Field Trips

Field Trips are generally run each month. A program for the year is developed in January by the field trip officer. At least one major field trip is held every year, of between 1 - 3 months duration. Field trips are important in respect of collecting material for use later at the club. But also important is the social interaction that occurs with members and members from other clubs.

While trips are usually scheduled for holiday weekends, there are several sites within a few hours driving of Brisbane accessible by day trips.

Kilkivan about 160Kms north of Brisbane is popular as a gold fossicking area. Further on, about 50 Kms west of Kilkivan, Windera and Cloyna areas are popular areas for Agate. Smokey Quartz is plentiful in Ewingar Creek in Northern N.S.W about 3.5 hrs drive south-west of Brisbane.

These trips are open to any member of any lapidary club. NBLC members interested in attending please place your name on the nomination sheet, on the club house notice board, either yourself or by contacting the duty officer at any session. Interested persons from outside of NBLC should contact the Field Trip Officer using the email link in the Table .

2010 Field Trip Schedule

Day	Date	Location	Comments
Friday	10 - 13 Apr 09 Easter	Ewingar - Gold and Quartz Crystals
Saturday	2 - 4 May 09 Labour Day	Torrington - Topaz, Quartz and Emerald
Saturday	20 Jun to 27 Jul 09	Sapphire/Opal Field Trip - Itinerary	Ray Wilson
Friday	9 - 11 Oct 09	Treasure Quest - Aratula	Garry Gatfield

 

Download the Itinerary for the Major Field trips of 2010:

Gemboree and fossicking in Tasmania

Below are the Field trip Itineries of previous years:

Opal Field Trip 27 Jun - 27 Jul 09

Kimberleys 2008

Thailand 2005

Glenalva Sapphire Field 2007

Treasure Quest 2007

Here are some photo's from previous field trip and locations:

Hart's Range in Central Australia " Zircon, Garnet, Specimens"

Inverell and Glen Innes area "Sapphire, Garnet, Zircon, Jelly Bean Crystals, Diamonds, Gold"

Lightning Ridge and Mehi "Opal Fields"

Torrington "Topaz, Emerald"

Ewingar "Quartz Crystals, Gold"

Gold Fossicking Trips

BASIC REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT FOSSICKING

• GOOD MAPS OF THE AREA YOU INTEND TO VISIT.
• 1 X ALUMINIUM SIEVE 305MM IN DIA. BY 3MM MESH 1/8 inch.
• 1 X “ “ BY 7MM MESH ¼ inch.
• 1 X SMALL STURDY SHOVEL (NOT FOLD UP TYPE).
• 1 X GOLD PAN PLASTIC, IF AFTER GOLD.
• FOOTWEAR - PREFERABLY BOOTS TO SUPPORT ANKLES.
• HEADWEAR - A NICE WIDE BRIMMED HAT.
• TRANSPORT - A 4 X 4 IS NICE, BUT A LOT OF AREAS CAN BE ACCESSED BY CONVENTIONAL VEHICLES.
• ACCOMMODATION - HOTELS, MOTELS, CARAVANS OR CAMPING. THIS CAN LEAD TO VERY ENJOYABLE FAMILY BUSH WEEKENDS,
• COMMUNICATION - WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS NOT NECESSARY, BUT VERY COMFORTABLE TO HAVE. A MOBILE PHONE IS USEFUL IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND WE STRONGLY SUGGEST A HANDHELD UHF CB. THEY COST $50-$100

THE ABOVE ARE ONLY THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO ENABLE YOU TO CARRY OUT THIS HOBBY.

EXTRA EQUIPMENT CAN BE OBTAINED AT A LATER DATE IF REQUIRED. ENJOY YOURSELVES; LEAVE FOSSICKING AREAS CLEAN FOR OTHERS AND SOME MATERIAL BEHIND FOR OTHERS - GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FOSSICKING.