Northern Queensland fossicking
Bar-Barrum general permission area
The Bar-Barrum Aboriginal Corporation has given a general permission under the Fossicking Act 1994 for fossicking on certain land near Emuford (the permission area). This permission is subject to conditions set out in an Indigenous land use agreement.
The Bar-Barrum Aboriginal Corporation is the registered native title body corporate for the Bar-Barrum Peoples' native title determination over certain areas between Emuford and Herberton (the determination area), approved by the Federal Court on 28 June 2001.
Please note: fossicking is not permitted on land within the determination area that is outside the permission area.
A fossicking licence is required in all parts of the general permission area, and fossickers must comply with the special conditions of access (see below).
Contact us if you have any questions about fossicking.
Access
The permission area is located about 95km southwest of Cairns.
- From Cairns: travel first to Mareeba (location of Mining Registrar) about 64km. From there, you can continue via either Herberton or Petford.
- From Herberton: take the Herberton–Petford Road via Watsonville to Emuford, about 40km to the west-southwest. After crossing Emu Creek, turn south onto Gurrumba–Emuford Road. Entry to the permission area is about 2km further along from the turnoff to the southwest. Turn left onto Emuford USL access road.
- From Petford: take the Petford–Herberton Road, travelling southeast about 48km to the Gurrumba–Emuford Road turnoff. Turn left onto Emuford USL access road.
Access to the Permission Area is only via Emuford USL access road, as shown on the map. Beyond this turnoff, Gurrumba–Emuford Road is fenced off.
Map
Facilities
There are no facilities in this remote fossicking area. Please bring your own water and take all rubbish with you. Camping is allowed if consent has been obtained prior to entry.
Fossicking notes
The main material sought by fossickers is gem topaz. Other minerals, including tin, fluorite, garnet, copper and rock specimens are also collected in the area. Much of the collecting is done from old mine spoil dumps or shallow surface workings in colluvial deposits and alluvial gravels in drainages.
The geology is shown on the Atherton 1:100 000 series map. The rocks in the Emuford area are mainly sediments of the Devonian Hodgkinson Formation and Late Palaeozoic granitoids (Emu Suite), a group of fluorine-rich, high-silica ilmenite series granites associated with extensive tin mineralisation in the eastern Tate Batholith. The Emu Suite includes granitoids previously mapped as Elizabeth Creek Granite (Dash & others, 1991).
Much of the mineralisation occurs in the Hodgkinson Formation, including tin, tungsten, base metals, gold, silver and antimony. The granites south of Emuford contain topaz, tin, tungsten and minor copper mineralisation.
Special conditions
Fossickers must comply with the conditions in clause 8 of the Indigenous land use agreement:
- Notify both the Bar-Barrum Aboriginal Corporation and the Mineral Assessment Hub before entering the general permission area by emailing a completed copy of the Bar Burrum access and camping notification form to admin@barbarrumaboriginalcorporation.com and mineralhub@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au. The notification must include:
- the number of persons accompanying the licence holder; and
- the intended period of fossicking.
- Pay the prescribed amount (see below) prior to entry.
- Access the permission area via the dedicated road shown on the map.
- Do not enter a fossicking exclusion zone.
- No open campfires (use a camping stove for cooking).
- No domestic animals to be taken into the GPA.
- Observe the cultural heritage duty of care. Fossickers must take all reasonable and practicable measures to make sure their activities do not harm cultural heritage. There is a penalty for breaching the cultural heritage duty of care.
Payment to the Mining Registrar
Payments follow the rate set in the Indigenous land use agreement, and can be made daily, monthly or quarterly.
Current rates
GST applies and has been added. Rates are reviewed annually and adjusted in line with CPI.
Per day | Per month | Per 3 months | |
---|---|---|---|
Adult | $4.34 | $21.69 | $43.39 |
Pensioner | $4.34 | $13.02 | $21.69 |
Family | $10.85 | $32.54 | $65.08 |
How to pay
Payments can be made during business hours between 9am and 4pm.
- In person: Mareeba office of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, Regional and Rural Development
- By phone: MyMinesOnline helpdesk, +61 7 3199 8133
Enquiries
- Email: MyMinesOnline@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au
- Online form: MyMinesOnline Help Desk
Fossicking exclusion zones
Two areas within the permission area are fossicking exclusion zones. These are marked on the map and described below:
- Area 1: Rock outcrop and boulders on hill east of Gregory Creek.
Coordinates (GDA2020): Latitude: -17.47135; Longitude: 145.01568
View on Google Maps
- Area 2: Rock outcrop and boulders on low ridge west of Gregory Creek. The Exclusion Zone extends 20m either side of the ridge crest.
Coordinates (GDA2020): Latitude: -17.47103; Longitude: 145.01305
View on Google Maps
Camping
To camp in the permission area, you must first obtain written permission from the registered native title body corporate. Use the Bar Burrum access and camping notification form to request permission.
Contact
Bar-Barrum Aboriginal Corporation
C/- Amias Bong
Email: admin@barbarrumaboriginalcorporation.com
In this guide
- Agate Creek fossicking area
- Bar-Barrum general permission area
- Lava Plains fossicking area
- Mount Gibson fossicking area
- Young's Block fossicking area
- O'Briens Creek fossicking area
- Moonstone Hill feldspar locality
Contacts
Contact us for any fossicking enquiry.
Fossicking rules and licences
A fossicking licence is required in Queensland. Make sure you follow the fossicking rules and observe the basic principles of safe fossicking.