Can anyone please tell me what tools are needed to find sapphires

[winder_harley]

Can anyone please tell me what tools are needed to find sapphires :lol:

 

[headbut]

Hi Winder Harley , you are best equipped with sieves , 1/8" , 1/4" & 1/2" , but more important is where you are looking.

In areas of NSW where sapphires are found , the best indicator you are close to finding some are black spinel.

They say no spinel , no sapphires

 

[Greglz86]

Wouldn't hurt to take a shovel along either.

 

[TheFossickingKid]

You would need a mattock!

 

[winder_harley]

Thanks guys that helped

 

[TheFossickingKid]

And possibly a pelican pick

 

[jimnyjerry]

If in or near water then gumboots or waders and in winter long rubber gloves.

 

[Dughug]

Don't forget you also need a bit of luck ! ! !

 

[Spud]

yabbie pump!

 

[winder_harley]

Spud, why would you need a yabbie pump???

 

[Spud]

i use mine to get into all the crevices, under rocks and stuff

 

[winder_harley]

Nice that's a great idea!

 

[winder_harley]

Is a 10" pan good???

 

[declan123]

yes it is

 

[Twapster]

I would say your 2 sieves, a pair of cloth/rubber coated gloves, small folding shovel and miners pick, a pocket led torch, tweezers and a bumbag or small container to put your rocks in and some drinking water and good walking shoes are the essentials. I also wear neoprene waders so I can walk across water ways without leach issues.

Everything else is up to you. Tweezers a must in my opinion to help sort through and the led light for those black looking stones that are really blue under good light.

When gem hunting a known location, unless you have nailed a particular spot, walking around and test sieving every few metres will guarantee you some pretty stones.

Essentially minimal gear allows for much more freedom to explore and not get tired carrying stuff! Keep the big guns (crow bar/mattock/shovels/buckets etc) in the car if required. I can keep all the above essentials in a little backpack with my lunch, often if you have gloves you don't even need the shovel- just on the hands and knees and scoop with your hands- ive spotted a 7 carat by eye before it made it to the sieve.