Australia Rocks and Minerals

Australia is rich in rock and minerals. There is mining activity in all of its states and territories. The geology of Australia includes almost all known rock types and from all geological time periods spanning over 3.8 billion years. The oldest dated minerals (4.0-4.2 billion years) are tiny zircon crystals found in sedimentary rocks in western Australia. The valuable minerals are mined in great scale and are one reason for the wealth of the country. Huge coal deposits are transported by train and shipped to Japan. Other mines produce gold, bauxite, iron ore or uranium. The most famous rocks found in Australia are the opals found in the outback.

Australia is the sixth largest country in size, situated on the world's smallest continent. Most of its inhabitants live along the eastern side, with the largest part of the country being arid desert known as the outback. The population density in the outback is amongst the lowest in the world. Less than 2.5% of the population lives in remote or very remote areas. Silver and copper were discovered in South Australia in the 1840s. Australia's population changed dramatically as a result of the gold rushes: in 1851 the population was 437,655 and a decade later it was 1,151,947.

Some of the many rocks from Australia include: mookaite, tiger iron, black jade, rhodonite, zebra rock, print stone, chrysoprase, peanut wood, Queensland agates, noreena jasper and Queensland petrified woods.

Mookaite (sometimes spelled Mookite) is a colorful jasper from Western Australia. Tiger Iron consists of Red Jasper, Hematite, and Tiger's Eye (or tiger-eye). Black Jade is found in South Australia and also in northwestern Australia. Noreena Jasper is a new material that comes from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Zebra Rock is a strange patterned silt stone unique to the Ranford formation in the Kununurra district in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Other minerals found in Australia include crocite, diamonds, sapphires, copper ore minerals, crazy lace agate, and much more!

OakRocks has been in the rock and mineral business for 30 years. We have a great source for Australian Rocks and Minerals and carry a large variety of both finished and rough materials. We do the Tucson show under our wholesale business name-Barlow's. We do not have a storefront, but you might be able to visit by appointment-just give us a call!

Click here to see some of the great materials that come from Australia!