Yarrow Creek
The route to Yarrow Creek will be via the New England Highway to Glencoe (22 km south of Glen Innes) where the convoy will reassemble on the Mt Mitchell road (opposite the Red Lion Hotel). Follow this road until the first Mt Slow turnoff (immediately after the bitumen ends). About 6 km along this road, turn right through two farm gates. This is at the top of a hill just after the entrance to “Glenora” homestead.
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Fossicking at Garnet Bend, Yarrow Creek Minerama 2007 |
Photos courtesy of the Australian Lapidary Club Directory |
1. Rocky Bend
This location not in the 2009 programme.
Travel time to Yarrow Creek is approximately 30 minutes followed by a 15 minute walk. At the top of the hill after the entrance to “Glenora” homestead, follow farm tracks as explained below.
Conventional vehicles can negotiate the farm tracks (about 500 m) with caution provided that conditions are dry. The paddock is full of thistles and unfortunately an electric fence obstructs the way forward so it will be necessary to walk for approximately 15 minutes to reach the creek.
This is the location on Yarrow Creek known as Rocky Bend. Has been visited only twice during Minerama in 2002 and 2007. The area includes several pools, and extensive rocky areas. The long handled shovel and yabby pump are vital tools in a place like this as well as a change of clothes and old shoes.
You can expect to find sapphire, pyrope garnet, zircon, black spinel, tourmaline (schorl) and clear and smoky quartz.
2. Across the Paddock
This location not in the 2009 programme.
Travel time to Yarrow Creek is approximately 30 minutes with a walk of 25 minutes after this. The approach for this trip is identical to the Rocky Bend site.
Conventional vehicles can negotiate the farm tracks (about 500 m) with caution provided that conditions are dry. The paddock is full of thistles and unfortunately an electric fence obstructs the way forward so it will be necessary to walk for approximately 15 minutes to reach the creek.
Those who wish to remain at Rocky Bend will be free to do so; however this location involves a further walk of 10 minutes or so over a fence and across a paddock.
The creek here contains numerous pools and rock areas. We have visited this site during Minerama in 2005 by a different route and again in 2007.
The long handled shovel and yabby pump are vital tools in a place like this as well as a change of clothes and old shoes.
Travel time to Yarrow Creek is approximately 30 minutes. At the top of the hill after the entrance to “Glenora” homestead, follow farm tracks as explained below.
Conventional vehicles can negotiate the farm tracks (about 3 km) with caution provided that conditions are dry. Ultimately each driver must decide whether to leave their vehicle and walk the remainder. 4 WD vehicles are recommended for this trip. However, conventional cars should be able to reach within 200-300m of the intended parking spot. There is a boggy spot at this point; after this the track is OK again.
You can expect to find sapphire, pyrope garnet, zircon, black spinel, tourmaline (schorl) and clear and smoky quartz.
Travel time to Yarrow Creek is approximately 30 minutes. At the top of the hill after the entrance to “Glenora” homestead, follow farm tracks as explained below.
6. Underground River
This location not offered in the 2009 programme.
Travel time to Yarrow Creek is approximately 30 minutes. At the top of the hill after the entrance to “Glenora” homestead, follow farm tracks as explained below.
Conventional vehicles can negotiate the farm tracks (about 1.5 km) with caution provided that conditions are dry. It will be necessary to park these about 200 m from the creek. 4 wheel drive vehicles can get quite close to the spot.
This area was included in the 2007 Minerama Field Trip program. As well as having pools and rocky areas the creek vanishes under the rocks for about 50 metres.
The long handled shovel and yabby pump are vital tools in a place like this as well as a change of clothes and old shoes.
You can expect to find sapphire, pyrope garnet, zircon, black spinel, tourmaline (schorl) and clear and smoky quartz.
Conventional vehicles can negotiate the farm tracks (about 3 km) with caution provided that conditions are dry. Ultimately each driver must decide whether to leave their vehicle and walk the remainder. 4 WD vehicles are recommended for this trip. However, conventional cars are usually able to reach within 400m of the intended parking spot. The section beyond this can be very tricky when wet and is certainly not suitable for conventional vehicles.
This is the location on Yarrow Creek knows as “Garnet Corner”. We have visited it during Minerama 2003 to 2007. It is still producing sapphires, zircons and especially pyrope garnets of cuttable size. Several of more than 20 carats have been found there. Nearly all the wash has to be dug in the creek bed and bank so be prepared to get wet!
You can expect to find sapphire, pyrope garnet, zircon and clear and smoky quartz.
Travel time to Yarrow Creek is approximately 30 minutes. At the top of the hill after the entrance to “Glenora” homestead, follow farm tracks as explained below.
Conventional vehicles can negotiate the farm tracks (about 3 km) with caution provided that conditions are dry. Ultimately each driver must decide whether to leave their vehicle and walk the remainder. 4WD vehicles are recommended for this trip. However, conventional cars should be able to reach within 200-300m of the intended parking spot. There is a boggy spot at this point; after this the track is OK again.
This is the location on Yarrow Creek known as “The Cascades”. This site has been visited during Minerama only once before in 2007. It is located downstream from Garnet Corner. A 13 carat yellow and blue sapphire was found here on a recent exploratory trip. The area includes a deep pool, a sandy area and rocky pools. The long handled shovel and yabby pump are vital tools in a place like this as well as a change of clothes and old shoes.
You can expect to find sapphire, pyrope garnet, zircon, black spinel, tourmaline (schorl) and clear and smoky quartz.