Early 2024 Fossicking Trip – Part 11, Sandflies on Gemstone Beach, Monday 26 February

Today’s fossick at Gemstone Beach (Southland) was two hours long, in the afternoon immediately following high tide. The Waimeamea River lagoon was reasonably full when I reached it. I did some stone hunting along the middle part of the lagoon where the water was shallower and running like the river does normally. Leaving the waves meant meeting some sandflies for the first time this trip – they left some itchy bites on my hands and face.

Gemstone Beach and the Waimeamea River. Source: Mapcarta.com.

Waimeamea River lagoon. Source: Mapcarta.com.

Waimeamea River lagoon when I was there today.

At the middle of the lagoon’s length, where I fossicked also.

Gemstone Beach stones.

More Gemstone Beach stones.

Two of today’s most interesting finds:

Mainly quartz with black and green minerals.

Very interesting composition to this small stone.

The next stone could be a trace fossil one, but I am unsure. It’s very different from other trace fossil stones I have found but the markings in it could be traces (burrows). The close-up photos seem to me to indicate that it is a fine-grained mudstone which would be consistent with trace fossils.

One side of the stone.

Other side of the stone.

Another six stones that I collected this afternoon:

Very smooth pink and white stone with an interesting vein across the middle.

Very smooth fine-grained green stone, with light coloured inclusions.

Brecciated argillite.

Green epidote mineral.

Nice green hydrogrossular garnet.

Trace fossil in red mudstone.

The next Part features stones and a small white flower. The Series Index 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