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
LA Gems (premier QLD suppliers of quality cast settings – pendants, rings, earrings): lagems.net
Crystal / Fossil Encounters: crystalencounters.com.au
BK Minerals (quality mineral and fossil specimens): bkminerals.com.au
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 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 