Hidden Treasures – Rubyvale

The volcano is a rumbling beast, and from the depths of its belly spews hot molten rock. Ash falls like ebony snow and the smell of gases chokes the air. The glow of lava sprawls across the landscape, devouring everything in its path, while acid rain collects in vicious grey clouds above… Welcome to the Sapphire Gemfields 50 million years ago.

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As these eruptions blasted upward, they carried sapphires and other crystals that had formed deep within volcanic rocks. Over millions of years, weathering and ancient streams released these gems from the volcanic material and concentrated them in the gravel wash still fossicked today. 

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Did you know? 

The oldest rocks along the Dig the Tropic route are the highly deformed metamorphic rocks which form the regional basement of the Anakie area. They are around 500 million years old. Volcanoes in Queensland are some of the oldest in eastern Australia and can be found throughout the Capricorn region, including Rockhampton, Springsure and Undara. There are approximately 80 volcanic peaks between the Sapphire Gemfields and Clermont.

Gemstones to Discover 

Sapphires come in all shades of the rainbow although they are typically a deep royal blue. The Sapphire Gemfields are famous for rich golden yellow and parti-coloured stones and are also home to the famous black sapphires. Sapphires and rubies are made of corundum (aluminium oxide), which is the second hardest gemstone after diamonds. The various colours in these corundum stones are caused by additional elements, such as chromium, iron or titanium.

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Traditional sapphire: The blue colouring of a traditional sapphire is the result of titanium and ferrous iron elements. 

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Yellow sapphire: The stunning yellow and green hue of this gemstone results from a combination of ferric iron and ferrous/ferric iron. 

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Parti-coloured and ‘fancy’ stones: Parti-coloured stones are combinations of more than one colour, mostly yellow and blue. Fancy stones can come in a range of colours, including pink, orange and even purple. 

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Ruby: The exquisite red of the ruby is a result of chromium oxide.

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Black or blue star sapphire: The sublime star sapphire can appear blue or black. The six rays of the star are called the asterism.

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Tomahawk Tiger: Discovered in 1976, this stone is named after nearby Tomahawk Creek and the striking tiger-like bands of colour. It is a natural sapphire crystal referred to as a dogtooth because of its tapered shape.

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Rough sapphire: Don’t be fooled by the appearance of a rough sapphire, which may look opaque. 

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More ways to experience the sapphire gemfields 

Mine tours. Head on down into a working mine and see how it’s done. Explore the twists and turns of the underground tunnels and hear the professionals share their tales of toil and treasure. Gem cutting. Have your own piece of sapphire cut by master gem cutters, faceted and set into a piece of jewellery. Admire the delicate gem-cutting craft designed to enhance the stone’s brilliance and colour.

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