found-in-angola-by-wa-company-lucapa/7168974
Check out the ‘high quality’ 1,111 ct diamond discovered at a mine in Botswana: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/901227fe-8ee4-11e5-8be4-3506bf20cc2b.html#axzz3sUILXB7F
12 Most Expensive Gemstones In The World: Forbes wrote an article on the some of the most expensive known gemstones found to date http://onforb.es/1PgtEuN
Toowoomba Lapidary Club Inc 