FOSSICKING at LUNE RIVER in the Far South May 09 2026, 0 Comments
General fossicking information for the Far South
Now that our rock shop at Lune River has closed, we thought that we’d share some fossicking information regarding the two local Public Fossicking Areas (PFA), down in the Far South, near the Hasting’s Caves. We hope this is useful for those keen to find some gems and fossils for themselves. The fossils and gemstones found here, are dated as 182 million years old, placing them in the Early Jurassic period. Finding your own can be hard work…or sometimes easy…nearly always good fun!
Most of you will travel via Hobart (A6) - head south through the Huon Valley – Huonville, Geeveston, Dover...towards Southport. Follow directions towards the Hastings Caves. At the junction with the Hasting’s Caves Road, continue straight ahead, to get to the Lune River PFA, noting our directions below. If you want to fossick at the Coal Hill PFA, see notes below, at this same junction.
o Lune River PFA - when you cross the Lune River bridge, note your mileage, then drive another 5.3 kms, (cross the railway line, past the South Lune Rd (on right) at end of bitumen, past 4WD track into Southport Lagoon(on left), which brings you to a small Y- junction where the Leprena Track, veers off to the left. That Track itself continues for another 1.6 kms, where a locked gate permits only foot traffic to continue. Fossicking is only to occur on the right-hand side (western side) of the Leprena Track. This original road to Cockle Creek is now replaced by the larger gravel road that now takes you through the middle of this fossicking area, heading south to Cockle Creek.
o Coal Hill PFA – this covers a much larger area – maps in the MRT booklet are useful (see below). Read your mileage when you turn off the main highway, onto the Hastings Caves Road – from that turn-off, you drive 1.8 kms, where you find a turn to the right, which is Tuganah Road. Turning onto this road places you at the southern edge of the Coal Hill PFA. (Some of the forestry road signs can be difficult to see, or have disappeared! – MRT booklet contains road maps - see below.
o Special Note: Both of these PFA’s are shared with State Forest, so people should be aware that sometimes harvesting of trees (logging) does occur, and to travel with care. For the most part, whilst forested areas are sometimes cleared, which usually allows for easier walking, most fossicking and digging occurs under tree cover - bush regrowth or plantation. This can sometimes make it difficult for families with very young children. Another good reason for filling in holes – to prevent people or (other) animals falling in!
· Fossicking booklet - a booklet titled ‘Fossicking Areas in Tasmania’ is available, which includes the above two public fossicking areas near Lune River and is printed by the Mineral Resources of Tasmania (MRT). You can purchase a copy from them, or read the booklet online - see Publications. These PFAs allow you to fossick without needing a permit; the booklet contains guidelines and maps for the state.
· Lune River & Coal Hill PFAs are located in foothills south and north of Lune River, respectively, not at the river itself.
· Mostly a digging site – useful items: sturdy tools & clothing, bucket (spare water useful), insect repellent, gloves, sitting mat. A metal probe can be helpful to locate the gravel layer*. You may have to try a few spots before you locate this layer. Natural erosion on any recently logged areas can sometimes reveal specimens on the surface. After forest removal, there’s about a 2 year ‘window’ for walking around - ‘surface-specking’, before re-growth of bush. Agate colours are brighter and easier to see when they’re wet from rain…and sunshine makes any quartz crystal on the ground, sparkle or glint. Most material is already broken into smaller pieces, from chips to fist-size, on average.
· Gravel layer* – fossil wood and the rare tree fern fossils, agates, jasper and quartz crystals are usually found amongst basalt (grey-brown rock), all of which has broken up and been compacted into a layer. This layer might be 20cm/8” below the surface of the ground, or deeper than a metre. Fossicking guidelines place 2 metres as the deepest you can dig. You will recognise this layer by how difficult it is to dig through, the layer being mostly made up of many compacted fragments. The layer is not usually continuous, but can sometimes exist at another, deeper level.
· Fill any holes dug – Fossicking guidelines requirement. Allow time to do this.
· When to dig – realistically, when time and enthusiasm are a match!
Perhaps avoid late summer, when the ground is drier and harder to dig. Summer offers the additional company of mosquitoes, leeches, march flies and possible snakes. Autumn’s generally a good season. (Autumn’s warmth and rains also makes it a good time to see fungi).
General descriptions of gem and fossil material –
· Agate – coloured quartz in patterned layers, including as horizontal bands of colour. When only one colour, it’s called chalcedony. Colours range - red, orange, yellow, grey-blueish tones and cream.
With agate, light can be seen through its edges, when held up towards the sky (called translucency).
· Jasper – we’ve only ever found this at Coal Hill, and in one, hard-to-find spot! Usually a muted blend of khaki and mustard-ochre colours, occasionally with red flecks or patches.
· Fossil Wood – often blocky in shape, with sharp angles. Usually cream, brown or grey colour.
Opaque (light cannot be seen through specimen). Growth rings sometimes visible, or fragments can resemble in shape, and actually are, fossil tree limbs, branches or roots – called ‘casts’ Though complete trunk sections have been found, it is a rarity…same goes for fern.
· Fossil Fern – only found at southern Lune River PFA.
§ small, circular rings are cross-sections of fronds, …part of the fern’s trunk.
§ root mantle – dense, wavy, interconnected structures are fibrous roots.
§ usually irregular in shape, with colours - beige, brown, grey or cream.
· Quartz – mostly white or clear – pastel colours can occur or grey smokey quartz – amethyst rare.
§ as fragments or still whole crystals – mostly ‘plates’ of small, even crystals (drusy) or as clusters, when a small number of larger crystals are still intact together.
General Note: throughout the fossicking area, you will come across basalt (cooled magma) - grey/brown fragments (or boulders). You will not see any light come through this rock (no translucency), nor any shapes or structures to observe. Without this basalt though, the gemfield would not have evolved.
Hopefully the descriptions will help you identify for yourself, what is a gemstone, a fossil or ‘just a rock’.
One thing fossicking certainly encourages, is patience. Digging takes time…enthusiasm and curiosity are just as important. Finding specimens or ‘treasure’ focuses your attention on what you’re doing, what you’re holding in your hand. Does it have colour? Are there any patterns to show it may be fern or tree-growth rings? Does the rock show sparkle, especially with the sun shining on it? All these differences will tell you something; then any guessing will one day become confidence in knowing what you’ve found.
Just enjoy being out there…
from Chrystine and Boris...
Lunaris Gemstones continues to trade at Salamanca Market each Saturday.