EL 8031 Victoria River Downs final report applying to the area new granted as MCN 4594

Abstract

Several north-south striking veins of amethyst which had been found during an earlier fossicking visit to the area were tested using a back hoe to determine whether the veins extended to depth. The veins are exposed in pits at the base of a hill and it needed to be determined whether the veins extended up the hill slope for any distance as heavy scree covered the outcrop. A plan of the excavation is attached which shows that much of the deposit has already been removed by fossickers. Samples of the amethyst material were collected to determine whether it was marketable as the colour is not consistent through the crystalline mass and if too much colourless quartz is present it detracts from the value of the material . A sample was sent to South Fast Asia to determine its market acceptance. If the material has to be broken to separate the darker coloured material it would appear that the prospect may be uneconomic. More sampling and testing needs to be done. An initial comment on the material tested in south east Asia is that the amethyst is rather too heavily fractured to be top quality lapidary stone and it was recommended that some material be obtained from deeper beneath the surface where cracking is usually less detrimental to the quality of the stone. The material submitted came from about one metre below the surface.