Rubyvale
Central Queensland Gemfields - 48 km west from Emerald
Location
Central Queensland Gemfields
Nearest Town
Emerald
Distance
48 km west
Photo: Gondwananet / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Location
Rubyvale is near Emerald
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
Rubyvale is one of the original gemfield towns, named for the red stones (later identified as garnets and rubies) found alongside sapphires in the wash. The town sits at the northern end of the gemfields and has been a centre for sapphire mining since the early 1900s.
Today Rubyvale is known for its gem galleries, mine tours, and hands-on fossicking experiences. Several commercial operations allow visitors to wash and sieve pre-dug material.
What You Can Find
Sapphires in a variety of colours are the primary find. Blue sapphires are the most sought after, but yellows, greens, and parti-colours also occur.
Zircon and occasional small rubies are found in the sapphire wash.
Getting There
From Emerald, take the Capricorn Highway west to the Rubyvale turn-off. Follow the sealed road south to Rubyvale, approximately 48 km from Emerald.
Accessible by conventional vehicle.
Camping
Caravan parks and accommodation are available in Rubyvale.
Bush camping is not permitted within the designated fossicking land.
Important Notes
- !A Queensland fossicking licence is required.
- !Several commercial fossicking operations in Rubyvale offer guided experiences with pre-dug wash material for beginners.
Source: Queensland Government