RAINY SWAMP NEAR GLEN INNES NSW AUSTRALIA
As a gemstone producing location, Rainy Swamp is
unusual in several ways. Firstly, the place is not shown on any of the maps depicting
sapphire localities and secondly the wash does not appear to be derived from
any source nearby. In fact, I would suggest that the gems are being recycled
from remnants of an old stream bed a little above the level of the present day
swamp. Conversations with people who mined here 40 years ago confirm that the
wash horizon could not be traced further upstream around the edge of the swamp.
Furthermore, everything points to a different
source from that of the gemstones in Yarrow Creek (into which Rainy Swamp
Spring Creek actually flows). The percentage of cutters is lower, the zircons
are a different shade of pink, there are no garnets and there is an abundance
of schorl tourmaline. Quartz crystals are frequent and topaz is found
occasionally. If anything, there is a strong resemblance to the mineral
assemblage in Back Creek, the next stream to the south. I would venture to
suggest that the Rainy Swamp occurrence is a remnant of a former course of Back
Creek.
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| Typical small gems |
The bulk of the material found at Rainy Swamp seems to be miners' waste, though there have been pockets of untouched wash found in less accessible places. It is a very rocky area and the best stones have been found underneath the many granite boulders.
Most fossickers enjoy Rainy Swamp because there is
always something to be found, whether it be just a few small sapphires and
zircons, some nice quartz crystals, chunks of black tourmaline or the elusive
piece of topaz.
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| 120 carat topaz |
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| Tourmaline crystal |
An article appeared in "Gold Gem and Treasure" magazine in September 1999 called "Summer Fossicking in the Ranges Around Glen Innes". Although the location is not named (naturally) it is Rainy Swamp. What is described is a part of the old lead which the miners must have missed. Unfortunately, on our many visits we have been unable to find a similar spot due to the disturbance of the hillside since 1999.
Check out my gem hunting videos from around Glen Innes here .
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Very interesting John. I couldn't find it on the map though. Is it on private property or public.
ReplyDeleteShane
Private - all of it!
ReplyDelete