Blog
Australian Chrysoprase – The Outback’s Imperial Jade
Chrysoprase is a form of apple green chalcedony that is prized world wide for its appearance, oftentimes rivaling that of the finest imperial jade. Easily the most valuable stone in the chalcedony group that includes such notables as; carnelian, chrysocolla, onyx, agate, jasper, bloodstone, aventurine, flint, sardonyx and even petrified wood, Chrysoprase has been collected since antiquity and is said to provide good luck to those that wear it.
The color of the highest quality Chrysoprase is a translucent green that is a medium to strong in intensity and has a medium to darker tone. It is this color that duplicates the appearance of the finest jadeite and has intrigued the Chinese since its discovery. Much of the Chrysoprase being mined today is sent to China for processing and domestic distribution.
Fine Chrysoprase had been extensively mined from the huge deposits located near Frankenstein, Upper Silesia in Poland since the 14th century but by the 1960's most of the local sources had been depleted and other deposits located in Brazil, India, South Africa and the United States were unable to produce enough of the high end material to satisfy world markets for gem quality Chrysoprase.
As the Silesian deposits began to wane, prospecting for new deposits of high quality Chrysoprase continued and in the early 1900's Dick and Jack Moesinger uncovered promising deposits in the Marlborough region of Australia. While only minimal hand mining was done at first, mechanized mining was begun during the 50's and by the 1960's most of the smaller claims were consolidated into two large claims. The larger of the claims, the Gumigil Chrysoprase Mine (now nearing depletion) was sold to the Po Yuen mining concern from China, the smaller was later to become the Candala Chrysoprase Mine.
The Candala Chrysoprase mine, also known as the Marlborough Mine, is located near Marlborough, Queensland, Australia and is 87 KM northwest of Rockhampton. Chrysoprase from the Marlborough District has been found in veins varying from two to eight inches thick and has had unusually high nickel content (2.35%). The color of the material found at Candala is much deeper than is typical for other localities and is due to the presence of small inclusions of the nickel bearing mineral Willemseite.
While many mines typically employ very aggressive, mechanized mining techniques to yield high volume, Candala's mining operations are performed largely by hand. The material is handpicked, washed, and then sorted allowing the mine operators to realize the largest examples of high quality Chrysoprase material. While the Candala mine does yield a variety of qualities of Chrysoprase, it primarily delivers very high quality, translucent to nearly transparent material that is often free of any internal fractures. Slabs have been seen at the Candala location weighing several kilograms and there are boulders present weighing up to 18 tons.
Annual production at the Candala mine is approximately 15 metric tons per year with 4.5% being "Grade A" material and 0.05% (about 50 kilograms) being top gem quality Chrysoprase, regarded as the finest quality material currently produced anywhere in the world.
The Australian Marlborough mines are synonymous with the finest Chrysoprase ever produced and while the gem community is extremely familiar with this beautiful gem, little has been reported about these important mines situated in the remote Outback. Chrysoprase has all of the attributes of the finest gemstones; beauty, rarity and strength, oftentimes rivaling the finest imperial jadeite. With production now winding down at the Gumigil Chrysoprase Mine, interest in (and production at) the Candala mine is sure to increase.
For More Information on Chrysoprase:
Gem Library - Chrysoprase
Gemstone Collection - Chrysoprase
The color of the highest quality Chrysoprase is a translucent green that is a medium to strong in intensity and has a medium to darker tone. It is this color that duplicates the appearance of the finest jadeite and has intrigued the Chinese since its discovery. Much of the Chrysoprase being mined today is sent to China for processing and domestic distribution.
Fine Chrysoprase had been extensively mined from the huge deposits located near Frankenstein, Upper Silesia in Poland since the 14th century but by the 1960's most of the local sources had been depleted and other deposits located in Brazil, India, South Africa and the United States were unable to produce enough of the high end material to satisfy world markets for gem quality Chrysoprase.
As the Silesian deposits began to wane, prospecting for new deposits of high quality Chrysoprase continued and in the early 1900's Dick and Jack Moesinger uncovered promising deposits in the Marlborough region of Australia. While only minimal hand mining was done at first, mechanized mining was begun during the 50's and by the 1960's most of the smaller claims were consolidated into two large claims. The larger of the claims, the Gumigil Chrysoprase Mine (now nearing depletion) was sold to the Po Yuen mining concern from China, the smaller was later to become the Candala Chrysoprase Mine.
The Candala Chrysoprase mine, also known as the Marlborough Mine, is located near Marlborough, Queensland, Australia and is 87 KM northwest of Rockhampton. Chrysoprase from the Marlborough District has been found in veins varying from two to eight inches thick and has had unusually high nickel content (2.35%). The color of the material found at Candala is much deeper than is typical for other localities and is due to the presence of small inclusions of the nickel bearing mineral Willemseite.
While many mines typically employ very aggressive, mechanized mining techniques to yield high volume, Candala's mining operations are performed largely by hand. The material is handpicked, washed, and then sorted allowing the mine operators to realize the largest examples of high quality Chrysoprase material. While the Candala mine does yield a variety of qualities of Chrysoprase, it primarily delivers very high quality, translucent to nearly transparent material that is often free of any internal fractures. Slabs have been seen at the Candala location weighing several kilograms and there are boulders present weighing up to 18 tons.
Annual production at the Candala mine is approximately 15 metric tons per year with 4.5% being "Grade A" material and 0.05% (about 50 kilograms) being top gem quality Chrysoprase, regarded as the finest quality material currently produced anywhere in the world.
The Australian Marlborough mines are synonymous with the finest Chrysoprase ever produced and while the gem community is extremely familiar with this beautiful gem, little has been reported about these important mines situated in the remote Outback. Chrysoprase has all of the attributes of the finest gemstones; beauty, rarity and strength, oftentimes rivaling the finest imperial jadeite. With production now winding down at the Gumigil Chrysoprase Mine, interest in (and production at) the Candala mine is sure to increase.
For More Information on Chrysoprase:
Gem Library - Chrysoprase
Gemstone Collection - Chrysoprase
Submitted on: May 28, 2009 @ 8:04pm
Wednesday 
