Bendigo Gem Club in Bendigo, Victoria | Arts and entertainment

Bendigo Gem Club

Locality: Bendigo, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5442 3691

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24.01.2022 I Really like These "Mango" Quartz Pieces, do you? (Quartz with halloysite inclusions from Cabiche, Mun.de Quipama, Bogaca Dept., Colombia). 62x40mm Photo: Fine mineral photography

24.01.2022 Quick tip for extreme saw blade control - check out my thumb guiding the blade from underneath - this works a treat when cleaning up the sides with a saw instead of a file

23.01.2022 BGC NEWSLETTER has been sent to all members via email. Includes Christmas closure dates, Member Picnic details & some upcoming presentations at the club. If you are a current member & did not receive the email, please check your junk folder & if it’s not there, msg this page with your email address so we can check it for you

22.01.2022 Members Zoom Chat- Wednesday nights, 8pm. Hit the link in the email you have received to access the meeting & have a chat about all the things we like to chat about!!! Hosted by Helen Aikman, please msg her if you’d like some assistance using Zoom (it only takes 2 Mouse clicks to get in)

22.01.2022 Steven is an ex-club member & Expo trader and this is his new group. Pop on over & give him a like or a share WeRocks!!! #shoplocal #supportlocalartists

20.01.2022 Whenever we use a flat profile wire - such as a square or rectangle to make a ring band, we file a 45 degree chamfer / bevel all the way around the inside of th...e shank, and then round it out with sandpaper barrels to create a soft, curved inside edge to the rings. Not only is this super comfortable to wear, but it also looks much more professional. It’s called a comfort fit in the trade and almost all fine jewellers will do it See more

20.01.2022 We're Back!!! Monday 9th November. Coffee, catch up and COVID project show and tell. As of Thursday we'll have the Workshop machinery primed and ready to go

18.01.2022 Very interesting working with gold in the Roman and Medieval period. https://finds.org.uk//gold-working-in-the-roman-and-medi/

18.01.2022 A few ideas for silversmithing

17.01.2022 Neil Charles Slater was a rock collector like ourselves and we thank his sister Sharon, who has very generously donated his life time collection. We are very pleased to further the life of his collection among us and those who come after us.

16.01.2022 Something different; if you don’t like plain old false teeth

14.01.2022 If the event goes ahead, it will be back again at the Bendigo Showgrounds in Victoria

10.01.2022 The Finest Quality Orbicular Ocean Jaspers Mini Orbs You May Ever See This Quality is Extremely Rare. Credit: Om Crystals

10.01.2022 ‘Dream Cloud’ is carved from one piece of boulder opal mined in Australia. It’s an impressive piece, large enough to fill the palm of your hand. Carved in 1915.... The winged female bust is a personification of The Dream, close to Beaux Arts traditional style with hints of late Art Nouveau. The carver took superb advantage of the brown ironstone matrix in which the opal occurs, by incorporating it into the carving. Artist Unknown.

09.01.2022 Sometimes you’ve gotta dream big

09.01.2022 Amazing Patterns Chunky Agate Cabochon This Agate Cabochon is one of the most unique pieces I've found, with natural lightening like patterns in Golden, Clear and Frosted Blues. Photo: Earth Family Crystals

08.01.2022 This is our first ever boulder opal split from the Russell’s opal mine and we could not be happier with how it turned out. Sound on for the video. Sue

07.01.2022 There are approximately 140 minerals that contain the element Copper, but this article is going to focus on some of the most common that one might find along hi...s/her crystal journey. In all honesty, when I was approached to write this article, and started my own research, I was so overwhelmed that I had to walk away from it for a couple of days. The greatest concern I had was that the article would sound like a monotone science lecture. Yikes! So, I sincerely hope that I can give you a better understanding of these crystals/minerals without causing too much hair-pulling on your part (or mine). A few words about Copper - it is an element, with the chemical symbol of Cu. Its most distinguishing feature is its color, a rich reddish-brown. Copper is quite soft, only 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale. Because finding native Copper is quite rare these days, it is most often mined from ores that are rich in Copper, which are minerals that are found with Copper in, on or around them. Copper ores that contain the highest concentrations of Copper are Azurite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Chalcopyrite and Cuprite. The crystals we’re going to look at here are (in alphabetical order): Ajoite, Azurite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Cuprite, Dioptase, Malachite, Plancheite, and Shattuckite. Some of these are Copper Silicates, while others are considered Copper Carbonates, with a couple constituting the Oxide and Sulfide groups. Ajoite - (K,Na)3Cu20Al3Si29O76(OH)16~8(H2O) - Pronounced Ah-hoe-ite, this Copper Silicate is bluish-green (think sea-green) in color and is most often found as phantoms in Clear Quartz crystals. It is quite rare and has a hardness of 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Ajoite is a Heart chakra crystal and helps to release anger, hostility, jealousy and prejudice. It can be a calming stone and enables one to speak from the heart. Azurite - Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 - This deep, azure blue crystal is a Hydrated Copper Carbonate and is found as an ore of copper. The spectacular coloring is caused by copper. Its hardness is 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale. Azurite is a Throat and Third Eye chakra stone, enabling one to break through communication barriers and increase psychic awareness as well as creative solutions to nagging problems. Azurite is wonderful for older students to help them concentrate and remember what they’re studying. Healers will find Azurite a great companion in their healing practices, as it will increase intuition and enhances life energy throughout the body. Azurite is often found in conjunction with Malachite. Chalcopyrite - CuFeS2 - Another ore of copper, Chalcopyrite is a Copper Iron Sulfide. It has a hardness of 3.5 - 4 and is a brassy yellow color. It so closely resembles gold that it is often called Fools Gold, along with its cousin, Pyrite. When the surface becomes oxidized, the coloring turns iridescent with blues, purples and greens, giving it the name of Peacock Ore. Chalcopyrite is a Crown chakra stone that removes energy blockages and increases physical stamina as well as self-esteem. Chalcopyrite is also beneficial as a meditation stone. Use it to increase business and abundance in general. Chrysocolla - (Cu,Al)2 H2Si2 O5(OH)4nH2O - Chrysocolla is another Copper Silicate, but it isn’t actually a mineral; because it has amorphous structure, it is listed as a mineraloid. This ore of copper is greenish-blue in color and is often mistaken for Turquoise. Its hardness is 2 - 4 on the Mohs scale. Chrysocolla can be used on the Heart and Throat chakras to increase communication from the heart, enhance creativity and relieve stress. Cuprite - Cu2O - Cuprite is a Copper Oxide and if often found with Chrysocolla. It is reddish-brown in color that can sometimes, if it is a very deep red, appear black. Cuprite is often called Ruby Copper because of its red coloring. It has a hardness of 3.5 - 4. Cuprite is a Root chakra stone that increases willpower and helps one to conquer fears over things you may not have control over. Dioptase - CuSiO3H2O - This Hydrated Copper Silicate is a deep green to emerald green in color and has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale. It is very fragile and forms such small crystals and, as such, is not normally common as a gemstone, although quite popular if one can find it as clusters. Dioptase works with the Heart chakra to let you live life in the moment and gives insight into new ideas and ways of thinking. Use Dioptase to increase growth and abundance and to bring about change in your life. Malachite - Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 - Malachite is often found with Azurite and, left to its own devices so to speak, will actually turn into, or pseudomorph, into Azurite over time. Like Azurite, Malachite is a Hydrated Copper Carbonate with a hardness of 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale. It has some of the brightest and most striking green coloring in the entire crystal kingdom. Malachite is a stone of abundance, renewal and balance and can be beneficial to the Heart and Throat chakras to draw out negativity and get rid of old patterns. It is often used to balance the system and rid the atmosphere of pollution and electromagnetic energy. Plancheite and Shattuckite - Plancheite (Cu8Si8O22(OH)4(H2O)) and Shattuckite (Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2) are so similar in appearance to each other that I have listed them together. Plancheite is a light blue-to-turquoise, much like Shattuckite, but Plancheite is a bit harder on the Mohs scale (5.5-6) than Shattuckite (3.5-4). Fundamentally, Plancheite is a hydrated version of Shattuckite and the only real way to distinguish between the two is by X-ray diffraction and microscopic analysis. Metaphysically speaking, Plancheite works with the Throat, Third Eye and Crown chakras to protect (and give courage) during times of stress or hostile, negative energies. It is helpful in retaining large quantities of information, especially when engaged in a battle of wills. Plancheite can increase psychic abilities, divination, automatic writing and astrological knowledge. Shattuckite amplifies our thoughts and vibrations to higher knowledge and assimilates information into easier understanding, much like Plancheite. It is especially helpful for those who are mediums, tarot/rune readers to increase awareness. Original article by Sonia Acone - https://www.healingcrystals.com/Copper_Minerals_Articles_12

05.01.2022 The making of an opal doublet Part 1: slicing between 2 gem quality colour bars in a piece of Mintabie rough. Using a 100 mm diamond copper blade with diamond edge, 0.4 mm thick for minimum wastage.

01.01.2022 BGC NEWSLETTER has been emailed to members. Key points to note: the club has not been able to schedule a re-opening date yet but stay tuned; grant applications have been submitted; financial processes have been extensively reviewed & updated; exciting developments in the shop portal with rock sales now included; online Zooms scheduled with guest speaker with Alex Simmons, field trip scheduled. UP COMING EVENTSWednesday 30th Sept 8pm : Our Favourite Tools (Alex Simmons, via... Zoom) Wednesday 7th Oct 8pm : Artistic Journey in Silverwork (Alex Simmons, via Zoom) FOSSICKING TRIP- RUSHWORTH/RUE Sunday October 18th 2020 Meet at 10 am at Lions Park, Station St Rushworth Bring: Sieve Small pick Strong buckets Strong enclosed shoes, hat, gardening gloves, suncreen Picnic lunch, water to drink Covid precautions gear Miners Right available instantly online, $25.20 for 10 years, go to, https://www.service.vic.gov.au/ser/earth-resourcesTransport: members to use own vehicles. Four-wheel drive is not needed. This is an outdoor activity, where we will be able to keep our distance. Please RSVP to the club email or Msg Helen Aikman with bookings/Enquiries.

01.01.2022 GIVEAWAY TIME All you have to do is LIKE THIS POST LIKE SHARONS GOLD BOXES PAGE. SHARE THIS POST WITH YOUR FRIENDS ... WINNER WILL RECEIVE A 20 POD NUGGET BOX OF THEIR CHOICE GOOD LUCK EVERYONE DRAWN 8PM THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER SHARE AWAY