Mining/Geology

Fossil Fern – Lune River Tasmania – Early Jurassic Forest circa 182 million years old.

A nice slice of petrified tree fern from the Lune River area deep in the southern reached of Tasmania.

The dating of the examples in this location to the middle of the early Jurassic Period (182 Ma) was by isotopic measurements on zircons found in the volcanic sandstone hosting the fossils (Bromfield et al 2007). Also refer the excellent guide by P. Manchester.

Weighing 70gm and 16cm by 5cm.

This region is the area of the world where these plants developed. Twelve tree paratypes (arborescent) ferns and one bracken-like (rhizomatous) fern have been studied in the region. All of the tree ferns belong to the genus Osmundacaulis. This example shows clear and tight trachioles

These plants evolved in this region, the Australian portion of Pangea, all that time ago. Gradually they have spread elsewhere and appear in North-west USA … examples were only discovered in Eurasia in the year 2000.

Nice part section of a fossil tree fern from Jurassic Tasmania .

$60.00

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Chrysocolla [Copper Silcate] – Kumarina – Western Australia

Chrysocolla, such a beautiful colouring. A hydrated copper silicate from the oxidation zone around copper deposits. Likely from the Peak Hill’s region Kumarina copper mine which closed down in the 1970’s.

A beautifully example 8.0cm by 6.5cm, 2.0cm deep, weighing 130.0gm

Chrysolcolla a nice Western Australian example

$30.00

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Black Mica – Harts Range – Northern Territory

A lovely example of multilayered shiny black mica from the Harts Range in Northern Territory.

Hydrous aluminosilcate formed in slow cooling igneous rocks. The Harts Range is about 200km north of Alice. Mica was mined there as early as the 1880’s but fell into decline and stopped in the 1960’s.

Incidentally the mines had interesting names and included the Spotted Dog, Caruso and Disputed. We think our example may have come from the Spotted Dog but that could be Disputed [joke].

A good nicely layered example 10.0cm by 7.0cm, 1.0cm deep but obviously uneven because of the multi layering, weighing 110.0gm

Shiny Black Mica from the Northern Territory.

SO SORRY SOLD

$35.00

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Queensland Mineral – Rain Forest Jasper [Spherulitic Rhyolite] from the Mount Hay Volcano

Mount Hay is to the west of Rockhampton in Queensland. It is an extinct volcano and it was the volcanic environment that gave rise to this unique form of rhyolite. It is called rainforest jasper because of the rainforest like colour palette.

The underlying rock form is high in silicon and the long cooling process from the volcanic activity allowed for numerous inclusions of quartz, chalcedony etc.

A sizeable example 14.0cm by 9.0cm, 1.0cm deep, weighing 390gm

Striking Mount Hay Jasper – a nice piece

$50.00

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Observer’s Book of Geology – I.O. Evans

A 1968 edition of this manual in geology which serves as a great introduction for all players not just young ones.

The celebrated series is now an area for collectors. There is an Australian based equivalent of which we normally have a copy [take a look] … this edition whilst general is based around UK geology.

Published by Warne etc., London. Pocket sized, hardback, good jacket, 272 pages, illustrated throughout in black and white and some very nice colour illustrations, particularly the mineral examples. A very good copy.

Welshman, Evans was fellow of the Royal Geological Society where they know their rocks.

Geological work of surprising substance

$20.00

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In the Shadows of Murchison – Aspects of Rosebery’s 100 Years 1893-1993- Geof Jay [The story of the great Rosebery Mine in Tasmania and the Rosebery Community]

A substantial high-quality item, self published by the author we hope Pasminco gave him some help. The many illustrations from photographs, geological maps, mine layout’s etc are so good.

Folio size, 152 pages, perfect bound soft cover but with a jacket for protection. A fine copy of a now scarce item.

For those not familiar with Rosebery and the mine the scale of the operation and the depth of history will be a real surprise. From the discovery of the ore body by Tom McDonald in the late 19thC through massive development in the early 20thC and the later modernisation of the mine and processing we get a complete picture of one hundred years of continuous operation. Still going strong today – it is a big mountain, and it seems full of valuable resource. And the town itself has seen some characters and has a community spirit bar none.

Important mining record for which we must applaud Geof Jay

$75.00

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Fossil Fern – Lune River Tasmania – Early Jurassic Forest circa 182 million years old.

Chrysocolla [Copper Silcate] – Kumarina – Western Australia

Black Mica – Harts Range – Northern Territory

Queensland Mineral – Rain Forest Jasper [Spherulitic Rhyolite] from the Mount Hay Volcano

Observer’s Book of Geology – I.O. Evans

In the Shadows of Murchison – Aspects of Rosebery’s 100 Years 1893-1993- Geof Jay [The story of the great Rosebery Mine in Tasmania and the Rosebery Community]

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