Bundaberg Gem and Mineral Society

17/06/2026

Is this the most beautiful sphere?

15/06/2026

Update Thursday 2.4.26

Agate Creek Road is now listed as open to High Clearance 4WD only 😊

Please take care as the road from the Cobbold Gorge turnoff to Agate Creek hasn't as yet had an opening grade.

15/06/2026

Agate Creek Map.

Agate Creek, North Queensland.
Agate Creek is a popular destination for Winter fossicking trips. Agates of different colours are found in different sites.
The fossicking area is a basin shaped area of volcanic rock from the early Permian age. Three formations are recognised. The Big Surprise Tuff, Black Soil Andesite and Thunder Egg Rhyolite. Intrusive bodies of much the same age have penetrated the volcanics, including rhyolite and the Connie May Dolerite. In later Jurassic times, the volcanic rocks were covered by sandstones and conglomerates which have mostly weathered away.
Agates were created from gas filled bubbles in the upper basalt lava flows. Thunder eggs occur as spherulites in rhyolitic lava (Thunder Egg Rhyolite) which forms the north-eastern rim of the pocket. When you are digging at Agate Creek you are digging through the Earth's history.
The Permian Period (298.9 to 251.9 million years ago) was the final period of the Paleozoic Era, the supercontinent Pangea, dominant synapsid land animals, and widespread arid climates. It ended with the "Great Dying," Earth's largest mass extinction, which wiped out over 90% of marine species and 70% of land vertebrates.

14/06/2026

An Agate from Agate Creek Queensland.
Interesting how the red and blue have combined.

13/06/2026

Rose Quartz is a pink variety of Quartz. Silica Dioxide but with a difference.
It is never perfectly clear always translucent. It doesn't form normal crystals but in a massive state.
The pink colour is caused by microscopic inclusions of a fibrous silicate mineral related to dumortierite. The inclusions absorb light and only reflect back pink colour.
Sometimes the fibrous inclusions can create asterism, and if cut correctly stars can found.
Rose Quartz is formed in slow cooling volcanic maga flows which create pegmatite. Pegmatites which are similar to granite but with very large crystals.
Rose Quartz is found locally in a number of areas of volcanic origin.

11/06/2026

Is it Greenstone?
Do you collect beach pebbles on your travels.
One of our Club members found this beauty on a beach in New Zealand where you are allowed to collect them.
The top has been skin polished to enhance the colours and the rest was left natural. A little Silversmithing marks the memory of its capture.
Only take rocks where you are permitted and never from National Parks or special sites. Rocks must be clean of soil etc and checked on entry to Australia.

09/06/2026

Druzy Crystal Blue Lace Agate Geode.

If you love Crystals and Natural Specimens they don't have to be perfect just natural.
A way to set your crystal or geode to show of its natural beauty.
How have you created jewellery from natural stones?

08/06/2026

One of our Silversmithing members made this using a special marble. Now a special pendant.
We are a creative crew in Bundaberg.

06/06/2026

Congratulations 🎊 to Gympie Gem Club.