• Take every precaution while on field trips like making sure you have the
    right gear like gloves, boots, drinking water and basic supplies.
  • Fill in your holes after digging and beware of overhanging rocks and ledges
    that could collapse while digging below.
  • Don't go into old mine shafts as most are unstable and air quality can never
    be guaranteed.  
  • Always where safety glasses when breaking or chiselling on rocks.
  • Watch out for snakes and spiders because as a rock hound you're more
    prone to finding these critters than others.
  • Always close gates after you and always take your rubbish home with you if
    there isn't a proper place to leave it.
  • Always tell someone where you are before you leave in case something
    goes wrong!
  • Always have a first aid kit close by.
  • If you haven't been to an area before draw yourself a map or have a map
    with you so you don't get lost. Mobile phones don't work everywhere!
  • Where a good hat and sunscreen so you don't get sunburnt.
  • Never forget: FOOD, SNACKS, DRINKS & MEDICATION.


Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to ask permission from any private property
owner at any location when searching for gemstones before you enter any such
property. You may also be required to possess a fossicking license as per state
laws.
Tips & Safety On Field Trips
Area Photos
Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine now lies as just a reminder of past days.
Pink Calcite
Mary Kathleen is now just a ghost town with only
concrete slabs and empty streets remaining where
once a whole small town was not far from Cloncurry.
The above photos are of the Mary Kathleen Mine area
where you can still find some nice minerals in amongst
the millions of tons of rock piles spread around the mine
area. Always be extra careful around the rock pile area
in case some rocks slide down on you.
To find some crystal geodes go to Malbon and
travel 13 km from the start of the bitumen and down
the dirt road till you get to a dirt track on the left
hand side and travel a half a km till you get to the
open clearing. In the hills you can find some crystal
that have white outcrops of the crystal material. It's
not high grade but some nice specimens can still be
found. Colors vary from Amethyst, clear, brown and
white. Ribbonstone pebbles can also be found in
some of the creeks around this area as well.
                                               Cloncurry
                                                       By John Boom

Cloncurry is best known for its past history of copper and gold mining throughout the area.
It's also well known for having some of the hottest temperatures within Australia being up to
53.9 degrees recorded in 1889.

Today it's a small rural town and has most of the basic stores and required services for the
area. I've included some photos of the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine as well as it forms part
of this areas past mining history.