Memories made. Stories told.

Jordan’s gem-fossicking hobby sees him driving to the Weld River at Moorina (10 minutes from Derby) on the weekends, returning home freezing cold from a day wading the riverbed for precious stones. So it’s little wonder that sapphire stud earrings were a gift for the girlfriend, who became his fiancee with a sapphire engagement ring. That same woman became his wife, and she often wears a beautiful sapphire pendant bearing the precious stones he plucked from cold Tasmanian rivers.

“We’ve been fossicking together too. It’s something special we share,” Jordan said.

Okay. Enough of the sentimental stuff. You’re here because you want to know how you can get your hands on these pretty blue sparkles!

Firstly, you should know that fossicking for gemstones in Tasmania requires a licence.

However… thanks to the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995, there are 11 areas that have been set aside for non-commercial use by fossickers like you, Jordan and Karina. Read more about the licensing dos and don’ts here. Even though these spots are set aside for recreational use, there are still some strict protocols you’ll need to adhere to, like not digging lower than 2-metres, not using a metal detector and so on.

One of the designated fossicking areas is a 2km-square patch on the Weld River, adjacent to the Tasman Highway at Moorina. That’s where Jordan suggests you start, especially if you’re staying at the Dales and adventuring around Derby.

1. A shovel or large scoop. Jordan uses one of those stainless steel scoops like you find at lolly or health food shops.
2. Waders. These are very useful as you’ll be spending a lot of time in the river.
3. A set of sieves (one fine mesh, one coarse mesh), that slot together. You’ll find them at Anaconda or online, sometimes called gold-panning sieves.

1. Get yourself out into the middle of the river with your shovel and scoop up some matter from the riverbed. Keep in mind that sapphires behave similarly to gold: they are very dense and will collect in particular places in the river. For example, where it’s turbulent, up against a rock or in a deep hole. In time, you’ll learn how to read the river and ask, ‘where will the heavy matter collect?’
2. Put the material through your sieves. You will be left with coarse material on top and mid-sized material between.
3. Rock ‘n’ roll, baby! This stage takes some technique and Jordan has kindly described it for you. Take your sieves and begin with a rocking motion to make all the particles line up in the middle of the sieve. Turn it 90-degrees, and repeat. This centralises the heaviest particles.
4. Dump. Turn your sieves straight onto a flat surface on the riverbank and pick through the middle matter, which is where you’re most likely to find the bling!

Google it. The sieving motion is a bit of an art, so it’s worth watching someone doing it on YouTube before you have a go yourself.

Something else worth knowing is that the mineral Blackjack (black spinel) is often found in the same places you will find sapphires. As the name suggests, this stone is opaque black with a sheen.

“It’s a bit of a telltale sign that you’re getting close to finding some sapphires when you dig up a lot of Blackjack,” Jordan said.

There are other semi-precious stones to look out for too, like topaz (clear with a blue-green tinge) and zircon (beer bottle amber colour).

And finally, bring a heap of patience. Sometimes Jordan finds nothing or just a smattering of smaller stones, but then there are the victory days when he lands a stone worth taking to a jeweller and sending away to be cut. Over his four years fossicking for sapphires, Jordan has found about 60 sapphires large enough, and of high enough quality, for cutting.

Happy Fossicking!