Today, after a front had moved through overnight, the Te Waewae Bay waves were larger, had more energy, were moving up the beach a little further, and the tide was ebbing more slowly. That meant more stones were being wet further up the beach and staying wet for longer. The morning had been rainy but the afternoon was ideal for fossicking, sunny and warm, with very little wind.
MVP – Most Valued Pebble – today was found on the bank of the Waimeamea River. The river was too high and swift to ford, and the lagoon level was at least half a metre too high. As I approached the river, I spotted a very shiny wet stone lying largely by itself. It was immediately recognisable as a hydrogrossular garnet. I took photos of it and snatched it just before a wave reached it. It is 4.5 cm at its longest, a nice size and colour:
The selected seven runners-up today are also all remarkable stones in their own right. The first, about the same size as the MVP, is a bit of a mystery to me, I’m not sure what the myriad of markings in it are. [It has been suggested by a reliable source that this could be fossilised forest floor]:
Another complex mystery:
Three green stones, of varying hue and composition:
Finally, two small stones, 2.5 cm and 2 cm respectively:
Post 48 is here. The first Post in the “Southern Sojourn 2023” Series is here. The Index to the Series is here.
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