Ten of the months of my 2022 Calendar each feature three stones alongside a scene of the beach on which they were collected. The other two months, June and December, feature close-ups of stones from the previous five months. For January to May and July to November, the Calendar provides the name of the beach but does not provide any information on the stones. Identifying beach stones is not always easy – my knowledge is limited – and some of the most interesting stones can be a puzzle to me. Here are my best identification efforts:
JANUARY, Kakanui – Top = Moss Jasper; Middle = Unknown, partly brecciated; Bottom = Brecciated Jasper.
FEBRUARY, Slope Point – All three stones are Rhyolites, with different colouring and flow patterns.
MARCH, Riverton – Top = Unknown – black with white inclusions which could be fragments or crystalline; Middle = Unknown, seems to have some quartz elements; Bottom = Breccia in light grey matrix.
APRIL, Gemstone Beach – Top = Amygdaloidal volcanic stone; Middle = Green Quartzite; Bottom = Jasper.
MAY, Ward Beach – Top = Unknown; Middle = Could be Quartzite; Bottom = Zoophycos (Limestone? with trace fossils).
JULY, Timaru – Top = Quartzite; Middle = Unknown, may containing epidote; Bottom = Quartzite.
AUGUST = Leithfield Beach – Top = Unknown; Middle = Jasper; Bottom = Jasper.
SEPTEMBER, Kai Iwi Beach – Top = Iron-stained Quartz; Middle = Quartzite?; Bottom = Iron-stained Quartz.
OCTOBER, Gemstone Beach – Top = Unknown; Middle = Unknown; Bottom = Unknown breccia?
NOVEMBER, Slope Point – Top = Orbicular Rhyolite; Middle = Conglomerate?; Bottom = Rhyolite.
For some information about the beaches featured each month in the Calendar, see here.
Just a quick note of appreciation for your blog!
I am a complete novice rock appreciator and use your blog consistently for reference pictures and tips about rock hunting locations.
We are visiting family in Southland over Christmas so we’ve visited Awarua bay and will be off to gemstone beach next week. Unfortunately we are travelling with hand luggage only, so our pockets will be weighted down with stones on the way home!
Thank you for documenting your journey!
Hi Shae, thanks for your encouraging comment! Glad to be of help. These days I drive south from Whanganui, where I live, so can carry a lot of stones home. But three or four years ago I used to fly. I used to be able to post a 3 litre plastic sistema container of stones home for about $14 if it was under 5 kgs. Best wishes. John