Matthew Goodwin's Photo Gallery

7TA-9NUZircon Zr(SiO₄)

Hillside xenocryst locality, Vernon Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 5 mm

A loose euhedral zircon xenocryst (right) is shown sitting next to the basalt mold (left) that originally contained the crystal. Crystal faces of the zircon crystal are readily visible in the basalt mold which forms a depression up to 3mm deep.

The zircon was found by splitting a piece of basalt with a geological hammer. It popped off the matrix during the splitting process.

8AW-G9YMimetite Pb₅(AsO₄)₃Cl

Mount Bonnie Mine, Grove Hill, Victoria-Daly Region, Northern Territory, Australia

Field of View: 30 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 8 mm

Former Brian England specimen.

RLW-Q09Malachite Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂

Burra Burra Copper Mine, Burra, North Mt Lofty Ranges, Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia, Australia

Dimensions: 50 mm

Concentric banding is clearly visible in this specimen.

Collected by John Roe.

75W-VRFPseudomalachite Cu₅(PO₄)₂(OH)₄ , Quartzite

Girilambone Copper Mine, Girilambone, Canbelego Co., New South Wales, Australia

Dimensions: 120 mm

Collected from the low grade ore dump of the Murrawombie open cut.

G26-UL5Zircon Zr(SiO₄)

Hillside xenocryst locality, Vernon Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 11 mm

Excellent euhedral zircon xenocryst in basalt.

7CH-KJFCorundum (Var: Sapphire) Al₂O₃ , Zircon Zr(SiO₄)

Braemar sapphire deposit, Elsmore, Gough Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 8 mm

Euhedral sapphire (blue) and zircon (colourless, yellowish & reddish brown) crystals selectively picked from the production of a commercial sapphire mine in the late 1980s. The sapphires show exceptional light to medium blue natural colouring that this site is known for.

These specimens came from the processing of weathered volcaniclastic rocks.

H0F-X87Corundum (Var: Sapphire) Al₂O₃

Horse Gully alluvials, Sapphire, Arrawatta Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 10 mm

Alluvial sapphire crystals picked from the production of a commercial sapphire mine in the late 1980s. There is a range of green, blue and yellowish colour zoning.

RME-8Y0Corundum (Var: Sapphire) Al₂O₃

Horse Gully alluvials, Sapphire, Arrawatta Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 10 mm

Alluvial sapphire crystals selectively picked from the production of a commercial sapphire mine in the late 1980s. There is a range of green, blue and yellowish colour zoning.

Y4N-YLYZircon Zr(SiO₄)

Zircon Gully, Hanging Rock, Nundle, Parry Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 10 mm

Examples of some of the larger zircons that can be sieved from weathered basalt at this location. Bottom left crystal is euhedral and gemmy.

7RM-ACACorundum Al₂O₃

Zircon Gully, Hanging Rock, Nundle, Parry Co., New South Wales, Australia

Largest Crystal Size: 8 mm

Green to dark blue corundum sieved from weathered basalt. Hexagonal crystal cross sections apparent in some pieces.