University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Australasian rubies

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 21:42 authored by Sutherland, L, Graham, I, Harris, S, Khin ZawKhin Zaw, Sebastien MeffreSebastien Meffre, Coldham, T, Coenraads, R, Sutherland, G
Rubies occur in sporadic deposits across the continental exposures of Australasia, although quite subordinate to sapphires, which are actively mined in a few gem fields. The main ruby finds are in alluvial placer deposits shed from . Cenozoic basalt fields in eastern Australia, where corundum was brought up by eruptions as resistant crystals from underlying crustal and mantle sources. These rubies all show differences in inclusions, trace element signatures and oxygen isotope values reflecting origins from diverse metamorphic bodies. Barrington Tops rubies show intergrowths with sapphirine and Cr-bearing spine! and supplied a ruby mining venture. Cudgegong-Macquarie River Mg-rich high temperature rubies may represent diamond zone indicators. New England zoned rubies are unusual Ga-rich types, different to most rubies in general. Elsewhere, in central and western Australia, a few ruby finds are known in older metamorphic rocks. At Harts Range, ruby crystals in feldspathic lenses within deformed metamorphic schists and gneisses were worked for cabochon and specimen material. At Hokitika, South Island New Zealand, a unique ruby-rich metamorphic rock is worked for ornamental jewellery. Commercial ruby deposits are very limited in Australasia, however, the known ruby finds provide a scientific 'bonanza'.

Funding

Australian Research Council

AMIRA International Ltd

ARC C of E Industry Partner $ to be allocated

Anglo American Exploration Philippines Inc

AngloGold Ashanti Australia Limited

Australian National University

BHP Billiton Ltd

Barrick (Australia Pacific) PTY Limited

CSIRO Earth Science & Resource Engineering

Mineral Resources Tasmania

Minerals Council of Australia

Newcrest Mining Limited

Newmont Australia Ltd

Oz Minerals Australia Limited

Rio Tinto Exploration

St Barbara Limited

Teck Cominco Limited

University of Melbourne

University of Queensland

Zinifex Australia Ltd

History

Publication title

Australian Gemmologist

Volume

26

Issue

5-6

Pagination

68-76

ISSN

0004-9174

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

The Gemmological Association of Australia

Place of publication

Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC