FB Group Posts: 12, 13 & 14 June 2021 – Fossicking for Stones at Slope Point, Gemstone Beach and McCracken’s Rest

This is the third Post on my June 2021 stone collecting trip to the South Island, and is also the 13th Post in the Series of my daily Posts in the Facebook Group “New Zealand Lapidary, Rocks, Minerals, Fossils”. The first Post on my June trip is the Sunday 6 June entry in this Post, and the first in the Facebook Group Series is here.

Saturday 12 June 2021: Some of the stones I collected today near Slope Point (Southland). Many thanks to Oliver Simpson for hosting me again. The beach we visited was in shade and my photos were not as clear as usual, so no close-ups. NOTE – OCTOBER 2023 – Landowners are now refusing access to this beach, so please do not visit there without permission.

I was mainly looking for rhyolites, like this one.

Found by Oliver who kindly gave it to me.

Also found by Oliver and given to me.

A piece of black Southland petrified wood, to be added to the “stone garden” at home.

The beach near Slope Point.

Looking east.

Jaspers, quartzites, rhyolite, petrified wood, mudstone and many other kinds can be found here.

More stones on the beach.

However, right at end of the fossicking, we moved out of the shadows into the sun. I took photos in the sunlight of one of Oliver’s finds. He was interested in what the close-ups would reveal. It turned out to be a fascinating exercise.

Oliver’s stone. (He collects larger ones than I do.)

Close-up.

Even more detail.

Very close-up.

The other side of Oliver’s stone.

Sunday 13 June 2021: Seven stones found on Gemstone Beach this morning. It was raining so I didn’t use my camera on the beach – I took these photos later but the day was still wet and dull so the photos didn’t turn out as well as they could.

Small bright jasper.

Trace fossil stone. Quite bright traces on this one.

Amygdaloidal. Hard to get a clear photo.

Not sure what this one is. Some great tiny lines and waves.

I thought this was rhyolite but a closer look means I am not so sure.

Not the smoothest or shiniest, but nice pattern.

Amygdaloidal, I think. Again, not the clearest photo.

Monday 14 June 2021: Today’s fossicking was at McCracken’s Rest and Gemstone Beach. McCracken’s Rest is eight kilometres west of Gemstone Beach. Access to the beach from the road layby/lookout is not easy – I had to climb a fence and scramble down a slippery cliffside. Lots of stones on the beach, many quite large.

Photo taken this morning of Te Waewae Bay, from just east of Orepuki. Gemstone Beach is about a kilometre along the beach, McCracken’s Rest another 7 kilometres.

Looking back up at the McCracken’s Rest lookout from the beach. I climbed down the slope below it.

The lookout can just be seen top left. Lots of stones on the beach, many quite large.

Looking towards Pahia Hill from halfway down the slope below the lookout.

The stones on the beach below McCracken’s Rest.

Larger stones – I picked up about 8 red/reddish stones and grouped them around the central cream-coloured one for the photo. Far too big for a tumbler!

One of the sections of the beach dominated by larger stones.

However, there is not the diversity or quality of stones here that can be found at Gemstone Beach. The following are five of my most interesting finds found near McCracken’s Rest:

Trace fossils in argillite.

At Gemstone Beach, fossicking range was restricted by the Taunoa Stream being too high to ford. I wandered eastwards for a few hundred metres, an area usually clear of stones but with a few scattered there at present.

The Taunoa Stream, about 200 metres west of the carpark. Too high to ford today.

East of the carpark, a scattering of stones along the beach. Looking back towards the carpark.

The cliffs often slip, like this.

A stratum of well worn stones exists about 10 metres above the beach. Probably left by the sea long ago when sea levels were higher.

This brightly coloured layer sometimes emerges at the bottom of the cliffs.

Seven of today’s finds at Gemstone Beach:

Probably a rhyolite.

The next Post in this Series is here.

Author: tumblestoneblog

Retired Academic, male, living in the New Zealand countryside near Whanganui with his wife as well as Jasper the dog, Fluffy the cat, Dancer and Penny, the horses, and a shed half-full of stones. Email john.tumblestone@gmail.com. View all posts by tumblestoneblog