9 year old needs help

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Looks like you are finding some cool things!

See if you can find some Gem shows to get it, there is one here in Canberra i have been to, it was awesome! So many rocks i had never seen before.

Unfortunately for me, the only thing that really makes me excited is gold... not so much rocks.

Keep hunting! :)

When you get to highschool, you can actually do some really cool stuff in science. You can make your own gems ;)
 
I could be wrong, but from the photos its looks like you have found some augite (black mineral) and orthoclase feldspar, though could be some quartz as well.
Some nice specimens there, great work for someone just starting out.
Looks like with your fossils and thunder egg, that you have the start of a nice collection.

You may also want to ask you mum and dad to enquire at the local news agents about the national geographic rock and mineral magazine. We were getting them for my seven year old. They have a fair bit of info and a different rock, gem or mineral with every issue. Helped kick start her collection and let her learn about the different rocks and minerals.
 
Hello Little Gem Hunter, welcome to the forum :)

I didn't see any of your posts because they are here in gold prospecting and I mostly follow the rocks, minerals and gemstones section.

It's a great hobby you are starting out at here, much better than sitting in front of a gaming screen. My 15 year old son could take some tips from you, his idea of fossicking is "Minecraft online".

It might be an idea to post about rocks and gems in that part of the forum where people look for such things.

Its very hard to tell by just looking at photographs exactly what you might have there but the one on the red background is almost certainly a smoky quartz crystal. If they aren't too cracked and don't have too many bubbles, smoky quartz can be faceted (cut) into a beautiful gemstone for a necklace or ring. Even if they are not faceting quality, they still make great specimens.

I think shivan is probably right about some of the stones being feldspar. Some types of feldspar can be faceted into gems if they are clear enough. Other kinds are called "Moonstone" and are usually milky white and show a blue, shimmering effect when properly cut. I don't know what kind of light is shining on the on in the photo with the 20 cent piece but I think I see a blue tinge to it.

I live in Queensland so unfortunately I don't know much about fossicking where you live but it looks like you've made a good start with some of that stuff there - keep it up :)
 
I really like your fish fossil, that is really cool. Your collection is growing well.

A quick few tips when taking photos which will make your collection look even better.
1. Try to get as much natural light as possible not direct, near a window as example.
2. Support your camera on a small tripod or make a stand to hold it. I am sure you can come up with something creative :)
3. Make sure it is in focus. Do not get too close this is when it gets blurry and the details are lost. A sharp picture, will always show more details.
Your pictures are good already and the way you frame them is spot on, Post #32 is a cracker of a shot. Again look at the detail such as turn the coin around so it is the right way up. Try those and see if that helps.

For reference materials -
If you go the mines department in your state they will have a lot of brochures and books on minerals, which could be more your interest.
Also look in those old book shops at supermarkets, I have picked up old Geology books for a couple of dollars.

There is a book for WA that you can download to help identify gems over here. This may help you reference some of your finds.

You can download it here for free - http://dmpbookshop.eruditetechnologies.com.au/product/gemstones-of-western-australia.do
If it is a good reference Dad may be able to get you a copy :)

Thanks for showing your collection. Look forward to seeing more photos as well.

Westaus
 
Here are some suggestions

Buy a Australian Gem Stone book (Check out Ebay) or someone might suggest a good one

Join a Gem or Lapidary Club

Bendigo looks the closest

Bendigo - Bendigo Gem Club.
PO Box 1059 (3550).

Goggle search with terms like Castlemaine Gemstone Location

PS
If you find anything Gold coloured send it to me :) ;)
 
I think that black glassy piece is slag, the dark rock with holes and the 20 cent piece scoria but I am unsure what the crystal is. The six sided dark crystal looks like smokey quartz. Great collection you have.
Jon
 
Little gem hunter said:
Fishing and gold pan man said:
I find it funny how every one will help older and younger people but not me. :(
Click to expand...

Ha if you type Yarra valley into search in this site and read read this may help that's what they told me all the best hunting
Little gem hunter
Click to expand...

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18445

I'm still trying to figure out who is who...... it was 'fishing and gold pan man' who got the advice about using search on Yarra Valley.

Nice collection.
 
DropBear said:
Looks like you are finding some cool things!

See if you can find some Gem shows to get it, there is one here in Canberra i have been to, it was awesome! So many rocks i had never seen before.

Unfortunately for me, the only thing that really makes me excited is gold... not so much rocks.

Keep hunting! :)

When you get to highschool, you can actually do some really cool stuff in science. You can make your own gems ;)
Click to expand...

Hi
Thanks for your reply,l like going to the national geographic shop and l got a kit to make a crystal from there it was fun to watch it grow.l hope to go gem hunting again soon.l hope you find that gold.??
 
shivan said:
I could be wrong, but from the photos its looks like you have found some augite (black mineral) and orthoclase feldspar, though could be some quartz as well.
Some nice specimens there, great work for someone just starting out.
Looks like with your fossils and thunder egg, that you have the start of a nice collection.

You may also want to ask you mum and dad to enquire at the local news agents about the national geographic rock and mineral magazine. We were getting them for my seven year old. They have a fair bit of info and a different rock, gem or mineral with every issue. Helped kick start her collection and let her learn about the different rocks and minerals.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply and your great help,l love to collect the gems and fossils l have brought a few but now l just want to go and find them it's more fun .Dad said he will take me to the newsagents .thanks for that.?
 
Lefty said:
Hello Little Gem Hunter, welcome to the forum :)

I didn't see any of your posts because they are here in gold prospecting and I mostly follow the rocks, minerals and gemstones section.

It's a great hobby you are starting out at here, much better than sitting in front of a gaming screen. My 15 year old son could take some tips from you, his idea of fossicking is "Minecraft online".

It might be an idea to post about rocks and gems in that part of the forum where people look for such things.

Its very hard to tell by just looking at photographs exactly what you might have there but the one on the red background is almost certainly a smoky quartz crystal. If they aren't too cracked and don't have too many bubbles, smoky quartz can be faceted (cut) into a beautiful gemstone for a necklace or ring. Even if they are not faceting quality, they still make great specimens.

I think shivan is probably right about some of the stones being feldspar. Some types of feldspar can be faceted into gems if they are clear enough. Other kinds are called "Moonstone" and are usually milky white and show a blue, shimmering effect when properly cut. I don't know what kind of light is shining on the on in the photo with the 20 cent piece but I think I see a blue tinge to it.

I live in Queensland so unfortunately I don't know much about fossicking where you live but it looks like you've made a good start with some of that stuff there - keep it up :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for your great information ,l had a lot of fun looking for these gems,lm not into online games lm happy to be outside playing and now gem hunting .?
 
Westaus said:
I really like your fish fossil, that is really cool. Your collection is growing well.

A quick few tips when taking photos which will make your collection look even better.
1. Try to get as much natural light as possible not direct, near a window as example.
2. Support your camera on a small tripod or make a stand to hold it. I am sure you can come up with something creative :)
3. Make sure it is in focus. Do not get too close this is when it gets blurry and the details are lost. A sharp picture, will always show more details.
Your pictures are good already and the way you frame them is spot on, Post #32 is a cracker of a shot. Again look at the detail such as turn the coin around so it is the right way up. Try those and see if that helps.

For reference materials -
If you go the mines department in your state they will have a lot of brochures and books on minerals, which could be more your interest.
Also look in those old book shops at supermarkets, I have picked up old Geology books for a couple of dollars.

There is a book for WA that you can download to help identify gems over here. This may help you reference some of your finds.

You can download it here for free - http://dmpbookshop.eruditetechnologies.com.au/product/gemstones-of-western-australia.do
If it is a good reference Dad may be able to get you a copy :)

Thanks for showing your collection. Look forward to seeing more photos as well.

Westaus
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the tips, we will look into finding some books ect.l got the fish fossil from mum and dad as a gift.its from USA. and l to think it's pretty cool.good luck with your hunting?
 
91shorty said:
Here are some suggestions

Buy a Australian Gem Stone book (Check out Ebay) or someone might suggest a good one

Join a Gem or Lapidary Club

Bendigo looks the closest

Bendigo - Bendigo Gem Club.
PO Box 1059 (3550).

Goggle search with terms like Castlemaine Gemstone Location

PS
If you find anything Gold coloured send it to me :) ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you for your great help dad and mum said they will contact bendigo gem club for me.l hope you find that gold.?
 
blisters said:
I think that black glassy piece is slag, the dark rock with holes and the 20 cent piece scoria but I am unsure what the crystal is. The six sided dark crystal looks like smokey quartz. Great collection you have.
Jon
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for all you great help and l hope to find more gem soon,l may post some other photo of my collection l have brought ,l think it's more fun finding them then buying them .
Good hunting to you?
 
Hi Little Gem Hunter,

I live in Kyneton and the best spot that I have found to dig for gems would be Sailors Creek in Daylesford at Twin Bridges picnic ground. I have found some gold and plenty of little gemstones there and it is easy to get to. If you are lucky you may find some sapphires and quartz crystals as well as some nice red zircons 8)

At Chewton there is a dam at the Forest Creek diggings. You can walk around to see how gold was found in the olden days and you are allowed to pan in the dam for gold. I found a little bit there on my first ever attempt at panning.

I would look around Daylesford if I were you. It's very close to Mount Franklin. Also, mum and dad can go for a nice coffee in town after you have filled your pockets with gems and gold.

Good hunting,

Malcolm
 
Maltisau said:
Hi Little Gem Hunter,

I live in Kyneton and the best spot that I have found to dig for gems would be Sailors Creek in Daylesford at Twin Bridges picnic ground. I have found some gold and plenty of little gemstones there and it is easy to get to. If you are lucky you may find some sapphires and quartz crystals as well as some nice red zircons 8)

At Chewton there is a dam at the Forest Creek diggings. You can walk around to see how gold was found in the olden days and you are allowed to pan in the dam for gold. I found a little bit there on my first ever attempt at panning.

I would look around Daylesford if I were you. It's very close to Mount Franklin. Also, mum and dad can go for a nice coffee in town after you have filled your pockets with gems and gold.

Good hunting,

Malcolm
Click to expand...

We live in kyneton to and thank you very much this is all I was after mum and dad said thanks to . I hope to see you out one day and may you find all the gold you need Malcolm thanks little gem hunter
 
Hi there again Little Gem Hunter, mum and dad.

Thank you for sharing your collection with us.

I must say, it is very nice to have such a polite, respectful and enthusiastic young lady on our forum.

It is great that your mum and dad are helping you find gems and that you are all enjoying this forum together. As you have seen, the moderators of this forum do a fantastic job looking after us.

Now that we have had a chance to get to know you better and we have been assured that mum and dad are keeping you safe online I am certain that you will make many new friends on this forum who will be more than happy to help you out as best as they can.

You have a keen eye for gems. I have been to Mount Franklin lots of times and a have never found anything! Soon you will be giving advice to us! Ha ha.

I read that you had a show and tell at school. That is really cool! You have already started contributing to keeping our hobby alive and passing on the fun and excitement to other young people and you have only just joined. I bet your friends at school can't wait to see your next amazing finds. Neither can I!

If you ever need any more help or advice just ask. I will help you as best as I can. I am new to this hobby too and learning more every day by reading lots and going out into the field. I would be happy to meet you and your mum and dad in Kyneton for a coffee and a chat some time or join your family in a dig. There are also member meet ups on this forum that you may want to attend one day. I hear it is a great family day out.

I'm sure you have inspired other young people at your school to go out and find their own gems too. Maybe you could start your own gem club at school and go on a field trip to Daylesford with your classmates?

All the best LGH, mum and dad. Welcome to the world of fossicking and welcome to the forum.

M
 
From the link on Mount Franklin.....

This is a large and very obvious example of a breached scoria cone. The crater is one of the deepest in the Central Highlands area. It is a major megacryst site with some of the largest known Victorian examples of megacrysts of augite and an orthoclase.
Click to expand...

I guess it's possible the eruption could have hurled quartz about the place - I'm not a geologist - but orthoclase is a feldspar (it can be gemmy sometimes) and the stuff in the photos looks like other feldspar I've picked up in other places that also had chunks of scoria lying around.

I wouldn't be surprised if the milky bit with the scoria attached adularesces if it is cabbed.

Take it to your nearest lapidary club Little Gem Hunter, a first hand look by an experienced person will probably tell for sure.
 

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