Gemtree, Cattlewater Pass, Fossssicking, Rubyvale
Submitted: Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 15:00
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outback epicurean
Hi all
Planning a trip across the Plenty Hwy in August and looking for a few tips. According to the Plenty Hwy trek report on this site, there is a track beween Arltunga and the Plenty called the
Cattlewater pass. Says it is rough but OK. Towing a good Off Road Trailer and info on conditons appreciated.
Keen to try a bit of
fossicking while in the region. Any ideas on where to go or who to talk to welcome. We are rank ameuters (though we did get a great
sapphire in
Rubyvale more later!) so need help. Trek notes say plenty of good
fossicking sites along the
Cattlewater pass but its a bit country out there. How do we find out the better spots?
Finally, about 15 years ago, we visited the
sapphire fields west of
Emerald. Went to a "tourist"
mine where we dug the ore below ground and had it processed. Ended up with a really good stone and several specks. Were thinking about going back again this year but often the second visit is a real let-down. What's the current form at the
Rubyvale fields, is it all cleaned up and touristy or still has a bit of character?
Any other tips on the Plenty welcome.
cheers
Reply By: Willem - Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 15:18
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 15:18
Cattlewater Pass is an easy run and 4x4 not required though high clearance an advantage.
Go to Gemtree CP. The people there specialise in
fossicking etc and you should get all the right info and
fossicking permits and mud maps from them or write to Northen Territory Dept of Mines and Energy in
Alice Springs
The missus dug up a nice garnet out there in the Harts Ranges and had a ring made out of it.
Plenty stands for plenty of corrugations and sharp rocks. Drive at a safe speed and drop your tyre pressures to around 25psi
Enjoy
AnswerID:
147186
Reply By: Pedirka - Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 15:23
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 15:23
G'day
Try speaking to the owner of the Gemtree Caravan park on the Plenty Hwy.
Years ago he used to fossick up there for Rubys and Zircons. He and his wife would spend six months a year on site
fossicking and cutting gemstones.
We didnt know them until one day we helped them on the side of the road (
breakdown) half way up the Stuart Hwy. He told us about his
fossicking and invited us to come up and have a go. We did that, got heaps of Zircon. He lent us all the gear needed and even cut the stones for us. Had a fantastic time.
We did drive the track to Arltunga but that would have been at around 1989, things would have changed heaps since then
I did hear later that they leased some land and started the Gemtree Caravan Park and now live there full time.
Cheers
Pedirka
AnswerID:
147189
Reply By: Graham & Ann - Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 16:00
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 16:00
We travelled the Plenty H'wy to Gemtree in 2004, towing our van no problems. Plenty of bull dust that year though!!!.... You can have a read of our trip here if you wish
http://tinyurl.com/9z3ty Cattlewater Pass track should be fine with your camper, no good for our van though as it was too overgrown, we drove tjhis track without our van. There was a couple with a van parked about 1/2 way in off the Plenty probably doing a bit of
fossicking there, from there on the track was too narrow and canopy too low for vans. Gemtree to Artunga can also be done via
Pinnacles Road this is ok for vans and thats the way we towed into Arltunga. We stayed a week at Gemtree plenty of zircons found at the public digging spots along
Pinnacles Rd. Enjoy the trip
AnswerID:
147195
Reply By: Member - Pezza (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 17:54
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006 at 17:54
G'day O.E.
The
gemfields certainly hasn't been "cleaned up", it still has plenty of character, though the touristy aspect has unfortunately invaded there aswell, though only along the main road and Saphire and
Rubyvale central, which I have to admit isn't such a bad thing for the local economy.
I'm not sure what you would classify as a "let down" but if you go out to 'the reward' or 'goanna flat', these
places certainly haven't changed much over the years and have escaped the "touristy" side of things.
Don't forget you'll need a mining permit from
Emerald to prospect out there now, and the Blue Gem C/P at saphire has most info required for visitors.
You won't find the "Thai's" out there anymore like you did 15-20 years ago, not sure about you but it doesn't affect most travellers as they tend to keep anything they find anyways.
Hope tou have a good trip.
Avagoodn
Pezza
AnswerID:
147216
Reply By: demon41 - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 20:38
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 20:38
Hi, We were at
Rubyvale late September 05, it was our first visit , just wanted to try some
fossicking . We were in the store looking at some gear and the
young lass suggested that we go down to the last Wash Site on the road out to the North. We called in and bought a 20ltr bucket of " Virgin wash" ( $15.00) and we did half each ( Mate & I ) & wives. they supply the lot Sieves ,water wash tubs, bags, tweezers & Pots and then they
check it to make sure that you dont throw any good stuff away. It was a neat tidy set up and the
young lady was very helpfull as we didn't know what we were looking for anyway we ended up with a lot of small gear and a 3/4 carat
sapphire and 3 good sized " Stars/ cats Eyes/.
I had that
sapphire cut at
home and set into a ring ( the setter said it was in the $200.00 range) so we were rapt ( especially the wife ).
There are lots of area's that you can fossick both at
Rubyvale and at
Sapphire.
Lots of fly's but a magic place. Have fun Cheers Des.
AnswerID:
147475