JONES’ SWAMP CREEK – GUYRA TO INVERELL ROAD
Over the years we’ve followed up suggestions, leads, hints –
whatever you like to call them – about places where sapphires might be found.
Jones’ Swamp (Creek or Gully) 3km north of Wandsworth on the Guyra to Inverell
road was one of these. We only went once, because it was obvious that we had
far better places to fossick than this. Nevertheless, it wasn’t a total failure
and it would appear that there are still possibilities there.
The site is one of the original declared fossicking areas of
the 1970’s, No. 39 to be exact. The place is on the left as you travel from Guyra and it is
(surprise, surprise) basically a swamp. In 2003 that bothered me more than in
later years; our experiences at
Rainy Swamp and Pretty Valley proved that
sapphires are sometimes found in swamps.
Brett Brown visited the spot and we went out with him the
following week. (Brett and Jenny used to run the Cathedral Gallery at White Cliffs). Brett had found some
typical sapphires and zircons, some of reasonable size, so it seemed promising.
As it turned out, the combination of swamp, winter and a
shortage of water where it counted somewhat limited our fossicking, but I can
confirm that there are gemstones there. We found no cutters, but that
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| Sue and Evelyn - and a nice fire for the day |
doesn’t
mean you won’t.
Here are some more pieces of information. According to
Wwoofa (Australian Lapidary Forum thread on fossicking localities) the GPS
co-ordinates are 6675680N 56356174E. There used to be a photograph there, but
it’s been deleted to make more forum space. I don’t think it showed more than
the bridge. Turn left at the bridge along a track. This is a broad travelling
stock reserve, mostly barren granite country with swampy alluvium along the
watercourse.
Two related reports concerning an Authority to Enter issued
to Amsil Sapphires Pty Ltd in 1974 can be found in DIGS. The reference numbers
are DIGS MR06260 and MR06259 . Basically, the reports indicate
that the creek does have good potential (see the extract) but you need to
remember that this report is on another part of the creek. Furthermore, there
might have been actual mining on that spot in the years after 1974.
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| Extract from Amsil Sapphires report |
The map portion
(from a map issued in 1972 with the Records of the Geological Survey of NSW, 14
part 1 – DIGS reference Records 14(1)), shows that basalt is widespread
in the district (normal for sapphire deposits) with the country rock being
granodiorite. It also reveals that both Moredun Creek (north) and Georges Creek
(south) are sapphire bearing. You could try checking these localities in DIGS.
Maps might also reveal other public access places along these three creeks
worth investigating.
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