Mount Gibson
Atherton Tablelands - 75 km south-west from Mareeba
Location
Atherton Tablelands
Nearest Town
Mareeba
Distance
75 km south-west
Photo: Rob Lavinsky / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Location
Mount Gibson is near Mareeba
Fossicking Area Boundary
Official declared boundary from the Queensland Government. You may only fossick within this area.
Boundary data from Queensland Government spatial services
History
Mount Gibson is a sapphire fossicking area on the western edge of the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. Sapphires here are found in basaltic alluvium, similar to the Central Queensland Gemfields but in a tropical rainforest setting.
What You Can Find
Sapphires in various colours, particularly blue and green. Zircon is also found in the wash.
The tropical setting means fossicking conditions differ from the dry gemfields. Wet sieving in creek beds is common.
Getting There
From Mareeba, head south-west towards Dimbulah. Mount Gibson is accessible via local roads from the Dimbulah area.
Some access tracks may require a high-clearance vehicle.
Camping
Limited facilities. Accommodation available in Mareeba or Dimbulah.
View Mount Gibson on the Map
See satellite imagery, terrain, and surrounding fossicking areas.
Open MapSource: Queensland Government