Australia

Australia’s mineral wealth reflects an ancient continent built from Archean cratons (Pilbara and Yilgarn), Proterozoic basins, and younger fold belts such as the Lachlan. These terrains host giant iron-ore and gold systems in Western Australia (Pilbara, Kalgoorlie), major base-metal camps at Broken Hill (NSW) and Mount Isa (Queensland), and extensive nickel deposits across Western Australia. Granites and pegmatites contribute cassiterite, tourmaline, beryl and fine quartz, while volcanic provinces and river gravels yield sapphire and zircon. For gemstones, Australia is renowned for opal from Lightning Ridge and Coober Pedy and for diamonds from the Kimberley (Argyle district), alongside standout crocoite from Dundas in western Tasmania.

Collecting Australian minerals is exciting because the variety is enormous, the localities are iconic and well documented, and many specimens combine striking colours with rich mining histories. For more information about the mineral locations in Australia, click HERE.