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Australian Gems - Goongewa Mine Page 1
Broome Western Australian
Gems Index* * * * * * * *Australian Index * * * * * * * *Ordering Information
Azurite Broken Hill Minerals Calcites Crocoites Gold Goongewa Mine Malachites Mimetite Miscellaneous Opals Whim Creek
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Iridescent Marcasite Goongewa This picture does not do the specimen justice |
Australian localities occasionally purvey surprises. In 1996, one of these was unearthed at Goongewa Mine, near Broome, Western Australia. This deposit is one of only two Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposits known in this country and this yielded a huge calcite pocket lined with marcasite. Collectors Corner managed to prevent explosives being used and hand mined the site to recover as many specimens as possible in the short time available. Unfortunately many of the specimens had already been damaged by blasting before we arrived at the site. This illustrates how Collectors Corner is dedicated to preserving Australia's mineralogical heritage. Collectors Corner is willing to invest in small or large scale, mineral specimen recovery ventures, call us to tell us about your new finds.
Some of the Marcasite specimens displayed excellent plays of colours known as surface iridescence. This be compared with the colours of the rainbow. |
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G001 Marcasite (Iridescent) 10cm x 6 cm $50 |
As typical with MTV deposits, calcite and marcasite were intimately associated at the Goongewa mine. |
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G003 Marcasite coating Calcite Xls 9cm x 6.5cm specimen $45 |
Galena was also present at the mine. How long did it take for this specimen to form? These minerals deposited from water and lead sulfide (which makes up galena) displays very low water solubility even at high temperatures. This specimen may have formed over many millions of years. |
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G004 Galena on Marcasite 5.5cm x 5.5cm $45 |
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G005 Calcite on Marcasite 8.5cm x 6cm $40 |
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G006 Marcasite (Iridescent) 9cm x 3.5cm $45 |
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G007 Marcasite (Iridescent) 8cm x 9cm Saw cut on base $30 |
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G008 Marcasite (Iridescent) 11cm x 11cm Saw cut on base $30 |
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G009 Marcasite (Iridescent) 14cm x 16cm Saw cut on base $60 |
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G010 Galena 8cm x 5cm Saw cut on base $80 |
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G011 Calcite with Galena 11cm x 6cm $200 |
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G012 Calcite with Galena 13cm x 9.5cm Saw cut on base $30 |
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G013 Marcasite 7cm x 11cm Saw cut on base $45 |
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G014 Marcasite (Iridescent) 7cm x 5.5cm Saw cut on base $20 |
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G015 Marcasite (Iridescent) 20cm x 11cm $400 |
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G016 Calcite Xls on Marcasite 12cm x 15.5cm. Saw cut on base $150 |
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G019 Marcasite with Calcite 11cm x 7cm specimen
with cut base. $200 |
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G020 Marcasite (Iridescent) 8cm x 7.5cm. Saw cut on base. $45 |
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G021 Marcasite (Iridescent) on Calcite 8cm x7.5cm. Saw cut
on base. $20 |
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G022 Calcite Xls 7 x 9cm. Saw cut on base. $50 |
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G023 Marcasite (Iridescent) 7cm x 8 cm. Saw cut on base. $30 |
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G024 Marcasite (Iridescent) 12.5 x 8.5cm $80 |
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G025 Calcite on Marcasite 6cm x 8cm. Saw cut
on base. $45 |
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G026 Calcite on Galena with minor Marcasite 14cm x 9.5cm. Saw cut on base. $165 |
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G027 Calcite on Marcasite (Iridescent) 7cm x 8.5cm. Saw cut on base. $50 |
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G028 Calcite 7cm x 8.5cm. Saw cut on base. $40 |
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G171 Calcite - white and golden. 6.5cm x 4cm $40 |
Gems Home Page Australian Gems Home Page Ordering Information
The following are links to Australian Gems Pages
Azurite Broken Hill Minerals Calcite Crocoite Gold Goongewa Mine Malachites Mimetite Miscellaneous Opal Whim Creek